Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Time spent in Havana but I thought the most typically West Indian place was El Salton, which was gorgeous.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lismar is excellent, his English impressive and he is a font of information and a strong cyclist, too.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be careful of your food and drink - not only what you eat and drink (tummy bugs galore with our group) but what could have become mixed with it _ Rosie found a large piece of broken glass in her glass at the first lunch stop by the wharf in Old Havana( which Lismar took up with management) and more broken glass in her ice cream at the lunch stop at Santa Clara.

Suggestions

Day 1 would have been much better if some attempt had been made for the party to meet up, at least for a drink at Hotel Memories. As it was we were rather left there kicking our heels and waiting to meet the group on day 2. Hotel Memories is ok but too remote for anyone hoping to explore Havana. Three other hotels were drab, tatty with unappetising food - Hotel Camaguey, Hotel Sierra Maestra and Hotel San Jose del Lago.

Most Inspirational Moment

Everyday starting off from our accommodation on our bikes, as a team, in unison and then finishing the day together. I loved cycling in the mountains near Santiago, the countryside was more interesting and the cycling more challenging. Attending a local dance evening in a 'village hall' and dancing salsa as a group with the locals.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Lismar was a very good guide - well organised, engaging, very informative. We learnt lots about the complex history and culture of Cuba.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do take medicines such as Immodium and be cautious - the level of hygiene is not always what we're used to and many of us succumbed to the inevitable!

Most Inspirational Moment

My personal a I.ity to do this...alone. I had worried that going by myself may be challenging but a group comraderie developed fast...I am sure this was encouraged by your staff.

Thoughts on Group Leader

FANTASTIC! Personal le smart funny and professional. His handling of the medical condition of one of the group was excellent. It was a terrible unavailable situation...but I do no think he could have done more.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared to cycle....I knew I could do 60km.....if I tried....but I did not expect to do it so fast...but I did do it..and I felt that I had achieved something. Bring pens and sweets to give to the kids you see along the way. Bring older clothes you. Could donate at the end of the trip if you want to...so many in Cuba would love to have what you don't want!

Suggestions

No....I absolutely loved it. If you could stop the head wind blowing so hard it would be nice!!!!!! I am of course joking!!

Most Inspirational Moment

Well I really loved the off road cycling sections as we went through some of the areas away from the City's, beaches and tourist places and you see exactly how the "ordinary" people live. Its a real eye opener. That said.......... learning Salsa dancing on a roof top in Trinidad will live long in my mind as well!!

Thoughts on Group Leader

Angel Lopes was a local man who had been to Europe so had travelling experience himself. He also had a great balance of local knowledge, humour, and leadership when needed. He looked after us well and I thought actually handled a couple of difficult situations with good customer face. Our group was a real mix of young and old from all over the world, and I think he sized up our personal characters fairly quickly.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Go with an open mind. Things don't always go to plan so be prepared to think on your feet and go with the flow. The Casa Particulares, (the "bed and breakfast" home lodgings) are variable standard but apart form one slight issue, all of ours were totally acceptable. The ones at the Bay of Pigs and Trinidad were especially good. But they are people homes so have that in mind. Take hand gel and Toilet paper!!...sounds odd but gives you a bit of personal protection especially when you are totally away from the city's.

Suggestions

Consider the Heat (we went in December/January which was very hot at times) and your personal hydration needs. We found that after a few days we discarded our backpacks as you can leave things on the bus and you stop enough, but its good to have your water bottle topped up at all times. The guides make sure you do that anyway. The internet is patchy....good news I thought as it was a blessing being away from the phone....but if you really need to get online it can be done from time to time. So.........I think This is a great trip and my wife and I really loved it..........but a county once closed is now slowly opening up. Go and find your own Cuban odyssey soon.

Most Inspirational Moment

There are many highlights of this trip but one that stands out was the bush walk in the Sierra Madres and a visit to Maria and her farm. The guide was knowledgeable about the flora and was generous with his descriptions of mountain people and the life they lead.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Carlos was fantastic. He was informative, flexible, professional and fun. There were a couple of 'dramas' - lost baggage, forgotten handbag, passports gone astray and Carlos dealt with all of them calmly and professionally assisting those affected in any way he could. I'd also like to mention the bus drivers Alexis and Eduardo who supported all of us with patience and humour keeping us fed (fruits and a range of sweet peanut products - yum) and watered at each rest stop. And Sylvester the bike mechanic who was only with us for a couple of days but who cheerfully tweeked each bike to suit the rider.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you are, like me, a vegetarian, be prepared for a very limited menu - mainly omelets and cheese coupled with tomato, cucumber and shredded cabbage supplemented with rice and beans on occasion (watch out for the bacon in the beans!). If you are vegan I would suggest you at least bring some 'protein foods' as you will be sorely tested otherwise. Being gluten free is only an issue on days where a packed lunch (read sandwiches) is provided, but again out comes the omelet and cheese! Be flexible and accept that your diet will be different in Cuba mainly because a wide range of foods is simply not available. There is the occasional yogurt and depending on the season a varying range of fruit is available (for us that was banana, papaya and pineapple, oranges and grapefruit and guava). The only nuts available are peanuts. You won't go hungry but variety will challenge!

Suggestions

Cuba is a wonderful complex place. Its people are engaging and friendly. But in two weeks you can only just begin to scratch the surface. Suspend judgement and accept Cuba for what it is. Yes it is in a time warp (1958) and everything reflects that from the classic cars and decaying buildings to the potholed roads and horse and cart transport. But accommodation is clean, comfortable and hospitable even if the bathrooms do have 'interesting' fixtures and fittings. And the people are welcoming and friendly. Add to that salsa and rumba music, the odd mojito and an open mind and you too will love Cuba.

Most Inspirational Moment

Being there during Castros mourning period - historic event

Thoughts on Group Leader

Brilliant

Advice for Potential Travellers

Train before you go to get your fitness up

Suggestions

Need a bit more down time and longer in fewer destinations

Most Inspirational Moment

Learning about the history of Cuba from discovery...by non Indigenous peoples to present day. Very moving and inspiring. For me just being able to ride long distances was pretty amazing...and the encouragement I had from the tour leader to get up a difficult hills was inspiring too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

What more can I say? Alex was amazing and so accomplished on every level...and so full of passion for Cuba...it was catching. The whole team...Drivers, Alexi and Chacon and the cyclists were uplifted from his leadership.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Practice cycling long distances before you go! Keep an open mind and relax if you aren't experiencing things as they are at home! Cuba is on the brink of change, and a very complicated place....enjoy NOT being online every day. It's refreshing!

Suggestions

I didn't expect to come away from Cuba with such a deep love for the country. I've always wanted to go to Cuba, and the trip MORE than made my dreams come true.

Most Inspirational Moment

The colours and the architecture all across Cuba. The people saying Hola as we passed. My tour group (including guides) spending every evening together because we liked each other. All the photos I took. My first site of crystal blue ocean. And then my first time snorkelling.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Laz was brilliant. It was as if he was sharing his own special parts of Cuba with us. Endlessly patient with questions he must have had hundreds of times before and knowledgeable and proud of his country. He translated more than language for us, he translated culture, and experience and he was part of our team as we were his, Geraldo's and Ariel's (our drivers)

Advice for Potential Travellers

September is HOT! But totally doable to ride - it just adds to the challenges. Make sure your tyres are pumped because it's hard going if they aren't. Don't expect service and toilet facilities like you're used to. They're perfectly fine and complaining about slow service or having to pay 10c to use a toilet gets pretty tiresome when your visiting someone's country and that's how they live. The pace is exactly what helps you feel like it's a holiday experience. Be generous with your CUC if you can, it's so cheap there.

Suggestions

I always read these testimonials saying "best experience of my life!" and think "sure, whatever". Cuba was one of the best experiences of my life. Just go if you're considering it. And just enjoy.

Most Inspirational Moment

Sierra Maestra (day 9). What a fantastic place to stay. Hidden away in the mountains, surrounded by forest. To see how the local farmers lead such a sustainable lifestyle - they have so little, yet have so much.

Thoughts on Group Leader

He was well organised and informative. However he needed to let go of the group on free days and let the group do their own thing.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Allow more than 30 CUCs for the days you have to buy lunch and dinner. Our guide tended to take us to restaurants which seemed quite expensive and 30 CUCs was not always enough as a daily allowance. Be quite stringent with personal hygiene especially at toilet stops. Carry a bar of soap that you can use if running water is available to wash your hands, if not, ensure you use an anti bacterial hand wash. Don't underestimate the heat and humidity.

Suggestions

Our 2 drivers took good care of our group and our bikes. They made sure we had your snacks and drinks at the food stops and enjoyed engaging with the group even although they didn't speak much English.Eyiah

Most Inspirational Moment

There were many but it was awesome visiting the Che Guevarra mausoleum, and walking in the Sierra Maestra where Fidel and his band were holed up.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Carlos was excellent. He was informative, a good communicator with excellent English. He not only gave us loads of interesting information about Cuba's history but was prepared to share personal insights into his own experiences and into what it means to be a Cuban living there now.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for heat and humidity, and bring your own snacks as it was difficult even for our guide to find more than bananas and avocados as snacks for our stops. Lunch is also sometimes sandwiches which are very poor, dry stale bread with cheese and ham and no butter, so not very appetising - better to have extra snacks to cover that too. Other meals were sometimes good, especially lobster and prawns, but variable, so don't expect too much from the food.

Suggestions

The great thing about the trip was that there was so much else in addition to the cycling. We saw most of Cuba and got a really good sense of the country, past and present.