Cuban Highlights Ride

• 7 nights Casas Particulares
• 6 days cycling with full vehicle support
• 90% tarmac roads, 10% unpaved tracks

7 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 4 dinners are included, allowing the option to try some local restaurants on the other evenings. Cuba is not renowned for its culinary excellence (although it is improving) and some ingredients are just not possible to get hold of. Food tends to be simple and relatively expensive - in no small part due to the long trade embargo implemented by the US. Flavours tend to be relatively 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 probably find they have the most limited choice. Snack food is not freely available in Cuba so you may wish to consider taking 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. Whilst food choice can be basic, on the plus side there is absolutely no shortage of rum! Havana Club, Black Tears, Ron Santiago, Caney..  after a visit to Cuba you'll be an expert. 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), where families or entrepreneurs are allowed to set up a restaurant. 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 local Cubans will absolutely enhance your stay! Drinking water will be provided - we allow for 3 litres per person on cycling days. Please bring your own refillable water bottles.

The dry season runs from November through to April (with December to March being the peak holiday months for traditional style 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 by sun-seekers from Europe and Canada but are extremely hot (average 28ºC) and wet. Cuba has an average of 6 hours sunshine per day with a more or less constant humidity of 62%. Water temperature normally ranges from 24ºto 28ºC.

This trip is classified Road.

Activity Level: 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

Average daily distance: 40km (25 miles)

Number of days cycling: 6

Vehicle Support: 100%

Terrain and route: surface 90% tarmac, 10% dirt roads, some hills.

Overall the trip is not too strenuous but a reasonable level of fitness is required. Many of the roads are in good condition but you should expect potholes and poor road conditions in some sections. The roads are almost always free of heavy traffic, except in the towns.

Mountain bikes with hybrid tyres are ideal for this trip and flat bars are preferable, but a good strong tourer will suffice (though make sure you have suitably low gearing).

Please remember to drink lots of water when cycling as the heat and humidity can be high (applies especially to June/July/August). Humidity can be high during these months, so it is important to bear this in mind. Some group members may want to do a slightly reduced distance each day in order to avoid cycling in the middle of the day. If this is the case our back up vehicle will be available. It is possible for the rest of the group to continue on the itinerary as planned.

Please be aware that mobile networks don’t make or receive calls particularly well in Cuba, and coverage may not be available in many locations. 4G was introduced in Cuba in 2019 for the first time but not all phone networks work in Cuba, so please check with your service provider before travel. Data roaming from your home network can be incredibly expensive in Cuba - we recommend switching this off. There are several ways to connect to the internet using a mobile device, but on the whole it's best not to expect a reliable internet connection whilst travelling. Many casa particulares have free wifi that can be used, but download speeds are likely to be slow. You can purchase wifi scratch cards at official shops, but often you'll encounter long queues. Alternatively you can buy a Cuban sim card and roaming package valid for 30 days, to use in an unlocked phone.

It is possible that you will be confronted by minor frustrations whilst travelling in Cuba. We encourage all travellers to go with an open mind, and with realistic expectations at what a visit to Cuba entails. If your guide announces a change of plans then please be assured that everything possible has been done behind the scenes in order to make satisfactory alternative arrangements.

Please note: As an American owned company, Exodus programmes to Cuba are fully compliant with the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC) general license for Support for the Cuban People.