This 15-day tour combines our central and western tours to give you an in depth experience of one of the most fascinating countries in the world. Pedal past much of Cuba’s less-traveled countryside on quiet roads with visits to local farms, national parks, and even snorkeling in the Bay of Pigs. You’ll have a chance to take in Havana’s colorful rhythm as you explore the city’s culture, architecture, and history. Then continue cycle off the tourist track and into the heart of Cuba. Along the way you will see Cuban cigars being rolled, taste some of the finest food the country has to offer and spend time with locals learning about the history of agriculture and revolution in this lush land. From its crystal blue coast to it’s lush forested hills, this stunning route will show off the best of Cuba’s culture and landscapes.
All of our itineraries meet the United States requirements for a People-to-People licensed trip and we will provide all licensing documents necessary for our American travelers. Recent loosening of regulations has also allowed for a number of airlines to schedule direct flights from Miami and Houston into a variety of Cuban cities making this fascinating country more accessible than ever before.
Please Remember: With over 50 years of a trade embargo by the United States (and sanctions if other countries trade with them) and an economy that has boomed, busted and never truly found its way, Cuba is like no other place you have traveled. We choose to travel by bicycle because we know that getting off the buses and into the heart of a country on two wheels is one of the best ways to truly experience a place. With that said, you will notice that buildings are in need of repair, sometimes including portions of the hotels we use. Air conditioning, though present in 100% of your hotel rooms, may break down. Hot water and water pressure can vary. Internet access is sporadic and hard to find. But, the people in Cuba are some of the warmest and friendliest people on earth. They genuinely want to share and talk about their lives with travelers from all over the world – especially Americans.
We recommend you bring an attitude of flexibility and an understanding that you may not find the amenities that exist in other destinations. But, a trip to Cuba could be one of the most fulfilling travel experiences you can have.
Highlights
Colonial cities and architecture of Cuba, Historic Trinidad, Bay of Pigs museum, Snorkel the Bay of Pigs, Take a swim in Playa Larga, Havana, Cycle To The “Rainbow of Cuba”, Tobacco Plantation/Cuban Cigars, San Carlos Valley, Limestone caves of Vinales, Organic farm visit, La Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve
Includes
13 dinners, bilingual tour leaders
most lunches, all breakfasts, all activities as described in itinerary – compliant with People to People General License for group travel. And the usual (see below).
Total distance543 km (337 miles) – 611 km (380 miles)
Average daily distance54 – 61 kms (34 – 36 miles)
Tour style
Tour level
3.0
Highlights: Exploring Remedios, Fit Bikes
Fly into Santa Clara and join our group shuttle to the city of Remedios. Once in Remedios we will have an orientation talk and bike fitting. If you arrive in Santa Clara a day early, you’ll see why the city is fittingly nicknamed Ciudade de Che for the spirit and history of this revolutionary figure.
Highlights: Quiet roads, sugar cane fields and colonial Sancti Spíritus
Ride today from Remedios to Sancti Spíritus, pedaling through rolling hills, past small villages, and Spanish colonial facades weathered by time. Lunch is en route before we end our day in Sancti Spíritus, one of the first colonizer settlements on the island. Established in 1514 by conquistador Diego Velázquez, the present-day city is full of history and Spanish colonial architecture. Before we enjoy a delicious dinner, explore town with a walk across the Puente Yayabo, a quadruple-arched bridge fit for an English countryside, stroll through the plaza, and admire the Teatro Principal, Cuba’s oldest theater still in use.
Highlights: Manaca Iznaga estate, walking tour of Trinidad
Today’s ride will take us us to the 18th century Manaca Iznaga Hacienda, a former sugar plantation northeast of Trinidad. Climb its 44-meter tower, originally used to oversee the enslaved laborers below, for a bird’s eye view of verdant valley. We’ll shuttle into Trinidad for lunch then check into our Casa Particulares (B&B) for the next two nights before exploring the cobbled streets of this 16th century town on a walking tour. After dinner together, stroll the streets in search of salsa beats floating on the warm night air.
Highlights: Loop ride or rest and explore Trinidad
Take a rest day and continue exploring Trinidad or join us on a short bike ride to the turquoise waters of Playa Ancon and nearby fishing villages. This visit provides an interesting glimpse into the contrast between sleepy fishing towns and the tourism economy on the beach and in Trinidad.
Highlights: Ride along the coast, fresh seafood lunch
We say goodbye to Trinidad and pedal along the southern coast, passing fields, beaches and estuaries – keep your eye out for flamingos. Feel free to take a swim or stop for a snack at a beachside bar. At lunch we’ll enjoy lobster and shrimp caught just a few miles away. We’ll shuttle to beautiful Cienfuegos after lunch. Settle into our centrally located hotel before joining our tour of the colonnaded Paseo del Prado or the Punta Gorda with its grand 20th century palaces.
We shuttle out of Cienfuegos and then pedal past rice paddies toward Playa Girón, landing site for the Bay of Pigs invasion. From there you can extend the ride all the way to our night’s destination in Playa Larga or jump in the shuttle for a ride. En route you have the chance to stop and snorkel in the Bay of Pigs if the cool water beckons. Tonight, sleep in a local home stay and enjoy a traditional home cooked meal.
After a short ride, we’ll shuttle to Havana today with a morning stop to visit the nearby Korimacao Community Project, a collective of teachers and young Cubans investing in local performance and musical arts. We’ll be in Havana in time for lunch. After lunch we’ll take a tour of town before checking into our hotel to unwind. After dinner in a local restaurant, take advantage of the opportunity to enjoy some live music.
We will enjoy a guided a guided tour of Havana or the museum today and will ensure there’s ample time for you to explore all the wonderful sights of this bustling city on your own as well. We’ll meet for dinner tonight to welcome those joining us for the second part of the trip.
Highlights: Bicycle Carretera Central, cycle to the Rainbow of Cuba
We shuttle out of Havana this morning to begin our ride through western Cuba. The bustle of the city fades away as you bicycle quiet roads into the hills toward the UNESCO Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve that surrounds the town of Soroa in the Cordillera de Guaniguanico. Aptly named the “Rainbow of Cuba,” the reserve brims with rivers, waterfalls, and orchid-laden trees. Our hotel is nestled in a lush and tropical garden filled with orchids. Have a cool drink by the pool before dinner.
Follow Cuba’s Carretera Central as you pedal deep into the heart of tobacco country. Coast down to the plains and wind your way through small towns to San Diego de Los Baños, a once-popular thermal hot springs vacation town. After our ride, we’ll shuttle to Pinar del Rio. This evening we’ll visit a local arts organization that provides much-needed support to adults and kids with developmental disabilities.
Today we continue West from Pinar del Río. After a shuttle out of town, we start our ride crossing the Sierra de los Organos and follow the downhill in the beautiful Viñales Valley. The stocky limestone “mogotes” abruptly rise from flat plains, giving the valley a fantastical appearance. Lunch is along the way before shuttling into Viñales. Tonight we have dinner at our hotel.
Highlights: Explore the limestone caves of Vinales, visit an organic farm
Take the day to stretch out your legs and explore the wonderful town of Viñales and its surrounding valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999 for its outstanding natural beauty, unique landscape, and traditional agricultural practices. We’ll organize a group hike to explore the mogotes before heading to lunch at a local organic farm where we’ll learn about smallholder sustainable agriculture.
We pedal north and away from the tourist track today through small rural farming villages, crossing the mountains to the village of Entronque de Herradura where we’ll regroup, have lunch and then shuttle back to the hills for a relaxing stay at Las Terrazas, a small community with a vibrant creative scene within an eco-community and nature reserve.
Meals : Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Lodging : Hotel Moka
Highlights: Pedal ridgeline roads
Our ride today takes us through a variety of routes with varying terrains and views. Enjoy some of Cuba’s lushest landscapes as we head out of La Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve where stretches of forests and grasslands, rounded hills and waving royal palm trees surround you. The beautiful lush hills then give way to cultivated farmland and small rural towns as we pedal our final kilometers outside Havana. We’ll regroup for a picnic lunch before shuttling into Havana. We’ll celebrate the end of our tour in style tonight at a local restaurant in Havana for dinner.
We’ll have breakfast early before sending you on your way to explore Cuba or head home!
If this sounds great but you’re short on time check out our Bicycling Central Cuba or Bicycling Western Cuba
Meals : Breakfast
Visit our Tour Level page to learn more about terrain levels and how we determine day and tour levels.
Bikes
Arrival & departure
Note:
As you are planning, remember that the hotels listed in our itineraries are our primary hotels and are – in rare cases – subject to change. Before you make arrangements, check with us if your tour departure is guaranteed. If your tour departure is out further than 6 months, please also check with us as there might be slight changes to the itinerary.
The below information will help you plan your arrival. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio. The fare and timing information listed below is approximate.
Meeting time 1:30 p.m. – on Day 1: meet your fellow cyclists and Tour Leaders at the Santa Clara Airport (SNU) (right outside the airport, you can’t miss them).
Book your flight arrival into Santa Clara no later than 1 p.m.
Arrival at Santa Clara:
Meet our shuttle (see information bolded above).
In case you can’t make the meeting time specified above, take a taxi from Santa Clara Airport to the tour starting location in Remedios (40 min/CUC 40-60)
Arrival into Havana (HAV):
Bus from Havana Airport to the Santa Clara Airport – remember the meeting time above as you plan (4.5 hours/prices vary)
Note:
Private transfers:
We will gladly arrange a private transfer for you (this can be done about 3-4 weeks prior to your tour start date). Cost will be available upon request, but it will likely be more expensive than a taxi. If you arrive early, your place of accommodation can oftentimes help with transfers as well.
If you spend time in Cuba before the tour start, we ask that you come meet the complimentary ExperiencePlus shuttle on Day 1
Your trip ends on the final day after breakfast.
The below information will help you plan your departure. For more tips or other routes, you might like Rome2Rio.
We recommend flying out of the Havana Airport (HAV)
Taxi from the ending hotel to the Havana airport (25 min/CUC 20-30)
How would you describe this tour to a friend?
Hard to describe!!! We have done this many times in the past two weeks. It””s so different from the Europe trips and people have many misconceptions about Cuba. Wonderful experience and REALLY pleased that we had the time to do the full tour. THANK YOU for taking the huge effort in organizing this Cuba tour. This is a tour that I”ll never forget and I”ll be telling many people about the tour in the near future.
Lou G., Fort Collins, CO – December 2017
Exceptional! I have done nothing but talk about the trip since I got home. It was the variety of activities that made it stand out.
Marge M., Colorado Springs, CO – December 2017
How would you describe this tour to a friend?
Outstanding,the best ever as this was the third time in Cuba for me and I felt I really got the best feeling for the people and culture. The cultural experiences were outstanding.
Ole L., Fort Worth, TX – January 2018
How would you describe this tour to a friend?
Fantastic. You have to roll with the punches in Cuba, but the experience is still one that you won”t get elsewhere.
Guy C., Brentwood, CA – February 2018
How would you describe this tour to a friend?
I have said that it was a wonderful experience — to really see the country and meet its citizens. It also was tremendously informative about Cuba and its history.
Sandy W., Guelph, ONT – February 2018
Cuba was a memorable experience. Could not ask for more.
Diane C., Gabriola, BC – February 2018
How would you describe this tour to a friend?
It”s a bike trip plus. Cuba is a unique country. The biking is better elsewhere, also some of the physical comforts but the overall experience is plus plus plus if you don”t need maximum physical comforts.