Western Cuba Cycling Tour

Welcome to Havana!

Our representative will meet you upon arrival in Havana before transferring to the start hotel. Relax and enjoy your first night in enchanting Havana.

Havana panoramic tour

This morning we start by getting acquainted with our bikes before setting off on a panoramic tour of Havana. We will visit the well-to-do 1950s Miramar district, home to some of Havana’s most striking 20th century architecture. Keep an eye out for the imposing Russian embassy and the elegant neoclassical homes, many of which are now embassies. We will then cycle through Parque Metropolitano de la Habana and Nuevo Vedado, before stopping at Plaza de la Revolución, the hub of Revolutionary Cuba. From here we wheel through cultural and vibrant Vedado towards the famous Hotel Nacional, which has offered shelter to many a celebrity over the years, including Winston Churchill and members of the Mafia.

Now we whizz through bustling Centro Habana to the famous Capitolio building, a mirror image of Washington’s Capitol Building. With the Capitolio behind us we veer left down the regal Prado promenade, a favourite with street artists and skateboarders alike before ending the cycling portion of our tour in Plaza de las Armas. From here we continue on foot to discover Old Havana’s four beautifully renovated colonial plazas and stop for lunch in a local restaurant. After a creole lunch in a in Old Havana, we cycle back to our hotel along Havana’s romantic Malecón, a seawall that follows the city’s entire coastline. The rest of this afternoon and afternoon are free to relax or continue exploring Havana at your own pace.

Las Terrazas

After breakfast we set off heading west, swapping the hustle and bustle of Havana for the calmer climes of Pinar del Rio Province. We stick to the coast before turning inland at the small seaside town of Mariel and following winding backroads (watch out for the fairly frequent potholes!) towards the Sierra del Rosario Mountain range. These impressive mountains form part of the Guamuhaya range, which stretches across the Western part of Cuba and provides the spectacular tropical scenery for the next few days. After stopping at a scenic spot for a picnic, we continue to the Las Terrazas Biosphere Reserve. Upon arrival you can cycle straight to the hotel or down to the Rio San Juan for a refreshing dip. Enjoy an evening at leisure in this beautiful Biosphere Reserve.

Travel to Viñales

We start out early this morning and wind our way through Las Terrazas’ hilly landscape. Around 20 km into our ride we exit the Biosphere and continue uphill to join a skyline road through the Guaniguanico hills. Though today is our most challenging cycle, the mountain trail affords spectacular views across the island and on a clear day it is even possible to see both Cuba’s northern and southern coastlines. We will picnic en-route. Once we descend from the Skyline road we will join the main Havana-Pinar del Rio highway where traffic will be light but varied - expect to share the road with vintage American cars, oxen, and horses!

Our ride will end in San Diego de los Baños where well enjoy a well-deserved drink before taking a 1.5-hour transfer to Viñales, where more luscious scenery awaits. Tonight, we will be staying in local casa particular, where your hosts will prepare you a delicious home-cooked dinner. Despite being a quiet country retreat, Viñales has several venues with live music so if you wander out tonight, you are sure to find somewhere to hear some local musicians.

Bike to Cayo Jutías

After breakfast in our “casas”, we hop on our bikes and head westward, following rural roads through the Parque de Viñales, eventually bringing us to Santa Lucia close to Pinar del Rio’s northern coast. Though this rural route offers poor road conditions, the relative flatness will be sweet relief after yesterday’s undulations. Once we reach the coast, we will be following a causeway over a collection of islets to picture perfect Cayo Jutías: a 3km-long white sand beach with idyllic turquoise water. Lie back on the sand and bask in the inviting shallows. We will lunch on the beach and then you will have the option of cycling back to Viñales or soaking in more of Cayo Jutías’ delights before transferring back to Viñales for the night. Tonight, we will enjoy a sunset meal at Finca Wilfredo, an organic farm that uses its own produce to cook delicious Creole food.

Viñales

After breakfast we saddle up and head out on a circular route around Viñales. The valley’s Jurassic landscape is one of Cuba’s finest and it is not hard to see why it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also a key player in two of Cuba’s major industries: tourism and tobacco. Viñales is home to Cuba’s and the world’s best tobacco, and we will stop at a farm to learn a little about the tobacco-growing process.

Towering around the farm you will notice mogotes, strange-rounded mountains that seem to bubble out of the valley floor, creating Viñales’ unique and spectacularly lush landscape. After a scenic picnic lunch, we will transfer back to Havana and check in to casas particulares in the heart of the city.

Havana

We dedicate the morning to sightseeing in Old Havana, taking a walking tour of its historical centre. The afternoon is free for you to continue exploring Old Havana on your own; it is full of colonial charm and the streets are buzzing with activity. Alternatively walk up the famous Malecón coastal road and visit the gardens at the emblematic Hotel Nacional. If you are worn out from your week of cycling, you can buy a day pass to relax by the hotel pool (optional). This evening enjoy some of Havana’s world-famous live music dance venues or cabaret shows. Ask your guide for their recommendations.

Goodbye Cuba

The morning is free for last minute sightseeing or shopping. Check out of your accommodation at midday, so it is “adios”, or, as we prefer to say “hasta luego” - see you later! Afternoon transfer (30–40 minutes approx.) to Havana airport. Have a safe onward journey and we very much hope to see you in Cuba again soon.