Cuba Mountain Biking Tour

from $3,312 NZD

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12 Days
  • 2012
  • 2013
  • Best time to travel: January - April
  • 18 Jan to 29 Jan $3,312NZD
  • 15 Feb to 26 Feb $3,312NZD
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Exuberant Cuba packs a lot of life into a small country. Experience all its contrasts on this 12 day biking tour.

Cuba is a cyclist's paradise, with just a few (mainly vintage) cars on the roads. Biking is how most locals get around, and you'll meet many of them along the way.

Highlights include the vibrant and gritty capital Havana, and inland Santa Clara, site of Che Guevara's most famous military victory. You'll see colonial coastal cities of Trinidad and Cienfuego, and the spa town of San Diego de los Baños.

Havana to Havana

Havana
  • Mountain biking
  • Grade
  • Tour price subject to minimum numbers
  • EUR160 single room surcharge
  • This tour is invoiced in EUR
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Cuba

Cuba Mountain Biking Tour Fitness and Preparation

Cross sugar, tobacco and coffee plantations. Travel through tropical forests with hummingbirds, waterfalls and orchids. Claim the supreme reward after cycling: basking on white sandy beaches.

The biking is a mix of flat and hilly terrain, with one very long downhill. It's suitable for all bikers, with flexible daily distances and a back-up vehicle at hand. This tour also caters for non-cyclists. You'll stay in carefully chosen hotels.

Pack your camera and your sense of adventure, and join us in Cuba!

Mild Tours

Mild tours have an expectation that you have an interest and possibly some experience in the activities. Routes chosen will require a reasonable level of fitness and experience on different terrains mild tours are suitable for increasing your activities and pushing yourself to new limits.

Fitness required

An average level of fitness is required, you will need to be doing some form of exercise two-three times a week during the build up to this tour.

Full Itinerary

DAY 1

Arrival Day: Havana

Cycling: 28 km

Welcome to Cuba's electrifying capital Havana! We'll meet you at Havana airport and transfer you to your hotel in Old Havana, the city centre, founded by the Spanish in the 1500s. It's everything you'll expect and more. You'll see the old colonial buildings, some in ruins, and the vintage American cars, many of which have Lada engines. You'll hear salsa and mambo rhythms around you. In the afternoon, cycle through the old town, and along the famous Malécon esplanade, stretching over 8 km of the waterfront.

Meals: Dinner

DAY 2

Havana to Santa Clara

Cycling: 40 km

Today we are mainly sightseeing from the comfort of our escort bus as we travel inland to the city of Ranchuelo, just 25 km from our destination, Santa Clara. Santa Clara was captured by revolutionaries under the command of Ernesto 'Che' Guevara in the decisive battle that led to the end of the Cuban Revolution, bringing Fidel Castro to power. We visit the mausoleum where Che Guevara's remains are housed, to learn more about this famous man.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 3

Santa Clara to Topes de Collantes

Cycling: 76 km (mountainous roads)

We head to Topes de Collantes in central Cuba. This is a Nature Reserve Park in the Escambray mountains (800 m above sea level). The park is home to Cuba's national bird, the colourful tocoroco; and the national flower, the mariposa (butterfly) lily. It also has many orchids, coffee plants, hummingbirds, waterfalls, caves and canyons. Today is our longest and hardest cycling day. We climb over 3 small passes (nearly 1400 m up in total). Remember you always can use the support vehicle for a break from cycling. Lunch today is likely to be at a farm house.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 4

Topes de Collantes - Trinidad

Cycling: 54 km (mountainous downhill roads)

From Topes de Collantes enjoy a very long downhill by bike. A winding road leads towards the Caribbean Coast and the beautiful colonial city of Trinidad. This 500-year old Spanish colonial city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for its public squares, cobbled streets, and antique buildings. Most are brightly coloured and feature barioles, large glass-free windows with ornate grilles. Once in Trinidad, it's only a short ride to our seafront hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 5

Trinidad

Cycling: approx. 45 km

Today, relax on Trinidad's white, sandy Ancon Beach, or come on an easy optional bike tour. We'll explore the town centre, the Plaza Mayor, then cycle to El Valle de Los Ingenios (the Sugar Mills Valley). This UNESCO World Heritage Site was the centre of Cuba's sugar and slave trade for about 200 years. There are fascinating brightly coloured old factory buildings. Later, there may be time for the beach as well. Tonight, stroll around the city and listen to the local music. The sugar trade was the basis of Cuba's rum industry — perhaps you could sample the local beverage!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 6

Trinidad to Cienfuegos

Cycling: approx. 79 km

We pedal from Trinidad to a sweeping bay on the south coast, home to Cienfuegos, recently made a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Known as the 'Pearl of the South'. This is one of Cuba's busiest sea ports, and a centre of the present-day sugar, coffee and tobacco trades. We visit the city's popular Botanical Gardens before heading into Cienfuegos itself with its bright colonial buildings.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7

Cienfuegos to Laguna del Tesoro

Cycling: approx. 73 km

Today we head west to the Bay of Pigs, riding the last 30 km alongside the Caribbean coastline. In 1961 the Bay of Pigs was the site of a failed invasion by the USA with the aim of overthrowing Fidel Castro. We find out more about it in the Bay of Pigs Museum. Tonight we stay at Laguna del Tesoro (Treasure Lagoon), set in a national park on the Zapata Peninsula, known for its marshes, crystal-clear lagoons, and canals. Tonight we can swim a for a last time in the Caribbean ocean.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8

Laguna del Tesoro to La Sierra del Rosario

Cycling: approx. 42 km (hilly roads)

Today we drive to La Sierra del Rosario, a protected natural area on a mountain range in the west of Cuba. From the town of Guanajay our guide will take us on remote cycle tracks through dense forest with rich wildlife including bats, frogs and lizards.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9

La Sierra del Rosario to San Diego de los Baños

Cycling: approx. 52 km (hilly roads)

Today we continue through the cyclist's paradise of La Sierra del Rosario, through quiet, winding roads surrounded by lush tropical vegetation. Our destination: the to the small town of San Diego de los Baños. Its natural springs are believed to have healing properties. Your hotel is known for its beautiful rooftop views.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 10

San Diego de los Baños to Viñales Valley

Cycling: approx. 52 km (hilly)

We travel through the wonderful mountainous landscape of La Sierra de los Organos (Valley of the Giants). You'll be surrounded by mahogany and cedar hardwood forests, and rich biodiversity. There are some good climbs today to reach the beautiful and colorful Viñales Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11

Viñales Valley

Cycling: approx. 50 km

Today, back on our bikes to continue exploring this beautiful valley, known for its caves and strange, rounded cliffs called mogotes. There'll be many colourful native birds around, including hummingbirds. You'll see the gigantic Mural of Prehistory painted on a cliff face, and the Cueva del Indio (cave). We'll stop for lunch next to a tobacco farm. There are many tobacco plantations here, and we can visit one of the local farmers. Maybe you can learn how to roll your own cigars!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12

Departure Day: Havana

It's time to say goodbye to unforgettable Cuba. After breakfast we drive you back to Havana, arriving at the airport before noon.

Meals: Breakfast

Let me help you organise your Cuba biking tour.

Nathalie_236x184

+64 3 982 9933

Email: reservations@globaladventureguide.com

Tour Inclusions and Exclusions:

Tour Includes:

  • Accommodation in 2-4 star hotels
  • All meals, lunch is packed lunch in lunch boxes or at local farmhouse
  • Air-conditioned bus
  • English speaking tour guide
  • Entry fees as per itinerary
  • Bike hire

Tour Excludes:

  • International Flights and/or Travel Visas (where applicable) or Travel Insurance
  • Drinks & snack bars on board
  • Single room surcharge
  • Passport or travel visa requirements