Cycle Cuba: East

8 Days | Explore eastern Cuba by bike, from Havana to Varadero and the peaceful beauty of the pristine Yumuri Valley

5 out of 5 based on 22 reviews submitted.
Cycling
From
NZD $2,350
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Experience Cuba from two wheels as you cycle around the east of this laidback Caribbean island. Travel the colourful streets of Havana, cycling alongside vintage cars on your way to the verdant Bay of Pigs. Discover the UNESCO Word Heritage sites of Cienfuegos and Trinidad, pay homage at Che Guevara’s final resting place in Santa Clara, cycle the pristine and undiscovered Yumuri Valley, and enjoy the perfect beaches of vibrant Varadero. This is the very best of eastern Cuba. Experience the Cuba that lies beyond the rum and cigar scene all from the saddle of your bike. 

Trip overview

Map of Cycle Cuba: East including Cuba
Start
Havana, Cuba
Finish
Havana, Cuba
Theme
Cycling
Destinations
Cuba
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
QBXE
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

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 pristine valley of Yumuri, an untouched paradise far off the usual tourist track.
  • Pay homage to the legendary Che Guevara's at his final resting place in the very heart of Cuba, Santa Clara.
  • 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!
  • Indulge in some sun, sand and sea on the buzzing beaches of Varadero.
  • By travelling on this trip, you’ll directly support our Intrepid Foundation partner, World Bicycle Relief. Donations provide school kids, health workers, and farmers in far-out areas with bicycles that provide access to education, healthcare, and income.

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.

Itinerary

Map of Cycle Cuba: East including Cuba

Inclusions

Meals

6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners

Transport

Bicycle, Support Vehicle (Bus)

Accommodation

Standard Guesthouse (7 nights)

Activities
  • 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
  • Classic American Car Tour of Havana - Urban Adventures (guide & transport included - USD67
  • Havana - National Museum of Fine Arts (entrance fee) - CUP250
  • Havana - Jose Marti Memorial tower entrance fee - CUP200
  • 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

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 
3. Bicycle hire is included in your trip price. Please advise your height at time of booking so we can organise a suitably sized bike.
4. Bike helmets are compulsory on this trip. You are unable to purchase or hire bike helmets locally so please ensure you bring your own bike helmet from home.
5. Travel insurance is compulsory for all travellers entering Cuba. You may be asked to show proof of your travel insurance by immigration staff upon arrival at Havana Airport.
6. Please advise bedding configuration requests to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel to aid guesthouse and rooming allocations. You may request your confirmed guesthouse name and address inside 7 days of departure from your booking agent. Rest assured, the transfer driver will know the address of your assigned guesthouse.
7. We recommend you bring enough cash to last your whole time in Cuba. This is currently the best option and will provide you with the best value for money. Please see the ‘Money Matters’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
8. For non-US passport holders, we recommend travelling to Cuba via Canada, Europe, South or Central America. Please refer to the ‘Passports, visas and entry requirements’ section of the Essential Trip Information for further details.
9. For US passport holders this trip operates under the “Support for the Cuban People” category (§ 515.574) and requires a signed and countersigned travel affidavit. Our licensing agreement only allows one night of pre-tour accommodation to be booked and no post-tour accommodation. Please refer to the ‘Passports, visas and entry requirements’ section of the Essential Trip Information for further details.

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

5 out of 5 based on 22 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Michael · Traveled February 2024
Cuba East. Wow! This trip surpassed our expectations. We are an active couple of 67-year olds, though our group age-ranged 19-75. Our guide Ranier was as knowledgeable and detail-oriented as one could hope, and supported by a well-organized Intrepid team. So happy to get out of the chaos of Havana and bike through other parts of Cuba. Biggest surprise: the food was wonderful.
Review submitted 29 Feb 2024

Patrick · Traveled January 2024
My wife and I had never done an organized tour before, always going it on our own. We chose Intrepid for a bicycle tour of Cuba and the experience far surpassed our expectations! We will definitely travel with Intrepid again.
Review submitted 26 Jan 2024

Lucy · Traveled November 2023
My experience of cycling in Cuba was great. I learned more about Cuban history while enjoying the countryside at the slower cycling pace. Be ready for hot weather though! Our three crew members, Rainer, Ariel (bikes) and Oswaldo (bus driver) were excellent - they looked after our needs & made our trip comfortable. Rainer is very friendly & organized. His hard work gave us the chance to have a truly great experience!
Review submitted 13 Dec 2023

Michelle · Traveled November 2023
Cycle Cuba was a great trip made even better by the group leader Rainer, he really showed us real Cuba best 2 weeks adventure I would highly recommend this trip coming from a not so active cyclist 🤣🤣
Review submitted 30 Nov 2023

Peter · Traveled October 2023
Thoroughly worthwhile and enjoyable trip. Never forced to continue if unwilling although everyone on our trip completed each day. Well run by specialists in the field, can't wait to go again!
Review submitted 27 Oct 2023
Cycle Cuba: East
From
NZD $2,350