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Cuba on 2 Wheels

Highlights

  • Cycle through Havana with a Cuban cycling guide, stopping to visit a cycling social enterprise project.
  • Cycle slowly through rural communities and see Cuba from an insightful perspective that only a cycling holiday enables.
  • Beach time at Playa Larga and Playa Ancon.
  • Historical points of interest in relation to the Revolution: Cueva de los Portales; Playa Giron; Che Guevara Mausoleum in Santa Clara.

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What you'll do

Overview

A 10 day tour featuring leisurely cycling and the ‘must see’ destinations of Havana, Viñales, Cienfuegos and Trinidad. You don't have to be a cycling enthusiast to experience Cuba by bike.

Cycle slowly through rural communities on this 10 day tour and see Cuba from an insightful perspective that only a cycling holiday enables. This is all about slow, sustainable travel, exploring the country on two wheels whilst staying in Casas Particulares (“private homes”) en route. You’ll return home having seen the ‘must see’ destinations of Cuba as well as gaining a unique insight into Cuban hospitality and daily life. Your Cuban hosts will ensure you’re well-fuelled with their home cooked meals and warm welcome.

This cycling tour provides the perfect mix of bustling towns, rural Cuba and relaxing beach time at Playa Larga and Playa Ancon so that you can rest your legs. We’ve also sourced some unique experiences so that you can fully immerse yourself into Cuban culture. Whether it’s cocktail making and salsa classes in Trinidad or learning how to roll a cigar at a tobacco farm in Viñales Valley, you’ll be leaving Cuba with new skills.

This is a completely private experience where you/your group will have the guide to yourself. Prices reflect this with the lead in price being based on a group of 18.

 

Arrival in Havana

Welcome to Havana! A local representative will be waiting to greet you at Havana Airport, and from here it’s an approx. 30 minute journey to the accommodation in Vedado district. You’ll be staying in a charming boutique ‘casa particular’, a recently renovated private property providing bed and breakfast services. You’ll meet your Cuban tour guide this evening for a quick introduction and chance to ask any questions. Enjoy your first night in Havana.

Accommodation: Casa Particular in Havana (Sueño Habana or similar)

Havana

After breakfast we will transfer to the Miramar district of Havana where our bike workshop is located. Here we’ll get acquainted with our bikes, fit any pedals or seats etc. that you would like to customise, and then set off on a panoramic tour of Havana. We’ll visit the well-to-do Miramar district, home to the city’s foreign diplomats and some of Havana’s most striking 20th century architecture. Keep an eye out for the strange looking Russian embassy. We’ll then cycle through the enchanting woods of Bosque Almendares and on to Nuevo Vedado, before stopping at Plaza de la Revolución, the political heart of Castro’s Cuba. From here we wheel through young and vibrant Vedado towards the famous Hotel Nacional, which has offered shelter to many a celebrity over the years, including Winston Churchill and prominent US mafia members. Now we whizz through bustling Centro Habana towards the famous Capitolio building. With the Capitolio behind us we veer left down the regal Paseo del Prado promenade, a favourite with street artists and skateboarders alike, where we’ll stop to visit a Cycling social enterprise project designed to get the residents of Old Havana embracing bike transport! Our ride ends in the Old Town next to the Bay of Havana.

After lunch at a restaurant in the Old Town we’ll continue our tour on foot, soaking up the unique sights and sounds of Cuba’s vibrant capital city whilst learning all about the city’s turbulent history and fascinating modern-day characteristics. The evening is at leisure for you to continue exploring at your own pace. Havana is full of excellent restaurants and bars and has several artisan markets that you may wish to visit.

Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch

Cycling distance: approx. 23km

Accommodation: Casa Particular in Havana (Sueño Habana or similar)

Cycle to Las Terrazas; transfer to Viñales

We’ll leave the hustle and bustle of Havana behind today and head out westwards to Artemisa province and later on to Pinar del Rio province. We’ll transfer out of the city to a small town from where we’ll jump on our bikes and cycle a short scenic route to the foothills of the Rosario mountain range that spans the western arm of the island. Our destination is Las Terrazas Biosphere Reserve, a unique community built around the concept of self-sustainability that offers a beautiful destination for outdoor enthusiasts. We’ll visit the community including the local ‘bodega’ ration store, medical facility and other social services, before stopping for lunch. Travelling onwards we’ll continue westwards along the ‘autopista’ before climbing and winding into the spectacular mountain scenery that surrounds the beautiful valley of Viñales, our home for the next two nights. This evening is at leisure and we recommend dinner in one of the many restaurants on the town’s main street. In the evening there is often live music to be found in the town.

Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch

Cycling distance: approx. 23km

Accommodation: Casa Particulares in Viñales (Yoan & Yarelis)

Viñales; Valley Circuit Ride

This morning we’ll get up close and personal with rural Cuba on a wonderful circuit ride that starts and ends from Viñales town. We’ll jump on the bikes straight outside of the casa homestay and leave the town to the north. Some sections of the route today will involve rough terrain and potholes so the guide will be sure to give a thorough briefing beforehand so that you know what to expect. One of the most fascinating aspects of cycling in Cuba is the ability to remove barriers and take the lesser taken routes, and of course at a slower pace at which to really take in the experience. We’ll pass small countryside abodes and no doubt see an array of typical rural scenarios including working farm animals and agricultural lands being tended to.

Arriving back in to Viñales town we’ll regroup in the afternoon after some free time for lunch and go on a walk in the rolling countryside. The valley, and this region of Cuba in general, is famed for its exquisite tobacco plant growing meaning it is the perfect place to visit a traditional tobacco ‘Vega’ and learn about the process behind one of Cuba’s most famous exports. Try your hand at rolling a cigar and enjoy the earthy pleasures of a walk in Viñales valley. We’ll finish for the day with dinner at an organic farm overlooking the valley with a spectacular sunset view.

Meals included: Breakfast and Dinner

Cycling distance: approx. 26km

Accommodation: Casa Particulares in Viñales (Yoan & Yarelis)

To Playa Larga

Leaving early this morning we’ll have a long road trip taking us back eastwards and to the southern coast of Matanzas province. Upon arriving at the Zapata peninsula we’ll cycle through the flat low-lying region towards the small coastal town of Playa Larga, located at the mouth of the Bay of Pigs. Shortly before arriving we’ll stop at a small community arts school in the village of Palpite, called the Korimakao project. The concept here is to educate promising dance and music students from all over the island, who then contribute by touring all over the island to provide cultural inspiration for future generations of artistic children who perhaps don’t have easy access to the arts due to the geography of where they live. We’ll see a short workshop of either percussion or dance, depending on what is being studied at the time of our visit. Check in to our casa particular next to the beach at Playa Larga and after a swim in the sea we’ll have a relaxing evening meal in a privileged location on the quiet beach.

Meals included: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner

Cycling distance: approx. 28km

Accommodation: Casa Particulares in Playa Larga (Sol y Caribe)

Cycle the Bay of Pigs; to Cienfuegos

Continuing our cycling exploration of the Bay of Pigs, today we’ll hug the coastline and ride next to the turquoise waters all the way to Playa Giron. This stretch of coastline was the site of the failed CIA-backed invasion of Cuba in 1961 and we’ll learn about the historical events that took place here by visiting the museum in Playa Giron. Back on the bikes we’ll continue a short distance to Caleta Buena, an ideal lunchtime stop for a bite to eat and opportunity to swim in the inviting Caribbean waters.

After lunch we’ll transfer for approx. 1.5 hours to Cienfuegos where we’ll be spending the night. We’ll take a panoramic tour of the city and discover a beautiful French-inspired coastal city with some stunning architecture and a unique layout. The city has many good eateries and bars to choose from, and its own mini version of Havana’s iconic ‘Malecon’ coastal walkway, a popular socialising spot for locals.

Meals included: Breakfast and lunch

Cycling distance: approx. 45km

Accommodation: Casa Particulares in Cienfuegos (Casa Lily)

To Trinidad

This morning we’ll leave Cienfuegos directly on our bikes on a short but undulating ride taking us inland and away from the city towards the beautiful Botanical Gardens of Cienfuegos. We’ll have a short tour of the gardens before continuing in the bus eastwards in the direction of Trinidad. Along the route we’ll stop at a small humble property, called Rancho La Vega, where lunch will be prepared. Here we’ll learn a bit about the family that live here and the local community, whilst visiting the small farm.

Continuing to Trinidad, we’ll arrive in one of Cuba’s most distinctive and charming destinations. Trinidad is a colourful and busy little city, with cobbled streets and music spilling out into the night. Located in between the coast and a mountain range it makes a wonderful travel destination. After checking in to our casa homestay accommodation we’ll head to a local restaurant in the heart of the city run by an entrepreneurial character intent of enhancing Cuban cuisine and training young Cubans for careers in the food hospitality sector. We’ll partake in a rum tasting session and enjoy a lovely meal. There are a host of bars and live music venues in Trinidad so the city is your oyster for the rest of the evening….

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Cycling distance: approx. 24km

Accommodation: Casa Particulares in Trinidad (Alberto & Osmary)

Playa Ancon & time to explore Trinidad

What better way to burn off last night’s rum and mojitos than a two-wheel spin to the beach for a dip in the sea? During our short ride we’ll stop to meet an inspiring character from Trinidad who took it upon herself to reintroduce traditional embroidery techniques to a class of students in Trinidad, who in turn share their techniques with others and produce some fine handmade garments. Keeping traditions alive! Playa Ancon beach is a great place to kick back for a couple of hours and relax by the sea with a good book. We’ll have some lunch and cycle back into Trinidad, with the rest of the afternoon at leisure. In the evening we’ll regroup for a fun-filled cocktail making class and salsa class!

Meals included: Breakfast and Lunch

Cycling distance: approx. 25km

Accommodation: Casa Particulares in Trinidad (Alberto & Osmary)

Visit Che Guevara Memorial; transfer to Havana

For our final cycle ride of the tour we’ll again set off straight from the casa and cycle eastwards for the last time. We’ll end the ride in the small town of Manaca Iznaga in the ‘Valle de los Ingenios’ in what was previously a very productive area in Cuba’s sugar cane industry. The village is known for its textile production and market. Just outside Manaca Iznaga we’ll also stop at the property of a ‘campesino’ who keeps bees for honey production. Continuing in the bus we’ll take a scenic northerly road cutting through the mountainous countryside towards the city of Santa Clara. No trip to Cuba will be complete without a mention of Che Guevara and it is here in Santa Clara that we’ll visit Che’s mausoleum. A four hour transfer takes us back to Havana where we’ll go out for a farewell meal together in the Old Town.

Meals included: Breakfast, packed lunch, dinner

Cycling distance: approx. 17km

Accommodation: Casas Particulares in Havana (Sueño Habana or similar)

End Havana

Today we say farewell and check out of our accommodation. Depending on the time of your flight, the day is free for you to explore Old Havana.

Please note that the transfer back to the airport is not included, but is available upon request at an extra cost.

Meals included: Breakfast

What's included

Included

  • 9 nights in Casas Particulares ("private homes")
  • All breakfasts, 7 lunches, 4 dinners
  • Snacks and water on riding days
  • Cuban English-speaking tour / cycling guide to accompany group throughout
  • Transfer from Havana Airport to accommodation in a taxi
  • Mechanic and support vehicle on rides - air-conditioned private bus
  • Bike Hire: Trek 8.3 DS 2015 mountain bike with hybrid tyres
Your local host

Lucy & Team

For 20 years, we have been providing exceptional and meaningful holidays to Cuba, sharing the real Cuba in an honest and positive way. Responsible travel is at the heart of what we do; from the local ground staff we employ, to the family-run restaurants and B&B’s we use, we actively support family, local businesses and communities. This is how we reveal the rich culture of Cuba and showcase its uniqueness beyond ‘cigars and old cars’. We aim for excellence in everything we do –  starting with our incredible team of trained guides and covering every aspect of your trip and the service we offer.

If you were to describe our personality, you’d use words like passionate, human, resilient, dedicated and pragmatic. Th... Read All

For 20 years, we have been providing exceptional and meaningful holidays to Cuba, sharing the real Cuba in an honest and positive way. Responsible travel is at the heart of what we do; from the local ground staff we employ, to the family-run restaurants and B&B’s we use, we actively support family, local businesses and communities. This is how we reveal the rich culture of Cuba and showcase its uniqueness beyond ‘cigars and old cars’. We aim for excellence in everything we do –  starting with our incredible team of trained guides and covering every aspect of your trip and the service we offer.

If you were to describe our personality, you’d use words like passionate, human, resilient, dedicated and pragmatic. These are the qualities that get to the heart of what it means to be a successful travel business focused on and committed to Cuba.

Lucy & Team image

Location

This tour starts and ends in Havana.

Getting there:

Please note that prices for the holidays do not include flights. We recommend using www.skyscanner.net to check flights.

Nearest airports:

José Martí International Airport 

Airport transfers:

An airport arrival transfer to your accommodation is included.

 

FAQs

Is bike hire included?

Bike hire is included and we will be using Trek 8.3 DS 2015 mountain bike with hybrid tyres.

Please bring your own helmet. Helmets are compulsory for this tour. You will also need to bring your own water bottle (as we will provide water refills on the rides).

What's my accommodation like?

We'll spend 9 nights in comfortable Casas Particulares ("private homes"), renowned for their home cooked meals, the warm welcome, and the unique insight into daily Cuban life.

Please note that prices are based on two people sharing a twin room. A single supplement is available on request.

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