Cuban Highlights Ride

Welcome to Havana, the lively capital of Cuba. Founded by the Spanish in the 16th century, it is now a soulful mix of colonial architecture, street troubadours and classic cars. Meet your tour leader and fellow passengers today at the start accommodation.

After a bike fitting, we have a cycling tour of Havana with a member of the Cuban Masters Road Cycling Club. This club is made of veteran Cuban cyclists who regularly compete in races in their respective age groups. Arriving into the Old Town, we stop for a cafecito (Cuban-style coffee) at a privately owned café, which also offers snacks and drinks. Later, we transfer to Playa Larga and stay overnight at the Bay of Pigs. During dinner at a small beachfront restaurant specialising in freshly-caught fish, we are joined by a local nature expert who introduces us to the natural landscape and characteristics of the area. We round the evening off in a classically Cuban manner, with rum and a few rounds of dominoes.

Our day begins with a coastal cycle ride from Playa Larga to Playa Girón, where we stop for a breather and an explanation of the US' failed Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961. We continue the ride to Caleta Buena on the coast for lunch and a swim, before transferring to Cienfuegos. The city of Cienfuegos is full of architectural delights, with a beautiful main square and restored buildings. We tour the city by e-tricycle, fun tuk tuk-like vehicles that can accommodate four people and run on solar power. Used locally as public transport, they provide an authentic way to see the city. After, we check into our casas for the night. They are close to the town centre and some great paladares (traditional restaurants). The malecon coastal road is usually a lively place to soak up the atmosphere with locals.

On today’s ride, we are joined by at least one master cyclist from the Cienfuegos cycling team; there is plenty of time to chat before and during the ride at the various pitstops. This morning, we cycle from Cienfuegos to Cumanayagua before transferring to El Nicho Waterfall. We have a short walk to the waterfall, where we can relax and enjoy a swim in the natural pools. Lunch is at a paladar next to El Nicho. In the afternoon, we return to Cienfuegos by bus. For those interested, there is the option to do a more challenging ride and cycle all the way to El Nicho Waterfall (additional distance of 14mi/22km, ascent 2,238ft/682m, descent 1,053ft/321m).

We're joined again by at least one master cyclist from the Cienfuegos cycling club to ride from Cienfuegos to Rancho La Vega, an interesting farm where we have lunch. We transfer by bus to Trinidad, declared a World Heritage site in 1988 and perhaps the best-preserved colonial town on the island. Exploring Trinidad can feel like entering a time warp, the cobbled streets and horse-drawn transportation whisking us back. There are many interesting museums housed in old colonial buildings and music drifts through the streets and plazas, bringing the town to life. In Trinidad, we have a walking orientation of the town and dinner at a paladar.

This morning, we cycle to Playa Ancón, a classic white-sand Caribbean beach where we have time to relax, eat lunch in a beach paladar, and enjoy the sea. We have a short cycle back to Trinidad where there is time to rest or explore the cobbled streets and visit local businesses. In the evening, there is the option to take part in a salsa class with Cuban dance partners. Trinidad is known for its nightlife, so after we’ve learnt the salsa basics, we head to Casa de la Trova, a legendary live music venue, to listen to local musicians playing authentic Cuban music. This venue is always lively and sociable, with plenty of Cubans keen to let us practise our dancing with them!

This morning, we have short ride from Trinidad to Rio Seibabo in the heart of the Sierra del Escambray mountain range. En route, we stop at Manaca Iznaga market in the Valle de los Ingenios to meet textile makers and sellers, and we also speak with lace makers at Proyecto Manacú, a female-led initiative that aims to keep traditional textile-making methods alive. Our next stop is at a farm where we are introduced to a local farmer and his family who make delicious honey. We then transfer to Santa Clara, the first major city to be liberated by Castro’s army in December 1958. Today, several monuments commemorate this important period, including the mausoleum of Che Guevara, where we stop for a short visit. Afterwards, we transfer back to Havana. This evening, we have dinner at a private paladar in Havana.

This morning, we see Havana in style – by classic car. Havana is one of the finest colonial cities in the Americas with narrow streets, spacious plazas and glorious architecture, and there is an air of faded grandeur about the place. Visiting both the old and new areas, we discover the distinct areas of the capital, stopping at points of interest. Feel free to ask why the streets of Cuba are filled with classic American cars manufactured in the 1950s and how the owners manage to maintain them! Afterwards, we have a walking tour of UNESCO-listed Old Havana, the heart of the capital. Old Havana is often described as a living museum, with magnificent monuments, cathedrals and palaces. During our tour, we visit a ration store and food market for a glimpse into daily life in the capital. It’s then time to bid your group and leader a fond farewell as this marks the end of our Cuban two-wheeled adventure.