Basic travel information
Cuba evokes strong images of the famous 1950s revolution and the dilapidated buildings of Havana’s old town, as well as sun beaches, rum, cigars, local music and zest for life. Of course, the model country of Latin American socialism offers all this, but also the mountains covered with rainforests, the countryside dotted with sugar cane and tobacco fields, and the coral reefs and peaceful lagoons of the coast.
Cycling is a great way to explore Cuba’s idyllic countryside and its way of life, as well as the country’s numerous historic World Heritage sites. We visit on a cycling trip e.g. In Havana, the cities of Trinidad, Santa Clara and Cienfuegos, the Escambray Mountains and the Viñales Valley. We stay on the way outside Havana in private casa particular accommodations.
Itinerary
DAY 1 – HELSINKI – HAVANNA
Flights from Finland to Cuba. Arrival in Havana, transfer from the airport to the hotel.
ACCOMMODATION IN
HOTEL HABANA LIBRE OR SIMILAR
DAY 2 – HAVANA
After breakfast, we will take a walking tour of the city’s historic center. Free time in the afternoon. Overnight in Havana. (A, L)
ACTIVITIES
CITY TOUR
ACCOMMODATION IN
HOTEL HABANA LIBRE OR SIMILAR
DAY 3 – VINALES
Transportation from Havana west through stunning mountain scenery to the Viñales Valley and small town. The lush, protected valley of Viñales is a World Heritage Site and the center of a tobacco-growing area known for its karst hills and caves. We cycle about 25km in picturesque countryside before arriving at our accommodation in the valley. (UNDER)
ACTIVITIES
CYCLING
ACCOMMODATION
CASA PARTICULAR (HOMESTAY)
DAY 4 – VINALES, CAYO JUTIAS
Another day of cycling will take us from the Viñales area to the Colorado Islands on the northwest coast of Cuba. On a bike ride to the coast, we pass rural tobacco plantations. Lunch and leisure on Cayo Jutias Island before returning to Viñales for dinner. Cycling tot. about 40 km. (UNDER)
ACTIVITIES
CYCLING
ACCOMMODATION
CASA PARTICULAR (HOMESTAY)
DAY 5 – VINALES
We continue cycling on the small roads of the Viñales Valley. During the day we get to know e.g. tobacco and the manufacture of Cuban cigars. Cycling approx. 25km. (UNDER)
ACTIVITIES
CYCLING
ACCOMMODATION
CASA PARTICULAR (HOMESTAY)
DAY 6 – CIENFUEGOS
We travel southeast from Viñales towards Cienfuegos, where we stay. Founded by French immigrants, Cienfuegos is the center of a sugar-growing area whose old center is now a World Heritage Site. On the way, we stop to admire the nature of the Zapata Peninsula and take a boat trip on Lake Laguna de Tesoro. We also pass the famous Bay of Pigs before arriving in Cienfuegos, where we still do a city tour before the evening. (UNDER)
ACTIVITIES
CITY TOUR
ACCOMMODATION
CASA PARTICULAR (HOMESTAY)
DAY 7 – TRINIDAD
Alternatively, a 25km or 45km bike ride from Cienfuegos, which followed the Caribbean coast, to the historic city of Trinidad, where we stay. We cycle at the foot of the Escambray Mountains while enjoying the lush hills and rolling countryside of the coastal mountains. Founded in the early 16th century, Trinidad is one of the best-preserved historic cities in the Caribbean and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once we arrive in Trinidad, we will keep the rest of the day free. (UNDER)
ACTIVITIES
CYCLING
ACCOMMODATION
CASA PARTICULAR (HOMESTAY)
DAY 8 – TRINIDAD
Morning city tour in the old center of Trinidad. The rest of the day is free time, which can be spent visiting the nearby beach of Playa Anconi, where you can swim and snorkel. (OH)
ACTIVITIES
CITY TOUR
ACCOMMODATION
CASA PARTICULAR (HOMESTAY)
DAY 9 – TOPES DE COLLANTES – SANTA CLARA
We cycle to a slightly more challenging section north of Trinidad, the city of Santa Clara, where the last, decisive battle of the Cuban Revolution took place, and where Che Guevara is buried. We ascend by bus from the Caribbean coast to the forested Escambray Mountains. In the mountains, we visit the Topes de Collantes nature reserve and the ecotourism center, which was originally set up as a tuberculosis spa. The area offers great views of the lush mountains, the Caribbean Sea and the surrounding lowlands. From Topes de Collantes we cycle about 35km towards Santa Clara where we stay. (UNDER)
ACTIVITIES
CYCLING
ACCOMMODATION
CASA PARTICULAR (HOMESTAY)
DAY 10 – MATANZAS – HAVANA
The destinations of our last day of cycling are the port city of Matanzas, from where Cuban sugar travels the world, and the Yumurí Valley, following which we cycle about 30km back towards Havana. A common farewell dinner in Havana. (UNDER)
ACTIVITIES
CYCLING
ACCOMMODATION IN
HOTEL HABANA LIBRE OR SIMILAR
DAY 11 – HAVANA
DECEMBER & FEBRUARY GROUPS: Free time in Havana before transfer to the airport and return overnight flight home. (A)
NOVEMBER GROUP: Holidays in Havana. (A)
DAY 12 – RETURN TO FINLAND
DECEMBER & FEBRUARY GROUPS: The flight arrives in the home country.
NOVEMBER GROUP: Free time in Havana before transportation to the airport and return flights overnight to the home country. (A)
DAY 13 – RETURN TO FINLAND (NOVEMBER GROUP)
MEALS: [A] BREAKFAST [L] LUNCH [I] DINNER
Country information:
A Cuban visa is a tourist card that is presented to entry authorities upon entry and exit. The card can be obtained for a group trip through us for € 40. Fill in the card carefully and keep it throughout the trip. Your passport must be valid for at least 3 months after the start of the trip.
Check that your basic vaccinations are valid during the trip. Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all travelers to Cuba.
Travel insurance is mandatory for all travelers to Cuba. A certificate of insurance may be requested upon arrival in the country. You will need travel insurance to cover medical expenses. We also recommend that you check the coverage of your insurance cancellation coverage.
The official language of Cuba is Spanish. English is spoken less, mainly in hotels and popular tourist destinations. Learning a few Spanish phrases before the trip will help you in your daily interactions. We recommend that you bring a Spanish dictionary with you on your trip. A Finnish tour guide and a local guide will be happy to help in problem situations.
The official Cuban currencies are the Cuban Peso (CUP) and the US dollar- denominated Cuban Convertible Peso (CUC), which are used by tourists. Prices for hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops are exchangeable in pesos. At local pesos, on the other hand, you can buy cheaper at a market, for example, but the purchasing opportunities are more limited. Euros can be exchanged for pesos upon arrival in the country, at hotels and currency exchange points across the country. There are ATMs only at airports and major cities, and credit cards are accepted as a means of payment in only a few shops and restaurants, so bring enough cash with you.
Cuba’s climate is subtropical and warm all year round. The winter months are somewhat cooler than summer time. The dry season and the best time to travel to Cuba is from November to April. During the rainy season in May-October, there are occasional heavy rains. Hurricanes occur intermittently during the hurricane season during June-November.
The top culture is typical in Cuba. However, it should be remembered that it is always voluntary. If the service has been good in the restaurant, you can leave 5-15% of the total amount of the invoice to the waiters. Tips can also be left for hotel cleaners, local guides and car drivers.
