Practical Cuba
Hitchhiking in Cuba
Cuba is one of the few countries where hitchhiking is an organised part of the transport system rather than an alternative to it. Understanding that is the difference between it working and it not.
How it works, not what it costs — reviewed 2026-08-24.
La botella, and the amarillos
Asking for a lift is called coger botella. At junctions and on the edges of towns you will find official pick-up points staffed by transport officials in yellow — los amarillos — whose job is to flag down vehicles with space and allocate the seats.
State-owned vehicles with room are required to stop. The system exists because fuel and vehicles have been scarce for decades, and it is used daily by ordinary Cubans getting to work and between towns.
Where a visitor fits
Foreign visitors can use the queues, and drivers do pick them up. In practice you will usually be asked for a small contribution toward fuel — offer it. This is not a free alternative to the bus so much as an informal shared one.
It works best for short provincial hops where no coach runs. It is a poor plan for covering long distances on a schedule, because you have no control over when a vehicle with space appears.
The sensible cautions
Take the same precautions you would anywhere: travel in daylight, prefer the official queues over flagging cars on open road, and keep your bag with you rather than in a boot you cannot see.
If you would rather not, the shared trucks and provincial guaguas cover much the same ground for a small local fare, and colectivo cars cover the intercity corridors.
Related practical pages
Frequently asked questions
- Is hitchhiking legal in Cuba?
- Yes — it is organised by the state, with official pick-up points and officials who allocate seats in passing vehicles.
- Who are los amarillos?
- Transport officials in yellow uniforms who stop vehicles with spare seats at official pick-up points and assign them to waiting passengers.
- Should I offer money?
- Usually yes — a contribution toward fuel is customary, particularly in a private car.