Cycling Cuba: Havana to Trinidad

Our adventures are built for small groups, with a maximum of 12 travellers on each guided tour. Each group is diverse, comprised of men and women of many different nationalities and ages. By travelling in small groups we leave minimal ecological impact, cause less disruption to the native life and are able to gain a better appreciation for our surroundings. Small numbers also allow greater flexibility and spontaneity: a dinner in a local home, an impromptu village wedding invite and any such experiences that can become among the most memorable experiences of your BikeHike adventure.

We understand that people come in many fitness levels, so we've graded our trips accordingly. There are four difficulty levels on our trips: Easy, Moderate, Challenging, and Strenuous. 

This is a “moderate” trip. These trips include 4-5 hours of physical activity throughout the day, with many breaks along the way. Biking trips are the most cardiovascular type of types, but there are always support vehicles available on our BikeHike Cuba trips. During the biking section, our travellers don’t have to carry anything on their backs as any packs can be carried in the support vehicle.  

The main challenge of the trip is the physical demands of consecutive days of riding. You should have a good level of fitness and the stamina to cope with being in the saddle for consecutive days. We strongly recommend that you begin a regular fitness program - that is if you are not already doing so. Three times a week, 60 minutes per session should be a minimum to prepare you for this adventure. The optimal workout would include varied cardiovascular activities such as walking, cycling and aerobics. If you are able to build in some longer cycling rides into your training, that will also help you prepare. 

BikeHike Adventures has been operating tours worldwide since 1994. We started running Cuba cycling trips more than 6 years ago. 

The logistics of organizing tours in Cuba is very complex. It is one of our most complex destinations to operate tours but we are very proud of our Cuba tours. We have worked tirelessly to bring this incredible tour to you. Our trip development department has spent long hours researching routes, ground operations and all of the intricate details to make your vacation in Cuba the best it can be. All itineraries are screened before they are added to our growing repertoire of adventures. 

Our travellers share a common love for outdoor adventure. Most are looking for a physical adventure in an unfamiliar destination. A typical trip is comprised of men and women of varied ages. Our Cuba cycling travellers, in particular, are typically from 40-65 North Americans (and some Europeans) who are in good physical condition, who enjoy cycling at home as much as they do on trips and who are invigorated by cultural adventures. However, we occasionally get younger and older travellers as well. 

In order to ensure comfort and health, good outdoor gear is essential. We have prepared a packing list that you can download by clicking the link to the right on this page. 

Yes. We will have a support vehicle shadowing our route, carrying all of the nuts and bolts (fresh water and snacks) and all of the group luggage so that riders don’t have to worry about carrying any gear while biking.

Most Cubans travel by bike, rendering the roads relatively safe and car free, although there will be a few sections where the roads are busier. The terrain is mostly paved roads with a few dirt roads. There is no single-track riding on this trip, but rather road rides that sometimes require you to choose your line due to the uneven ground. For the biking days, you are only required to carry a few essentials (e.g. camera, water, snacks). You will have a support vehicle shadowing your route, carrying all of the nuts and bolts and all of the group luggage so that riders don’t have to worry about carrying any gear while biking.

Havana. You can arrive anytime on day 1 of the trip and depart anytime on day 9.

All citizens (of any nationality) traveling through/from the US to Cuba must travel to Cuba within one of 12 US categories.

If you are traveling directly via another country, consult your local embassy or consulate for the latest information on entry requirements. 

Multiple airlines have begun offering direct flights between the mainland US and Cuba and each airline individually manages the requirements. It is up to you to contact your airline to ask about any of the procedures. 

International credit cards and debit cards, including US credit cards and debit cards, are officially accepted in Cuba. However, we still do not recommend that anyone, of any nationality, rely on debit or credit as a payment method while in Cuba. The fact that Cuba "officially" accepts all cards does not mean that everywhere has the infrastructure to accept them. In fact, very few establishments in Cuba are actually equipped to accept any cards, especially in the smaller towns. Cash is king in Cuba, especially outside of Havana. It is best to arrive into Cuba with sufficient cash as well because many of the ATMs in Cuba do not work or are out of cash and unable to dispense you any money. Thus, it is best to always have sufficient backup cash on hand from the moment you arrive. Upon arrival, you can convert money into the local currency for spending. You will be unable to purchase Cuba's local currency outside of Cuba at your bank in your home country. Cuba's currency must be purchased/converted upon arrival into Cuba. 

US dollars cannot be spent in Cuba. No foreign currency can be spent in Cuba. ALL foreigners must spend the CUC (Cuban Convertible Currency). You can only buy CUC within Cuba as it is a closed currency. So, you must bring a foreign currency into Cuba to convert into CUC. You must also exchange CUC back to your own currency before leaving Cuba as foreign banks will not accept it. 

Money can be changed at the airport, your hotel, in exchange bureaus, and at banks. Banking hours tend to be Monday – Friday from 9.00 – 3.00pm but line-ups at banks are long. The best exchange rate will be at the airport (but also allow time for waiting, as these also have long lines typically). 

Cuba has a unique and divided economic system. Foreigners must use only CUC. Meanwhile, Cubans are paid Cuban Pesos that has far less value.

We consider our meals to be an essential ingredient to the success and authenticity of our trips. All of your Cuban meals will be enjoyed in locally run restaurants. 

While Cuba’s restaurant scene is improving, no trip to Cuba is a gourmet tour. Food rationing, which has been the norm in Cuba for the last four decades, has restricted the common availability of international dishes. Outside of Havana, chefs still have to work with a substantially limited range of ingredients and the cuisine on menus has very little foreign influence. Meals in Cuba can sometimes be rather bland and choice can sometimes be limited. Fish, chicken and pork are the most common options, with rice, beans and plantain also featuring quite heavily. The traditional Cuban meal is not served in courses; all food items are served at the same time.

Breakfast is included in all hotels and is local style, basic breakfasts. When lunches and dinners are included, they will usually be local style.  Cubans love coffee and it is usually served at the end of each meal, thick strong and sweet, espresso style.

"Casa particular" is Spanish for "private house." These are basic Cuban style accommodations, giving you a closer connection to life in Cuba. During these stays, especially at meal times, guests have many opportunities to communicate and have meaningful interactions with the host. You might call it the Cuban equivalent to what you know in other countries as a homestay or Bed 'n Breakfast. Even if you do not speak Spanish, carrying a Spanish phrasebook will go a long way to to helping you connect with your host. Staying at private houses connects you directly with Cuba's people, culture and way of life. The interactions at the casa stays are often a true highlight of the trip for BikeHike's Cuba travellers.  

Yes. On a limited basis. It's best to prepare for a few days unplugged while in Cuba.

To access internet, you must purchase an ETECSA internet card from an official office or from your hotel reception. The wifi will only be accessible from special public wifi hotspots such as the town square or some hotel lobbies. However, be prepared that these zones are mass public internet sharing zones with slow, unreliable connections.

The hotel standards in Cuba will vary from what you may have experienced in other countries. While standards are reasonable, many factors have affected Cuba’s ability to maintain the same international standards one might experience elsewhere in the Caribbean. To best understand this answer, listen to our full answer here.

Also, you can listen to one traveller’s comparison of the cultural experience and standards staying a week at a beach resort in Cuba with the overall experience while on a bike tour through Central Cuba here.

Cuba is NOT a cheap country. The standard trading currency for foreigners is CUC (Cuba Convertible Currency) and a CUC converts to roughly 1 USD. Most prices are on par with, or higher than, they are in Canada for the United States. To better understand why Cuba is not a cheap country despite being a relatively poor economy, listen to our longer answer here. 

Many of our travellers (both men and women) join as singles. On average, BikeHike groups are 75% single travellers and 25% couples. Unlike many adventure travel companies, we don't charge single supplement fees to solo travellers. Instead, we pair you with another traveller of the same gender. If we can't find you a roommate, you get your own room at no additional charge. A single private room supplement fee is only required if you specifically request a confirmed private room for the duration of the trip. Learn more about solo travel with BikeHike. 

We always do our best to accommodate special dietary requests but please ask us about your request when signing up for the trip.

Cuba has limited access to international ingredients so gluten-free type requests are a challenge. However, we can provide advice for making the trip work within these restraints. Cuban meals are already quite basic, usually with very simple and often organic ingredients. If you are willing to bring some of your snacks from home, it is likely you will be able to manage the duration of the trip. We have experience welcoming various vegetarian travellers on past trips by working around the limitations this way.  

While most of our trips are created with adults in mind, many of our itineraries are suitable for strong and active older teenagers. This trip is generally not a family focused trip but could accommodate older teenagers. However, we do offer many Family Focused trips, some of which are able to accommodate children as young as six.