Cuba E-Bike Explorer

Destinations

• Havana
• Las Terrazas
• Viñales
• Bay of Pigs
• Cienfuegos
• Trinidad
• Cayo Santa María

Main attractions:                           

• Discover an essential part of Cuba by e-bike.
• Gain insights into the landscape off the beaten track.
• Enjoy Cuban beaches.
• Drive through Cuban National Parks.
• Insights into Cuban life staying at casas particulares.

Day 1: Arrival in Havana 

Reception and greeting at the airport and transfer to your Casa Particular (Cuban B&B), where your host will welcome you.

Overnight stay in standard room with breakfast at a Casa Particular

Day 2: Havana

After a delicious breakfast, you will take a ride in a coco-taxi (Havana´s tuk tuk) to the old district of Havana. There, a walking tour through the streets and squares of Old Havana will begin visiting many important places of interest: the. Capitol, Plaza de Armas, Templete, Palace of the Captains General, Cathedral Square, Plaza Vieja, and Hemingway’s Bodeguita del Medio. After lunch (optional), a classic American car will pick you up at your Casa Particular. Drive along the world famous waterfront of Havana - the Malecón - to Old Havana and see the Morro fortress.

In the afternoon, after a security briefing, you will pick up your e-bike and take a panoramic tour through the modern parts Havana (Vedado and Miramar). First stop will be at the famous Revolution Square with the portrait of Che Guevara and the monument of José Martí. Continue along the legendary Colón cemetery to the river Almendares, reaching the villa district of Miramar where many impressive mansions can be admired. Transfer back to the Casa Particular. (B)

Overnight stay in standard room with breakfast at a Casa Particular        

Biking distance: approx. 15 km, flat.

Day 3: Havana – San Juan y Martinez - Viñales (210 km)

We arrive at Pinar del Río, the greenest of all Cuban provinces with the world's best tobacco and the magnificent imposing limestone cliffs (Mogotes).  Our tour today will include a visit to a leading tobacco farm where you will be lectured on the different phases of tobacco growth through to the final stage: the-ready-to-roll leaves. A typical Cuban lunch will be served here and, after a delicious Cuban coffee, you can light up and enjoy a cigar produced on the farm.  Afterwards you will jump on your e-bikes along a wandering road that will lead you to the spellbinding Viñales valley.  This valley is home to a wide variety of plants and animals and surrounds the Viñales town where your B&B home is located. (B/L)

Overnight stay in standard room with breakfast at a Casa Particular.         

Biking distance:  approx. 50 km, hilly

Day 4: Viñales - Cayo Jutías - Viñales (120 km)

Enjoy a day trip to Cayo Jutías, a small island on the north coast of the province of Pinar del Río. After breakfast, your journey begins, passing through tobacco fields, alongside limestone Mogotes and past working farmers with ox carriages. You will cycle through the beautiful green landscape of Sierra de los Órganos towards the coast and then, via a 14 km causeway, reach the beach on Cayo Jutías. Enjoy time to swim and snorkel (equipment not included). Lunch (optional) will be served directly at the beach. Later in the afternoon you will head back to Viñales by bus. (B)

Overnight stay in standard room with breakfast at a Casa Particular.

Biking distance:  approx. 60 km, hilly

Day 5: Viñales - Fierro - Las Terrazas (150 km)

In the morning you will leave behind the beautiful Mogotes and say goodbye to Viñales to ride towards Cueva de los Portales, Che Guevara’s hiding place during the Cuban missile crisis, and later pedal further to Parque La Güira. Here we will have a packed lunch and snacks. Once in the national park, you will admire the different sculptures surrounded by lush vegetation. Afterwards we will get back on the e-bikes and go through the small low mountain range of Sierra del Rosario to the eco-reserve, Las Terrazas. The almost untraveled roads surrounded by subtropical plants are a real paradise for cyclists. 

La Moka is an ecologically oriented hotel, its design adapted perfectly to the surrounding landscape. The wooded hills and lake surrounding the hotel, offer a unique ambience to relax. Learn about the interesting and special community projects in the village. Here you will find a unique atmosphere which combines contemporary natural elements with architecture. (B/LB/D)

Overnight stay with breakfast and dinner at Hotel Moka (3.5*). 

Biking Distance:  max. 90 km, hilly. (It is possible to ride the accompanying bus at any time along the route.)

Day 6: Las Terrazas 

A whole day to enjoy the nature, fresh air and peace of Las Terrazas. After breakfast at the Hotel Moka, you will explore the biosphere reserve and its forests by e-bike.  The ride takes you to the ruins of a former coffee farm and ends at the river San Juan where you will be able to take dip. The afternoon is at leisure (without the e-bikes) so you can take the opportunity to enjoy a thrilling canopy tour or a relaxing boat trip across the lake. Dinner will be served at a restaurant (subject to availability) that is part of the sustainable community and is one of the pioneers of vegetarian cuisine in Cuba. (B/D)

Overnight stay in standard room with breakfast and dinner at Hotel Moka (3.5*) 

Biking distance:  max. 25 km, hilly.

Day 7: Las Terrazas - Australia - Playa Larga (250 km)

Today a longer drive towards central Cuba awaits you. Before you arrive at the legendary Bay of Pigs, you will visit the former sugar village Australia and receive explanations about sugar cultivation in Cuba. From there you will cycle along the National Park Ciénaga de Zapata towards the Bay of Pigs to a Casa Particular in Playa Larga. This town is home to humble Cuban fishermen and is visited by international tourists that love authenticity. In the afternoon free time to explore this small town, stroll along the beach and enjoy fresh fish. (B)

Overnight stay in standard room with breakfast: Casa Particular 

Biking distance:  approx. 30 km, flat.

Day 8: Playa Larga - Playa Giron - Cienfuegos (120 km) 

The morning starts with a ride along the Bay of Pigs and, before lunch (not included), take a dip into the refreshing Caribbean Sea. A few kilometres away, at the emblematic museum of Playa Girón, discover the gruesome details of the failed invasion carried out by Cuban exiles. This invasion took place in 1961 and was planned by the CIA to overthrow Castro and derail the ongoing revolution.  After this visit, you will pedal along a rural road leaving behind small towns and patches of local crops. Late afternoon arrive in Cienfuegos, the city Cubans refer to as “The pearl of the south” due to its wide avenues and its charming neo-colonial architecture. (B)

Overnight stay in standard room with breakfast at a Casa Particular 

Biking distance: max. 70 km, flat.

Day 9: Cienfuegos - Trinidad (90 km)

We will start the day with a morning e-bike ride through the city centre of Cienfuegos. Afterwards we continue towards Trinidad known worldwide for its unique and well-preserved colonial architecture. Throughout the ride, admire the mountain range Sierra del Escambray where the National Park Topes de Collantes is located. Halfway, enjoy a lunch break away from the asphalt at Finca La Vega, a cattle farm surrounded by nature. The journey continues along a panoramic coastal road over bridges that cross rivers flowing into the ocean. Right at the end of a steep hill a road sign welcomes you to Trinidad. This city is a popular tourist destination and most of the inhabitants rent their homes to foreigners. Check in and welcome at a Casa Particular.  In the evening you will be free to explore the romantic nightlife with live music and dancing, e.g. in the Casa de la Música or Casa de la Trova (optional). (B/L)

Overnight stay in standard room with breakfast at a Casa Particular 

Biking distance: max. 80 km, hilly, then flat.

Day 10: Trinidad 

Trinidad was declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in 1988. Early in the morning, a stroll around the oldest area will include La Plaza Mayor, surrounded by former bourgeois mansions and the old church, the cobblestones streets formerly crossed by fancy chariots and the small handicraft market selling local art. A visit to a local museum will also be included and a local cocktail with a revolutionary history will be served at a private restaurant. Later in the afternoon, you will jump back onto your e-bike and pedal along the southern mangroves to Ancon beach. Spend the afternoon at leisure enjoying the smooth tropical breeze. (B)

Overnight stay in standard room with breakfast at a Casa Particular 

Biking distance: approx. 30 km, flat.

Day 11: Trinidad - Sancti Spíritus (80 km)

Our first landmark to discover today is the tower Manaca Iznaga which was part of a sugar cane mill that belonged to one of the most powerful families in the city. This local symbol was built as a slave view point with a long distance reach into the sugar mill valley. After this visit, you will head to the provincial capital Sancti Spíritus, one of the first seven villas founded by the Spanish conquerors. Your hotel will be centrally located in order to appreciate the city´s colonial charm by night. Dinner (not included) can be enjoyed at a restaurant near the Yayabo Bridge, a local famous site you won´t want to miss.

Overnight stay with breakfast: in a standard room at a local hotel, e.g. Hotel E Rijo (3 *) or at a Casa Particular. (B/LB)

Biking distance: max. 80 km, hilly.

Day 12: Sancti Spíritus - Remedios - Cayo Santa María (160 km)

Today´s first stop is Placetas, a town off the beaten track. From there you will ride your e-bike alongside roads until you reach Remedios, one of oldest cities in Cuba. During a short break in the central park, you will be introduced to the history of Las Parrandas, a captivating and passionate festivity held annually at Christmas that shakes the city like an earthquake. A short bus ride will lead you to a causeway over the ocean; enjoy a beautiful drive to Cayo las Brujas, our last destination. Take the rest of the day to swim in the ocean and snooze on the beach. (B/AI)

Overnight stay in standard room with all-inclusive at Hotel Gran Aston Cayo Santa María (4*) 

Biking distance: approx. 40 km, slightly hilly. 

Day 13: Cayo Santa María - Varadero - Havana (350 km)

After lunch you will return to Havana by bus via Varadero to drop those off who want to enjoy one of the best beaches worldwide. The trip will take several hours and you will arrive into Varadero and Havana late. (B, AI)

Our e-bikes

We are very proud of the great e-bikes we have! Cuba does not have bike shops, so, buying and maintaining bikes is one of the many challenges for cyclists in Cuba. Our e-bikes are all imported from Germany. We have chosen the Corratec E-Power for your trip, a trekking e-bike with a Bosch Active Motor, which is easy to ride and can handle Cuba’s potholes and rough tarmac. The 28’’ wheels, 4 support grades and 8 gears makes it the perfect bike to get you up the Cuban hills. Front fork suspension absorbs the bumps of the rough tarmac.

(Connection to an international flight cannot be guaranteed due to the frequent schedule changes of domestic flights. We do not recommend booking an international flight on the same day as the domestic flight. An additional night in between flights is highly recommended.)

Departure Dates:

Services Included:

• Roundtrip in air-conditioned vehicle (microbus/bus) of customary quality with chauffeur:
  • With 02 – 03 participants by microbus (7 seats)
  • With 04 - 07 participants by minibus (16 seats)
  • With 08 - 10 participants by minibus (24 seats)
  • From 11 participants by bus (34 seats)
• Transfer from Havana airport to Casa Particular.
• Modern e-bike during the roundtrip days 2 - 12
• 20L of water
• Excursions, sightseeing and entrance fees according to the programme
• During the roundtrip days 1 - 13 multilingual Cuban guide. (Due to possible guide shortages, the airport transfer might be carried out by a Caribbean Tours representative).
• Wth more than 7 adults, a mechanic will be included on the tour
• 12 overnight stays at the mentioned accommodations (according to availability)
• 12 breakfasts, 2 lunchbox, 1 lunch, 2 dinners and 1 all-inclusive

Services Not Included

• All meals and drinks not mentioned in the program.
• Extra nights e.g. in Cayo Santa María, Varadero or Havana
• Transfer to airport after the extending nights in Varadero, Cayo Santa Maria or Havana
• Personal expenses and tips