Getting Around Marianao: An Overview
Marianao is one of the municipalities of Havana, lying southwest of the historic centre and connected to it by the Marianao railway. For a visitor, the practical reality is that Marianao sits within Havana's wider transport network, so getting around means using the same mix of buses, trains, taxis and collective cars that Habaneros rely on. Public transport in Cuba has been under serious strain for years, so it pays to plan flexibly and treat any single mode as one option among several.
Buses and Public Transport
Buses are the backbone of everyday movement between Marianao and the rest of Havana. The Empresa Provincial de Transporte de la Habana (EPTH) runs a direct route between "23 y G" in Havana and "114 y 67" in Marianao, designated P9. It runs daily, roughly every ten minutes, and the journey takes around twenty minutes; the fare is about a dollar. A second operator, Cuba Local Buses, also serves the route on an hourly basis.
Be aware that service levels can be unpredictable. Havana's provincial bus fleet has been operating at only a fraction of its nominal strength in recent years, and buses have reportedly been hard to find before 8 AM or after 4 PM. Fuel shortages and a lack of spare parts have driven the problems. Practical implications for a visitor:
- Allow extra time and have a backup plan for any bus journey.
- Expect crowding and long waits at stops, especially at peak times.
- Fares are cheap, but the trade-off is uncertainty rather than cost.
- For the Havana–Marianao corridor, the P9 is the most direct bus option.
Rail
Marianao is connected to Havana by the Marianao railway, and trains are a genuine alternative to the bus for this corridor. Ferrocarriles de Cuba runs a service from Habana – 19 de Noviembre to Cujae, twice daily, taking around thirteen minutes for about a dollar. Because departures are limited, the train works best if you can build your day around its schedule rather than treating it as a turn-up-and-go service.
Taxis and Collective Cars
Taxi-style options fill the gaps left by public transport. A conventional taxi between Havana and Marianao takes roughly ten minutes and costs in the region of fourteen to eighteen dollars, making it the quickest and most predictable choice, particularly with luggage or late at night.
Cheaper shared alternatives exist in the form of private collective taxis, known locally as boteros. These run along fixed corridors and are a normal part of how people get around, but the fare situation is messy: a fare-cap law sets official prices by route length, yet in practice drivers often set their own fares, collect at the start of the journey, or arrange with passengers to report a legal fare. Expect to negotiate or simply pay what is asked, and carry cash.
Marianao also functions as a departure point for longer shared runs. The El Lido terminal in Marianao is a starting point for private cars heading to Guanajay in Artemisa, a route on which fares can run several hundred pesos and hired cars considerably more.
Walkability
Walking is a major part of how people cope with the transport shortfalls, and many residents cover long distances on foot. Marianao's layout, with its numbered calles and landmarks such as the syringe-shaped monument to Carlos Juan Finlay at the junction of Calles 100 and 31, is navigable on foot, and the area is noted for its salubrious climate on its hills. That said, distances within the municipality and out to neighbouring areas can be substantial, so walking works best for local errands and short hops rather than as a substitute for the trip into central Havana. Bicycles and electric motorbikes are also widely used as everyday transport.
Getting from the Airport into the City
José Martí International Airport lies at Rancho Boyeros, southwest of central Havana. It sits on the same side of the city as Marianao, which makes the transfer relatively straightforward by road. Your realistic options are:
- Taxi: the simplest and most reliable choice, particularly with luggage; agree the fare beforehand.
- Private collective cars: cheaper, but you will need to reach a departure point and negotiate.
- Public buses: the least expensive in theory, but given the fleet shortages and unpredictable timings, not a dependable option for a arrival with bags.
Because Marianao lies to the southwest rather than in the historic centre, the airport transfer is shorter than a run into Old Havana, but the same advice applies: have a taxi as your default plan and treat cheaper shared options as a bonus if they present themselves.
Practical Tips
- Carry cash in pesos for buses, trains and collective taxis; fares are low but payment is not always formal.
- Build slack into your schedule. Buses may not appear when expected, and the train runs only a couple of times a day.
- Use taxis when timing matters and public transport when budget matters.
- For the Havana–Marianao trip specifically, the P9 bus, the train to Cujae, and a short taxi ride are your three main choices.
- If you are heading onward to Artemisa province, the El Lido terminal in Marianao is a known departure point for shared cars.