Most Inspirational Moment
The caves in Guajimico, the music in Trinidad and Havana, the constant backdrop of the Escambray mountains, the iridescent turquoise waters of the Caribbean or the sunset in Hanabanilla, but there wasn’t just one inspirational moment, there were lots of them throughout the trip. For us the best day’s cycling was the optional ride in the Valle de los Ingenios, the best place visited was Trinidad and the loveliest location for a hotel was Guajimico on the south coast or Hanabanilla beside a lake in the Escambray hills. If you have extra time in Havana, it is a truly inspirational city.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was very good – professional, patient and well organised and offered us some very interesting insights into Cuban life.
Advice for Potential Travellers
I would support much of the advice given by other contributors to these reviews. 1. Take plenty of sunscreen, insect repellent and toiletries, toilet rolls and plenty of cash (ATMs are few and far between). Also take a padded seat cover to put over your seat and padded shorts. We would also strongly recommend that you take immodium with you. 2. If you enjoy snorkelling, take a snorkel – a number of people in our group regretted not having one when we stopped at a couple of excellent spots for snorkelling. 3. In Guajimico we were offered a trek in the afternoon of our arrival. It is excellent, not a ‘trek’ but a leisurely one and a half hours stroll through the woods along the coast, a swimming opportunity in an idyllic little cove and a visit to some caves where we saw some bats. 4. In Trinidad there is a rest day which gives you the opportunity to have a rest, go on a catamaran trip or cycling in the Valle de los Ingenios. Most went on the catamaran trip (the usual boat trip with bar facilities, lunch and some free time on a beach) but my wife and I cycled in the Valle de los Ingenios – for us it was the best day’s cycling as the valley with the Manaca Iznaga tower is a Unesco World Heritage site and the views were wonderful. 5. At the Havana hotel, the Occidental Miramar, we would recommend the à la carte restaurant El Patio – it was our best meal in Cuba, a little more expensive than other meals but still under 50$ for two. 6. The group tour of Havana at the end of the trip is too short for such a fascinating city. My wife and I booked a two weeks holiday in Cuba – 3 nights in a hotel in old Havana, the 8 nights cycling holiday and 4 nights in an all inclusive hotel beach hotel in Varadero – and would thoroughly recommend it.
Suggestions
The holiday is advertised as a leisurely cycling holiday and I think that this is an accurate reflection of the degree of difficulty of the terrain with only the last 8km to Hanabanilla moderately difficult. However, on two of the cycle days all the cycling (45km) is done before lunch and therefore completed in little over three hours, which is not a particularly leisurely pace. I would repeat the comments of an earlier contributor. When cycling don't be deterred by others who seem keen to travel quickly through the terrain – you’ll catch them up when they stop at the planned resting places every 15km or so. You are there 'to see Cuba by bicycle'.. you can't see much if you are cycling without pausing to have a closer look at the more interesting things you pass . Stop en route to take photos: you will be surrounded by wonders. Just enjoy!