Half the Roads Are Unpaved
Cuba has an estimated 38,000-mile road network. That’s not too bad considering the small size of the island nation and the low motor vehicle count. Unfortunately, approximately half the roads in Cuba are unpaved, meaning that if you do own a car, you’re going to have to spend a bundle on patching your tires.
This also means that if you hitchhike and your ride has a flat, you’re going to have to pitch in to fix a popped tire. It’s the least you could do since, after all, the only alternative is to pay through the nose to reach your destination if you hail a cab.