14 Days | Explore Cuba by bike, from vibrant Havana to Varadero and the peaceful beauty of the pristine Yumuri Valley.
From £1,985pp based on twin share and excluding flights
Experience Cuba from two wheels as you cycle around this laidback Caribbean island. Travel the colourful streets of Havana, the dusty roads past the farms and tobacco plantations of Vinales, cycle alongside vintage cars on your way to the verdant Bay of Pigs, discover UNESCO Word Heritage Sites of Cienfuegos and Trinidad and experience Cuba beyond the rum and cigar scene. Pay homage at Che Guevara’s final resting place in Santa Clara, cycle the pristine and untourised Yumuri Valley, and enjoy the perfect beaches of vibrant Varadero, Cayo Jutias’ clear blue waters and cool off in bubbling river pools near Las Terrazas. Soak up the best of Cuba as you traverse this fascinating country.
Why you’ll love this trip
- Cycling through Caribbean Cuba gives you unique access to parts of the island that are off the beaten track.
- Cycle through the lush valleys of Soroa and Yumuri, one known as Cuba’s Rainbow and rich in plant and wildlife, the other an untouched paradise far off the usual tourist track.
- Cuba is recognised as the world’s finest cigar manufacturer. Learn how to roll a cigar with a local tobacco farmer near the small town of Vinales.
- After a visit to the temporary HQ of Cueva de los Portales, a guided walking tour of Old Havana, and a visit to his final resting place in Santa Clara, you’ll understand Che Guevara’s important role in the Cuban Revolution.
- Ride through an often surprising variety of scenery; from the decaying charm of Old Havana to long dusty farming roads to dramatic limestone karst landscapes. Cuba has it all!
Is this trip right for you?
- The guesthouses (casas) we use are much nicer than your average Cuban dwelling and each room is unique. Regardless of where you stay, power cuts and breaks in hot water supply are sometimes unavoidable, as in any developing country – but we believe that this is all a part of the local experience. To help set your expectations correctly, please read the ‘Accommodation’ section of the Essential Trip Information.
- To complete this trip it is important that you are both confident and competent in riding a bicycle.
- On this trip we have a single leader that rides with the group, and another that drives the support vehicle (acting as a back marker where needed)
- This is a cycling trip, so it requires a certain amount of cycling fitness. This being said, there’s always a comfortable, air-conditioned support vehicle following close by.
- The Caribbean climate can be very hot and humid. It’s important to wear the appropriate clothing, drink plenty of water and apply sun protection regularly. Lycra cycling shorts are ideal for warmer temperatures.
- Internet access can be hard to come by, and when it’s available it’s sometimes unreliable. This is, on the other hand, a great opportunity to take a break from modern devices and have a true holiday.
- Cuba’s roads aren’t always paved, but when they are they can range from smooth to downright terrible. That being said, it’s a fun experience to share the road with tractors, vintage American cars and horse-drawn carriages.
- While Cuban food can sometimes seem limited due to a ban on imported goods, your guide will steer you towards the best eateries in each destination you visit.
- Cuba is different and that’s what makes it such a fascinating destination. You will find that things don’t always go according to plan or work the way they do back home. Regulations concerning foreigners and currency may appear strange to you, transport sometimes runs late and sometimes the water in your bathroom can run cold and the electricity fail. In order to get the most out of your holiday, a degree of patience, good humour and understanding is a definite advantage. Cuba may not be wealthy in a monetary sense, however if you approach your holiday with an open and enquiring mind, the warm welcome you receive from Cubans will ensure you a rich and rewarding holiday experience.
- Import restrictions make the purchase of new bicycles a difficult challenge – our bikes come from a variety of different manufacturers but are all mechanically sound.
Inclusions
Meals
11 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 3 dinners
Transport
Bicycle, Support Vehicle (Bus)
Accommodation
Standard Guesthouse (13 nights)
Activities
- Complimentary Arrival Transfer
- Cycling Outer Havana
- Havana – Leader-led walking tour of Old Havana
- Las Terrazas – Eco-village Visit
- Soroa – Orchid Garden (entrance fee and guide included)
- Las Terrazas – Casa de Polo entry
- Vinales – Tobacco farm visit
- Vinales – Beach excursion to Cayo Jutias
- Havana – Complimentary Arrival Transfer
- Cienfuegos – Leader-led orientation walk
- Trinidad – Leader-led orientation walk
- Santa Clara – Che Guevara Mausoleum and Museum (entrance fee)
- Havana – Leader led City Tour of Old Havana
- Matanzas Bicycle Tour
Add on activities
- Havana – Cigar Factory Tour (entrance fee and guide) – USD10
- Havana Bike Hire – Ruta Bikes – USD20
- Havana – Morro Castle (entrance fee, no guide, no transport)10 am-9 pm – CUP200
- Havana – American Vintage Car Tour (No guide and transport included) – USD30
- Vinales – Salsa Dance Lesson (per hour) – USD10
- Vinales – Live music venues (entrance fee) – Free
- Havana – Jose Marti Memorial tower entrance fee – CUP200
- Classic American Car Tour of Havana – Urban Adventures (guide & transport included – USD67
- Havana – National Museum of Fine Arts (entrance fee) – CUP250
- Havana – Buena Vista Social Club Performance (entrance fee & dinner) – USD35
- Havana – Half-day Ernest Hemingway Tour (guide and transport included 2 clients min required) – USD68
- Cienfuegos – Palacio de Valle (from entrance fee) – CUP250
- Trinidad – Romantic Museum (entrance fee) – CUP120
- Trinidad – Museo Nacional de la Lucha Contra los Bandidos (entrance fee) – CUP70
