Arley Varona
Expert Leader: Cuba
Introducing Arley
Cyclist Arley has been leading tours throughout his home country since 2015.
Cycling Cuba
Activity Level
Moderate
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you
Comfort Level
Classic
Activity
Cycling
Overview
Cycle the length of Cuba, immersing yourself in a beautiful Caribbean island with an evocative, eye-opening story
Hop on the bike for an immersive adventure through Cuba, where revolution and resilience have created a culture like no other. Guided by an expert tour leader, we cycle through a patchwork of plantations, fields and jungle, experiencing a traditional lifestyle that survives here through necessity. Out of the saddle, enjoy the vibrant music scene of Trinidad, the crumbling colonial buildings of Havana and learn about the revolutionary history of Santiago. End your day of cycling with an icon of Cuba – a refreshing mojito!
This adventure is only available as a private departure. Contact us to find out more.
Key Information
- Trip Code
- MAH
- Ways to Travel
- Guided Group
- Countries
- Cuba
- Carbon Footprint
- 24kg CO2e per person per day
What's Included
- All breakfasts, 12 lunches, seven dinners
- All accommodation
- All transport and listed activities
- Tour leader throughout
- Arrival and departure transfers
- Local bike hire
- Cuban tourist card for most UK/Ireland residents
12 days of Cycling
Pace:Moderate: 8mph-10mph (13kph-16kph)
Terrain:Low altitude; 90 percent paved, 10 percent unpaved
- Day 2
- 13 km / 8.1 miles
- Day 3
- 53 km / 32.9 miles
- Day 4
- 81 km / 50.3 miles
- Day 5
- 64 km / 39.8 miles
- Day 7
- 49 km / 30.4 miles
- Day 8
- 69 km / 42.9 miles
- Day 9
- 51 km / 31.7 miles
- Day 10
- 26 km / 16.2 miles
- Day 11
- 66 km / 41 miles
- Day 12
- 92 km / 57.2 miles
- Day 13
- 57 km / 35.4 miles
- Day 14
- 62 km / 38.5 miles
Highlights
- Cycle the length of Cuba, interacting with local people as we go
- Benefit from high-quality bikes and mechanical support throughout
- Ride with the Cuban Masters Road Cycling Club
- Create authentic mojitos in a cocktail-making class
- Cruise the streets of Havana in a classic car
Itinerary
- First Destination: Havana
- Next Destination: Havana
- Meals included:None
- Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
- Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
- Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
- Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
- Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
- Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
- Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch
- Meals included:Breakfast
- First Destination: Havana
- Next Destination: Havana
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. It is a busy, bustling, energetic place and one of the finest colonial cities in the Americas with narrow streets, spacious plazas and glorious architecture. There is an air of faded grandeur about it with paint peeling off buildings. Meet your tour leader and fellow passengers today at the start accommodation.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
We have our bike fitting this morning before a warm-up ride through residential and modern Havana. Today we are joined by at least one master cyclist from the Cuban Masters Road Cycling Club, veteran Cuban cyclists who regularly compete in races in their respective age groups, for an insight into competitive cycling in Cuba. We cycle through various city districts, stopping in the Old Town for a coffee or fruit juice at a locally run cafe in a typical urban residential community.
From here, we depart by bus and drive eastwards to begin our tour of the island. On the way towards Santa Clara, we stop to eat our picnic lunch before continuing to visit the Che Guevara memorial site. The pretty town of Remedios is our final stop today. Enjoy a group dinner tonight at a paladar (a traditional family-run restaurant).
Today’s driving time is approximately four hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We take a short transfer to just outside the town of Caibarién after breakfast, where we start cycling towards Mayajigua. Along the way, we stop for refreshments at the home of a Cuban family, where we can learn about life in rural Cuba. The cycling route today is mostly flat as we head eastwards along a section of the country’s ‘northern circuit’. Despite the ride not being too challenging today, we may encounter a headwind when cycling in this direction. After lunch, we transfer to Camagüey, checking into our town centre accommodation.
Today’s driving is approximately four hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
Depart this morning by bus, driving to Puerto Padre in Las Tunas province. Starting from the coastal malecon road, cycle eastwards out of town on undulating roads. Along the way, we meet a Cuban family who welcomes us into their home for refreshments. We carry on riding from Uñas to Aguas Claras, experiencing some climbs. Today’s destination is the coastal fishing town of Gibara, where we stay at a centrally located accommodation. Dining at a private paladar, we have an array of seafood specialities. The town is also the unassuming destination for an annual film festival, so this evening we are joined by a local resident involved in running the event.
Today’s driving time is approximately 2hr 30min.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take a short transfer after breakfast to the outskirts of Holguín, then cycle towards Birán. Today’s route covers well-surfaced roads with some undulations and several fast downhill sections. Fans of Buena Vista Social Club will appreciate riding along the route that rose to fame in their song Chan Chan. In Birán, we explore the village where Raúl and Fidel Castro were born. A farm visit gives us an insight about the sugarcane industry in Cuba. Afterwards, we board the bus and transfer to Santiago.
Today’s driving is approximately 3hr 30min.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We have a day out of the saddle today to explore Santiago de Cuba, known as the City of Heroes due to the important role it played in battles for both independence and the revolution. Spend this morning sightseeing, including a visit to the Moncada Barracks, where the opening shots of the revolution were fired on 26 July 1953 when Castro and his men attacked the barracks. We also visit the Santa Ifigenia Cemetery, where Jose Marti and Fidel Castro are buried. While in Santiago, we visit Serrano Park and join a game of dominoes – probably the most common pastime in Cuba.
In the early evening, there is the option to join a salsa class to perfect those dance moves before we visit Casa de la Trova, considered the cradle of traditional Cuban music.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
- Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner
Today we ride through the Sierra Maestra. Heading deeper into the mountains, our route is dominated by Pico Bayamesa – the third tallest peak in Cuba at 5,675ft (1,730m) above sea level. This is an area of stunning natural beauty that is rarely visited by tourists. We have a packed lunch during the ride and finish at El Cobre, the most sacred pilgrimage site in Cuba.
After our El Cobre visit, we transfer to our Bayamo accommodation. This city is where the Cuban national anthem was composed in the mid-19th century and is one of the original seven towns founded by the Spanish conquerors. In the afternoon, we enjoy a walking tour of the city with stops at several sites of interest.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
With a long day ahead, we start early, leaving Bayamo by bike. We exit the city passing through agricultural towns and sugarcane plantations on a fast, flat ride westwards towards the coast. En route, we stop in the town of Yara to dive into baseball, the national sport of Cuba. Depending on availability, we may be able to enter the local stadium or speak to locals who often play baseball in the street.
We carry on cycling to Manzanillo, stopping for a packed lunch by the water in a small park at the end of the coastal road. From here, we transfer to our final location for today, Camagüey – the youngest UNESCO-listed site in Cuba. Look out for tinajones – large, earthen jugs found in the squares, churches and gardens that were originally used to store water during drought periods. Upon arrival, a local historian joins us for a tour along the four plazas by bici-taxi, whizzing around in true Cuban style.
Today’s driving is approximately three hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, we travel by bus to Banao. Upon arrival, we cycle along a scenic route to the town of Trinidad. On arrival, enjoy a welcome drink at Casa de Alberto & Osmary, our hub for the next two days.
In the afternoon, we explore the town with a local resident, adding a different perspective to the walking tour. Trinidad has been a World Heritage site since 1988 and is one of the best-preserved colonial towns on the island. Exploring it is like stepping back in time, the cobbled streets and horse-drawn transportation whisking you back to the Colonial era. The tour includes a visit to Casa Templo de Santeria de Yemaya, where we learn about Santería, an Afro-Cuban religion. We also have a cocktail-making class today, creating authentic Cuban mojitos in a paladar.
Today’s driving is approximately 3hr 30min.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
On today’s ride we are joined by at least one master cyclist from the Trinidad Cycling Club with plenty of time to chat and interact as we all cycle to the fishing village of La Boca, a popular spot with local fishermen going about their daily business. Our ride continues to Playa Ancón, a classic white-sand Caribbean beach, where we have a picnic lunch (weather dependent). For those who wish, there are swimming opportunities before we cycle back to Trinidad. On our return, we visit the workshop used by the Trinidad Cycling Club to learn more about the local cycling culture and how they maintain bikes without easy access to spare parts.
In the afternoon, we join the Santander family for a pottery-making class. Here we learn skills that have been passed down by several generations of this Cuban family before making our own pottery with the guidance of a family member. This evening, we enjoy dinner at a private paladar with live music.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we are joined again by at least one master cyclist from the Trinidad Cycling Club for the first part of our ride on the coastal road. Sandwiched by the mountains and sea, the road clings in sections to the shimmering Caribbean. We stop at Rancho La Vega farm to have fruit juice or coffee.
Today’s route passes small communities and crosses bridges over picturesque bays with some short, sharp hills. The road then undulates through mango groves until it reaches the Botanical Garden of Cienfuegos, where we stop to relax and take a break in the serene, natural environment. Our ride finishes here, just outside the city of Cienfuegos, and we are transferred by bus to our casas.
In the evening, we head to one of the casas for a cookery class, learning how to create a quintessentially Cuban dish and eating our creations for dinner.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, we depart by bus to the village of Navarra, where we start our ride. Today’s route covers a variety of landscapes – this is a day for discovering the rural heart of Cuba as we pass through small communities dedicated to agriculture and charcoal production. We ride through the Zapata Peninsula, the biggest marshland in Cuba, stopping at Playa Girón for a chance to learn about the CIA-backed Bay of Pigs Invasion in 1961.
We finish our cycling at Playa Larga. For our evening meal by the beach, we are joined by a local nature expert who talks to us about the natural landscapes and characteristics of the area. We round off the evening with a quintessentially Cuban pastime – rum and a game of dominoes.
Today’s driving is approximately 1hr 30min.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
A short transfer to Jaguey Grande this morning takes us to our starting point. Today we ride alongside citrus plantations at the heart of the island, arriving in time for a country lunch at Finca La Coincidencia, a farm with organic principles in the centre of the Matanzas province. The property is home to a family venture that combines farming, art and sustainability-led agricultural methods, and we take a guided tour around the farm to learn about the produce including mangoes and honey. In the afternoon, we transfer north to the city of Matanzas.
Today’s driving time is approximately two hours.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch
For the final ride of our tour, we depart directly from our accommodation in Matanzas, climbing out of the city as we leave and head westwards. On the first section of the route, we may encounter some road traffic. After, we turn towards the town of Ceiba Mocha and begin the climb to the Picadura Valley pass. We soon find ourselves in peaceful and beautiful surroundings where we can enjoy valley views and the occasional small village. One of these is an old traditional sugarcane village, where we stop to learn about the historical importance of the industry in Cuba.
We continue cycling until we reach a lookout point, where we are rewarded with a long stretch of flat and downhill roads that takes us all the way to the Caribbean coastline. Our ride ends at the beach, arriving in time for lunch at our accommodation. Make the most of an all-inclusive pool bar and have a well-earned swim and cool down in the water!
From Playa Jibacoa, we drive back to Havana and get ready for our farewell group dinner at a paladar.
Today’s driving time is approximately 1hr 30min.
Accommodation: Casas particulares
- Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we see Havana in style – by classic car. 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 Old Havana – the heart of the capital. The area is often described as a living museum with magnificent monuments, cathedrals and palaces. During our tour, we visit a ration store and food market to gain a deeper understanding of daily life in the capital.
Then it’s time to bid your group and leader a fond farewell as this marks the end of our Cuban two-wheeled adventure.
- Meals included:Breakfast
Dates & Prices
Accommodation
Casas particulares: a uniquely Cuban experience
We stay in casas particulares, guesthouse-style accommodation that provides a unique insight into local life – an experience you just wouldn’t get in a traditional hotel!
Understanding casas
Casas are privately owned homes with rooms to rent. Some call them Cuba’s answer to the B&B, but the truth is they offer a far more personal experience. Typically, the owner (and often family) will live at the property, meaning you have meaningful interactions with them as soon as you wake. The hosts are warm, welcoming and gracious – expect generous breakfasts, plenty of smiles and friendly conversations in Spanglish. Who knows, you may make a friend or two!
The properties we use have been handpicked by our local team and come in a variety of shapes and sizes, reflecting the personality and lifestyle of the owners. As family homes, they tend to have a maximum of three or four bedrooms each, so we often use several different properties in close vicinity to accommodate our group. We do our best to ensure those in single-room accommodation are within a house where other group members are staying.
The rooms are often vibrant, simply furnished and with tiled floors, sometimes with wooden shutters in place of windows. All have air conditioning and a private bathroom.
Worth knowing
- Power cuts are part of daily life in Cuba, so please prepare for blackouts that may last several hours. Please bring a torch (flashlight) with you in case of evening/night-time occurrences. Also pack mosquito repellent for these periods – you’ll want to open your window, too.
- Internet connections can be unreliable.
- Hot water supplies are not always guaranteed and water pressure can be temperamental.
- Casas do not have lifts (elevators) so you should be able and prepared to carry your luggage up stairs.
- Many casa owners can help with laundry for a small fee.
- Most casas do not have hairdryers.
- There are often pets (a cat or dog) at the casas – please advise at the time of booking if this is problematic.
Essential Information
Trip Expert
This trip is classified Road and Activity Level 3 (Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.
- Average daily distance: 37mi (60km)
- Number of days cycling: 12
- Vehicle support: 100 percent
- Terrain and route: 90 percent paved, 10 percent dirt roads, some hills
The trip is not too strenuous, but a good level of fitness is required. The route mainly follows quiet backroads and covers some remote parts of the island. Expect potholes and poor road conditions in places. The roads are generally free of heavy traffic, except in some of the bigger towns/cities.
Terrain varies from flat around Las Tunas to hilly and mountainous in the Sierra Maestra. In the harder areas, we face some longish climbs, which require good fitness (particularly as Cuba is invariably hot and humid) and some steep descents. Day 7 is particularly strenuous as we are cycling in a mountainous region.
Understanding Cuba: Cuba’s famously turbulent history and economic stagnation has resulted in daily difficulties: supermarket shelves can be bare, finding a working ATM is often tricky, wifi is unreliable and there are frequent power outages. Our tour leader helps to unravel the nuances and red tape of island life, allowing you to truly absorb this fascinating destination. We strongly recommend reading the Trip Notes carefully, there’s plenty of information in there that will enhance your experience!
Staying hydrated: Drink lots of water when cycling as the heat and humidity can be high (especially June to August). Our back-up vehicle is available if you need support.
Breakfasts: Breakfast times are sometimes based on local logistics and may have an impact on when cycling begins each day.
Phone signal: Phone networks don’t make or receive calls particularly well in Cuba, and coverage may not be available in many locations. There is 4G but not all phone networks work here, so please check with your service provider before travel. Data roaming from your home network can be incredibly expensive – we recommend switching this off. There are several ways to connect to the internet using a mobile device, but it’s best not to expect a reliable internet connection. Most casas particulares have free wifi which, while much slower than your usual connection, is adequate for keeping in touch with friends and family via WhatsApp or email. If you have time, you could buy a Cuban sim card to access roaming; however, service is slow and it may take a couple of hours to buy and register your sim card.
Key information
Start accommodation: Casas particulares in Havana
Recommended arrival time: You can arrive at any time today. The welcome briefing often takes place in the morning of Day 2, due to the evening arrival of many flights
Airport: Havana (HAV)
Getting to the start accommodation
The start accommodation is approximately 35 minutes from the airport. Exodus provides free arrival transfers to the start accommodation from the airport for all customers arriving on the start date of the trip (customers arriving earlier than the start date may take a taxi or book a private transfer). If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Catching your return flight
Exodus provides free departure transfers for all customers departing on the last day of the group trip to Havana Airport (HAV) from the end accommodation. Please note that there is an excursion scheduled on the final day of the trip that ends at approximately 12pm, so if you are booking your own flight, we recommend choosing a flight that departs after 4pm.
Please note, unless specified otherwise, the transfers will be to the start accommodation and from the end accommodation and will be on the date on which the tour starts/ends. Transfers should be booked with your sales representative at least two weeks before the tour starts.
Cuba
UK, EU, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Japan passport holders residing in the UK/Ireland
If you hold a passport from the UK, an EU country, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or Japan AND reside in the UK/Ireland, Exodus will arrange your visa for you. We will provide paper visas until June, then e-visas after.
Please note, Exodus cannot supply a visa if you are travelling from or via the USA. In these instances, we recommend using cubavisaservices.com.
Other passport holders residing in the UK/Ireland
If you reside in the UK or Ireland but do not hold one of the above passports, please contact your nearest Cuban consulate to check which visa is required – Exodus is unable to provide a visa for you.
Customers residing outside the UK/Ireland
If you do not reside in the UK or Ireland, you must contact your nearest Cuban consulate to check which visa is required – Exodus is unable to provide a visa for you.
USA passport holders and residents
Any USA passport holder wishing to travel to Cuba should be fully aware of current legislation before committing to a trip to Cuba. As an American-owned company, Exodus programs to Cuba are fully compliant with the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) general license under the Support for the Cuban People category of travel.
Travellers from the USA are required to obtain an e-visa for travel to Cuba. Please first check with your airline if the e-visa is included as some airlines include it in the airfare. If it is not included, you can apply for an e-visa at www.cubavisaservices.com. The cost as of November 2024 is $50 for the e-visa plus a $35 processing fee.
You must keep a copy of your itinerary and any correspondence/transactions relating to the trip for a minimum of five years after the trip takes place to comply with OFAC requirements. For more information about the Support for Cuban People and OFAC requirements, visit: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html.
Canada passport holders
Please visit https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/cuba for more information on securing your visa.
IMPORTANT FOR ALL CUSTOMERS:
Cuba now requires all passengers to fill in a locator form prior to travel – this form is mandatory. You can access the form here: www.dviajeros.mitrans.gob.cu/inicio Make sure to keep a photo of the QR code generated so you can easily present it on arrival. You can only fill in the D’Viajeros form within seven days prior to entry into Cuba. For advice on how to complete it, consult our Help Sheet.
The Cuban entry immigration is time consuming, and most visitors encounter delays: it may take up to two hours to clear immigration and collect your bags. All tourists visiting Cuba must have travel insurance to cover medical costs. You may be asked to provide proof of your travel insurance policy when you arrive at Havana Airport. Ensure your documents are easily accessible.
Visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to organise this element of your trip. We recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through. You should also check with your airline to see if the e-visa is included, as some include it with the airfare.
The paladares are likely to be a highlight of any visit to Cuba – they are one of the few types of private enterprise allowed (although still heavily regulated). Think soul food – rice, black beans, slow-roast pork or chicken, fresh fish, lobster and plenty of tropical fruit. The atmosphere in private paladares and the opportunity to integrate with Cubans will absolutely enhance your stay!
In general, Cuba is not renowned for its culinary excellence (although it is improving) and some ingredients are just not possible to acquire. Food tends to be simple and relatively expensive – in no small part due to the long trade embargo implemented by the US. Dishes tend to be simple, with most mealtimes consisting of meat or fish accompanied by rice and salad or vegetables. Seafood is widely available on the coast, including cheap and abundant lobster! Vegetarians will find choices are limited, but it’s still possible to eat well. Snacks are not freely available in Cuba so you may wish to bring some with you – particularly energy snacks, as food shops, cafes and restaurants are scarce in many of the rural areas we visit. It can be difficult to find quick lunches on the go as Cubans typically eat two meals a day – we provide packed lunches during the day and there are plenty of water and fruit refreshment stops. While food choice can be basic, on the plus side there is absolutely no shortage of rum! Havana Club, Black Tears, Ron Santiago, Caney… after your visit, you will be an expert.
The dry season runs from November to April (with December to March being the peak months for traditional tourism). It is very humid between May and October, with heavy rains at times and the possibility of hurricanes. July and August are some of the most popular months to visit Cuba but are hot (average 28C/82F) and wet. Cuba has an average of six hours of sunshine per day with a more or less constant humidity of 62 precent. Water temperature is normally 24C-28C (75F-82F).
As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.
We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.
This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.
Reviews
Add new reviewExodus Cuba 15 day tour
Cycling Cuba with Exodus Tours Being Canadian, we have had opportunities to visit Cuba before this trip and we were prepared for a good deal of inconveniences, from limited food choices to travel itself being a daily challenge. My wife and I are also accomplished tour cyclists, having enjoyed this...
Most Inspirational Moment
The people, it was great to travel to a country where its citizens are focused on the immediate, the here and now. While we saw many a face buried in a cell phone, we also saw many people who seemed open to the notion that every day is a new adventure. The lack of reliable power, internet, cell service and the like forces Cubans to interact with one another face to face, and we found the people more approachable as a result.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our Group Leader Carlos is a very experienced guide, having been in the industry for over 15 years. He has personally witnessed the changes to the Exodus itinerary, and the impacts these changes have had on the groups experience of Cuba. He was very knowledgeable about Cuba, even showing a CBS documentary about Fidel Casto during the bus trip. He had a good command of English and went out of his way to ensure we all had safe transportation to the airports after the tour was over.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Thoughts on EXODUS Hotels Versus Casa Particulars I have to warn people that in respect of Exodus’s approach to Cuba, they have much to answer for. Doing some research using the WayBack archive. I confirmed that prior to the pandemic, tour participants were provided with HOTEL ACCOMMODATION. Since the pandemic, Exodus has relied exclusively on casa particulars for accommodation. There is a sharp contrast between the two: 1. Price – I don’t know what Exodus previously paid for a single night’s accommodation in a hotel, but I can tell you that the casa particulars only get 20.00 US per night with an additional 5.00 if they provide breakfast and a boxed lunch. The bottom line – Exodus has drastically reduced the quality of the accommodation but has kept the price paid by each client comparable to the price previously paid for hotels. (source: Wayback Archive). 2. Treatment of Tour Guide – Exodus should budget for the tour guide and the bike mechanic to eat with the group during evening meals, even when the meal is not part of the itinerary. Many times, a tour group won’t be fluent in Spanish and having the tour guide eat with the group can really help the group have an enjoyable stay. The tour guide works hard enough already, and in our case the guide, on nights where he wasn’t allowed to eat with us, escorted us to the restaurant, explained the menu, then left, returning after the meal to guide us back to the casa. This makes for a long day and needlessly makes the tour guides life harder than it already is. [ Of course, the opposite may be true, and a few hours away from the group may afford the guide a much-needed break.] The bottom line – The guide should be allowed to choose whether to stay or not by being provided with a more flexible budget. 3. Comfort – Cuba is a hot country with many biting bugs. Cuba also has very little reliable power. In a hotel, you are guaranteed a good night’s sleep, because they have generators capable of powering their air conditioning. In a casa, you have very little chance of having any air conditioning, as the state run power is almost non-existent, and if the casa has a generator, it will only be capable of providing lights. The bottom line – We suffered from non-existent air conditioning, inability to run our medically required CPAP devices, and due to having to expose ourselves to the exterior environment for some relief from the heat, got bitten to death by no see ums, mosquitos and in some cases bed bugs. 4. Food – In a hotel, access to food is reliable, although rarely if ever luxurious. In a casa, this isn’t the case, food choice is limited, and the supply of boxed lunches by them was universally abysmal. (I also am mindful of the comments from 2017 reproduced below which suggest that relying on hotels for food carries with it a higher risk of poor hygiene in the preparation of same. So, I recognize each choice carries its own set of drawbacks). We also paid for a snack kitty to augment the boxed lunches provided, but our only choices for snacks were bananas and peanut fudge. There were many days when the drivers couldn’t find ripe bananas and as a result, we went hungry. The bottom line – We weren’t fed enough to sustain the level of activity this tour requires. A tiny bread bun with a single 2x2 inch square of cheese cut thin enough to see through and a banana are not enough to supply the necessary calories needed to cycle 92 kms. 5. Gas Shortages – The tour bus we were provided was newish and in good condition, unfortunately the lack of gas negatively impacted our tour. On one day the bus driver had to go through a byzantine amount of bureaucracy for a mere 80 liters of gas. A tour that was supposed to start at 9 am didn’t commence till noon due to this issue, which resulted in fewer kms cycled. We also missed out on riding to the ocean on another day because of fuel concerns. The bottom line - the fuel issue should be addressed by Exodus. 6. Failure to Address Prior Complaints – I have attached a review from 2017 below, and unfortunately much of the negative commentary contained in this review remain unaddressed in 2025. The most poignant being: “It sometimes felt like cycling for the sake of it”. The cycling itinerary was not designed to provide cyclists with amazing vistas and insight into quaint aspects of Cuban life. Most of the routes were simply designed to “get in the miles”. Bottom line - we expected and deserved better. The cycling routes for the 15-day tour should offer more scenery, local colour, and if they don’t, I would recommend against taking the full 15 day tour and opt for the shorter 8 day highlights tour instead. 7. Currency Advice – Prior to the pandemic, when Exodus used hotels, travellers could pay for their purchases at the hotels with their credit cards. Due to monetary restrictions and wholesale lack of power, casa particulars do not take credit cards, nor do any privately run restaurants, tiendas, etc. as they are prohibited from having the machines necessary to use them. The ATMs are nearly nonexistent and lack of power makes the few that exist unreliable as a source of cash. So don’t rely on being able to use your credit cards or debit cards on this trip, and this is another reason why we feel the decision to transition from hotels to casas was ill advised. We should also like to mention that despite advice to the contrary regarding the acceptability of the Canadian dollar, we ran out of money during the trip and had to rely on the kindness of one of our tour group to bridge the gap. Canadians travelling to Cuba should not expect their currency to be accepted for anything other than tips at all-inclusive resorts. While the Cuban government publicly announced that as of July 1, 2024, Canadian currency would be accepted for purchases, the Cuban retailers have not been convinced of this, and they all refused to take our dollars in exchange for any goods or services. Bottom line – bring more US dollars or Euros than you expect to need, as it is better to have too much than not enough. 8. Souvenir Advice – One of the lunches in Havana organized by Exodus included a trip to a local man’s house/restaurant. There was a presentation about coffee, rum and cigars, with an exclusive “offer” to buy “Santiago de Cuba” rum. DON’T. We all paid 45 US for an 8-year-old bottle and later found the same rum in the hard currency stores at half the price. 9. Roads – The condition of the roads was far from ideal. While they do meet the definition of being tarmac, the condition of the tarmac was bad, with riders having to slow down to avoid potholes and the vibrations caused by uneven surfaces. So don’t expect to ride your personal best elapsed times or become a King of the Mountain on any of the rides. 92 kms on uneven, if flat roads is still a challenge when the roads are so bad. 10. Après Cycling Activities – The one positive thing I can say about Exodus, is that their itineraries included a great number of Après and or Pre-Cycling activities in the price of the tour. I had always wanted to try my hand at using a pottery wheel to make a pot and was grateful for the opportunity to do so on this trip on a visit to a ceramics factory. The number of site-seeing and extra-curricular activities by Exodus was extensive, and I really enjoyed them, but be warned, some people may not appreciate “being dragged around” every day, nor did some warm to the repetitive “revolution” content of many of the stops, so those of you who tire easily or wilt in the sun may choose to skip some days’ activities. Suggestions My suggestion to travellers is to demand a reduction in the price of the tour, as the tour as provided by Exodus in 2025 is not good value for money. Substituting casa particulars for hotels without addressing the inherent limitations this choice forces clients to face, is, to my mind unconscionable. The casas can’t supply reliable power, air conditioning or food for lunches. The casas don’t have elevators, so you have better pack light as we had to climb four stories to our room in Havana twice. Casas are also frequently located in less than salubrious areas of town which forces everyone to keep together as a group, for safety reason. I can’t get the image of an elderly man, eating street garbage right in front of my casa from my mind, not a memory I wanted to take away from this trip! I also recommend that travellers avoid consuming any beverage that uses tap water, such as roadside coffee bars that use un-boiled water to mix with powdered milk to make a latte or cappuccino. A UVC water sterilizer is a good thing to bring, such as a Crazy Cap or Steri-Pen. Travellers must take a camping headlight and spare batteries, due to the horrendous lack of reliable power in the casas and on the streets. Take a mosquito net to hang over your beds in the casas (or very light hostel sheet that is enclosed like a sleeping bag), take protein bars, electrolyte tablets and supplements, diarrhea medication, bug spray, anti-itch medication, sun screen, padded cycling shorts, chamois butter, sun sleeves, hat and leggings if you hate sunscreen, your own supply of inner tubes for the bikes ( we had someone with a flat nearly every day and Cubans can’t always get access to new tubes, relying on multiple patches instead), ear plugs, battery powered CPAP machines, solar powered batteries/power banks. If you intend to use your Garmin, Kobo, Audible, Amazon accounts, you had better install and pay for a VPN BEFORE you get to Cuba as all US based websites block Cuba from their services, so you won’t be able to download a new book/music or update your ride onto Garmin Connect/Strava without a VPN. Finally, I would suggest that you should be prepared to leave some of your equipment and clothing behind, as imported goods are difficult for the average Cuban to acquire. One of our group, who was from Puerto Rico, selflessly brought soap, pens, shirts, spare pairs of shoes and sanitary items to give to people she met along the way. We could all learn from her example. "Simon Tomlinson Reviewed February 2017 Cycling Cuba Having wanted to visit Cuba for many years I’m convinced this was a great way to do it. It is a fascinating country with a turbulent history. The people and their ability to ‘make do’ when they have so little is inspirational. Never having been on a guided, group cycling tour before I was unsure what to expect and it took a few days to settle into the format. Apart from the opportunity to see and learn about the country the other great aspect of the trip was the other people on it. They were a lovely group of people each with an interesting life story to tell and cycling presents a great way to chat to people during those hours in the saddle. Most Inspirational Moment The people. Cuba is a country with many problems including a broken economy and yet its people manage somehow to get by no doubt helped by the music, the dancing and the rum (one of the few "foods" that's neither rationed nor expensive)! Thoughts on Group Leader Lismar was great. Very knowledgeable about Cuba and its history, careful in the management of expectations (some of its Russian built hotels are not in great shape), and all presented with good humour. I always felt he tried to go the extra mile, arranging extra tours and visits in addition to what was described and finding interesting Restaurants where possible. Advice for Potential Travellers They say you shouldn't go to Cuba for the food and its true. Its bland, overcooked and with very limited choice - fried chicken, fried pork, fried fish with rice and beans just about sums it up. More to the point though most of our group had stomach upsets, some more than once. Its hard to know what the cause was but hygiene in the government run hotels and restaurants (which is most of them) is probably not great. The privately run restaurants and Casas are probably safer and definitely better quality. Be prepared to spend a long time in the coach. Cuba is a surprisingly large country with generally poor roads so getting about takes time. If you plan to take up the Cayo Levisa extension be aware that its quite a long way from Havana and none of the activities (the main reason we went) run on a Sunday (the only full day we had there). It is a beautiful island though and the food quality is an improvement on any of the other state run places we stayed. Suggestions The cycling itself on this tour was a bit of a mixed bag. In the first week we seemed to spend quite a bit of time on flatish, straight roads with quite a bit of traffic. The worst part was the decrepit cars and trucks belching out thick clouds of black smoke - I feel like I had a lifetime's worth of exposure to diesel particulates on this holiday. Some of the days were also not well planned in that we would take the coach somewhere, get out and cycle for a bit and then get back on the coach. One of the off road sections in the first week didn't happen as apparently the track is impassible. It sometimes felt like cycling for the sake of it. In the second week it got more interesting. The best day was one where we actually cycled from one hotel to the next giving a much greater sense of having achieved something."
Reply from Exodus
Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed and thoughtful review of your experience in Cuba. We appreciate the effort you’ve put into outlining both the positive aspects of the trip and the areas where you felt improvements could be made. We’d like to address some of the key concerns you raised, starting with the shift from hotel accommodation to casas particulars. This change was necessary due to compliance with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) license regulations. As such, Exodus is required to follow these regulations, which prohibit us from using government-run establishments, including hotels. Instead, we must stay in locally owned accommodation and be able to prove that our operations directly support the Cuban people. While this transition has brought some challenges, it also aligns with our commitment to responsible travel by ensuring that tourism revenue benefits local families and communities. That being said, we understand that this shift has impacted aspects of comfort and convenience. Regarding air conditioning and power reliability, Cuba's infrastructure does present challenges, particularly with the current energy shortages. Hotels typically have larger generators to compensate, whereas most casas do not. However, we are always reviewing how we can better prepare travellers for these conditions and whether we can provide more guidance on alternative power solutions for those with medical devices such as CPAP machines. We genuinely appreciate your feedback on meal provisions, as we understand how important proper nutrition is on an active cycling tour. While casas strive to offer authentic home-cooked meals, we recognise that the boxed lunches provided did not fully meet the nutritional needs required for a physically demanding itinerary. Ensuring that travellers receive adequate, well-balanced meals that sustain energy levels throughout the day is essential, and your comments highlight an area where we can improve our approach to meal arrangements and explore ways to enhance both the quality and variety of food offered. We appreciate your suggestion to offer more flexibility regarding the tour guide and bike mechanic’s meals. Guides play a crucial role in shaping the group experience, particularly in destinations where language barriers can be a challenge. According to our leader handbook, leaders are responsible for ensuring that meals are an enjoyable and memorable part of the trip, and they are generally expected to join the group for meals unless specifically agreed otherwise. However, factors such as table availability, timing, and logistical considerations may influence whether they join for every meal. That said, we will explore ways to better support our leaders and ensure they have the opportunity to dine with guests whenever it enhances the overall experience. Furthermore, we acknowledge your insights on the cycling routes, fuel shortages, and road conditions. We recognise the challenges these factors can present and appreciate your perspective. While we strive to balance cycling distances with cultural experiences, we understand the importance of maximising both. We will take your feedback into account to ensure the routing offers a more scenic and immersive experience where possible. Fuel shortages remain a widespread challenge in Cuba, and while they are beyond our control, we are committed to working closely with our local partners to mitigate their impact on the travel experience. We truly appreciate your practical advice for future travellers, and we will ensure that our pre-departure materials provide clear guidance on the importance of carrying extra cash, bringing essential travel items, and being prepared for limited access to certain goods and services. Keeping travellers well-informed is a priority, and your feedback helps us enhance the support we provide. While we regret that certain aspects of your trip left you disappointed, we’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the après-cycling activities and found value in the additional cultural experiences included in the itinerary. We genuinely appreciate your feedback, as it helps us refine our trips and improve the overall experience for future travellers. Thank you again for taking the time to share your insights. If you have any further thoughts or if there’s anything we can do to follow up on your experience, please feel free to reach out. Emma Cambers, Exodus Product Manager
Great way to see more of Cuba!
This trip was a fantastic way to explore more of Cuba and learn about it's history and culture from locals! The cycling was great overall, there were some hills that were tougher - especially with the humidity and being directly under the sun, but very rewarding. There were lots of...
Most Inspirational Moment
Stopping in a local family's home for a coffee break while on one of our rides, swimming in the crystal clear waters in Playa Ancon in Trinidad, and visiting a local organic farm for lunch!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Rey was fantastic, a wealth of knowledge and so passionate about sharing his country with us! He was super communicative with our group, always making sure we knew what was coming up next, and really took the time to get to know each of us while on the trip. We also had a fantastic bus driver Chacon, who didn't speak much English, but managed to connect with everyone on the trip and showed up with a big smile every morning. He was always looking out for us, bringing us snacks and refilling our water bottles during our rest breaks while riding!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be adaptable! There are definitely challenges that come with any trip to Cuba but it's so so worth the visit! Make sure to bring a flashlight for blackouts! And pack some electrolytes and protein bars for the rides, and a water bottle with a filter!
Children of the revolution!
Great trip, crew worked tirelessly for us, fascinating place.
Most Inspirational Moment
Scenery in SE hills was especially good.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Brilliant, could not be faulted
Advice for Potential Travellers
Change your money on the street!
Suggestions
No it was brilliant
Cycle Cuba
Good trip, superb guide, interesting journey. Of 8 on the trip, 6 came back with (subsequently medically-diagnosed) Giardia. Not Exodus' fault, but people should be made aware of this problem so that they seek medical attention earlier. This is more than holiday tummy. I have been on many guided holidays,...
June Cuba Ride
The most favourite group of the five Exodus trips I have experienced, but the least favourite of the holidays. This trip certainly isn't moderate in May/June as the weather conditions are challenging. Over 35 degrees every day and high humidity on the bike is no easy feat! Long transfers and...
Most Inspirational Moment
Finishing the day cycling the Sierra Maestra. Beautiful scenery and challenging riding, a real achievement for everyone. Closely followed by swimming in the Caribbean surrounded by tropical fish, a real highlight.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Disinterested and disengaged. Very wordy, some of the long bus transfers felt like a long day on the school bus being fed propaganda Not really proactive or showing any anticipation of his guests needs, more about how much he knew and making sure he let us know! I understand he has been guiding this trip for some time, perhaps he is just bored.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Train, train, train! Bring gels and electrolyte tablets with you to keep hydrated, and bring an open mind. Cuba is a third world country, things are not up to a Western standard so take is into account.
Suggestions
Most hotels were fine, the last night prior to returning to Havana is substandard and needs to be removed or upgraded. Train up, bring your own comfortable seat and snacks and enjoy.
Cycling through Cuba and it's history
A fantastic holiday for those keen to experience the delights of this vibrant and happy country. The cycling is tough, lots of hills and a strong headwind much of the time, not to mention the potholes and exhaust fumes! But in the saddle you get to see the real Cuba,...
Most Inspirational Moment
Understanding the Revolution in great detail was inspirational, but seeing inside the simple homes of a doctor and a university professor and seeing how a 'ration shop' worked, made a big impact on me.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader Carlos was excellent and could have done no more to make this holiday truly memorable. So close were we that there were 'wet eyes' as we said our goodbyes to fly back to London
Advice for Potential Travellers
This holiday really suits keen road cyclists. Many sections of the route involved long straight roads against the prevailing wind in very hot sun! There was very little 'off-road', which for me personally (as a mountain biker) was a bit disappointing. Many of the roads were busy and Cuba has plenty of very inefficient diesel lorries and buses belching out black fumes.
Suggestions
Cubans are not wealthy people but you don't see many unhappy Cubans. You do see plenty of beautiful smiling children's faces as they wave at you passing by. You do hear fantastic live music just about everywhere. You will have to queue up and the bureaucracy can seem senseless and frustrating at times, so don't expect much to happen too quickly.
Cycling Cuba
Excellent trip cycling around the Caribbean island of Cuba. It was like going back in time to the 50s with the old American cars and basic lifestyle. Free from phone and Wi-Fi for 2 weeks was a bonus for me!
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing the "real" Cuba away from the tourist hot spots and living like a local. The snorkelling was brilliant on the Catamaran trip
Thoughts on Group Leader
Laz was a brilliant guide, so knowledge and passionate about his home country.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Pack a scarf or some form of cover for your face as some of the vehicles do chuck out some smoke!! Wear plenty of sunscreen, the heat is deceiving when you are cycle with a head wind. Wear sunscreen on your lips too - a few of our group had blistered lips. Pack some toilet paper. Cycling shorts and a gel saddle are a must. It can get chilly in the evening so pack a cardi/pashmina. Ear plugs are also handy as some hotels are on main roads. Mask and snorkel if you go on the catamaran trip. Ladies a turban towel for your hair as most places only provide one towel each. I wore a pair of closed toe open sandals which were ideal for keeping your feet cool. Also some sort of carrier for your bike to hold camera, money, tissues etc is handy
Suggestions
Don't expect luxury! Food is very basic - rice and beans! Supplies are limited in Cuba so don't expect an a la carte menu. But, don't let this put you off - as long as you are prepared for this you wont be disappointed and our group found it quite amusing. Don't expect Wi-Fi or phone signal
Not the greatest cycling holiday we have had
Cuba is very 3rd world. The standard of the accommodation was very variable and at times frankly unacceptable. Much of the cycling was on very busy roads with ancient lorries putting out thick black exhaust fumes. The island had its prettier parts but on the whole was flat and uninteresting.
Most Inspirational Moment
We enjoyed the very few off main roads rides
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was very good. The driver also very helpful and safe
Advice for Potential Travellers
You may well enjoy the experience but there are lots of downsides to travel in Cuba
Suggestions
Accommodation needs to be upgraded. The bikes we used also had very limited adjustment to personal needs.
Cycling in Cuba
A very interesting and enjoyable trip, the combination of the cycling, scenery, culture, history and music made for a memorable experience.
Most Inspirational Moment
Making it to the hotel in Sierra Maestre.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Liesner was very knowledgeable about Cuba and it's history. He was always helpful and considerate, and a very fit cyclist.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Be flexible in your expectations of hotels, plumbing and food. Although not to European standards the rooms were always clean and functional. The food while not varied was interesting and some cases well cooked and presented.
Suggestions
I would have preferred more time at the destinations, more snorkelling and less time on the coach. I think covering the whole island in one trip is over ambitious, but it was still an excellent and absorbing holiday.
Unforgettable
This was our first group cycling holiday and our first trip with Exodus and it did not disappoint. The cycling is really well planned with great backup and the places we visited combined to give us a varied taste of this unique and fascinating country. We found ourselves in great...
Most Inspirational Moment
The views in the Sierra Maestre, the most challenging cycling day - reward for our effort; the atmosphere of Trinidad at sundown and the music, the people and sights by the roadside throughout the trip, the walk in the forest on day 10, snatched swims in pools and the sea and the fabulous evening out in Havana that rounded off an unforgettable holiday
Thoughts on Group Leader
Angel was just the best - calm and kind, managing all the unknowns one encounters in Cuba expertly.His insights into life in Cuba were comprehensive, and utterly fascinating - history and facts of course but always delivered with personal anecdotes and in a funny and insightful manner. We all loved him.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Talk yourself out of using WiFi any more than is absolutely essential - it's frustrating, expensive and hard to come by. Have a break! Also, as Exodus advise, if you want snacks of any kind or hydration additives do take them as there is very little available, same goes for suncream - basically take all you need with you and don't rely on shopping .
Suggestions
Whilst it was not Angel's fault (everything else he organised hit the button) we all felt very let down by the catamaran trip from Trinidad and cannot recommend it, it did not deliver what was advertised and we felt ripped off.
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