Cuban Rhythm Biking Route 2009
"Escape the winter doldrums with a week in Tropical Paradise."
"Begin the summer with the bike ride of a lifetime. "
Cycle through the beautiful landscapes of Cuba’s Guaniguanico and El Rosario mountain ranges. Cycling puts you at the perfect pace to interact with the local people and experience the Cuban culture up close.
Pinar del Río, Vinales, Cayo Jutias, La Palma, Cueva de los Portales, Soroa, Las Terrazas, Havana.
Day 1 - Arrive Havana Arrive in Havana at any time and you will be transferred to your hotel. There are no planned activities, so check into our hotel and enjoy the city, which is one of the oldest in the Western Hemisphere. Left to decay after the revolution, in 1982 Old Havana became Cuba’s first UNESCO world heritage site, with its mix of Baroque and neoclassical monuments, arcades, balconies, wrought-iron gates and courtyards. Today the restoration of the quarter-mile-square district is in high gear. The main area of interest to visitors is La Habana Vieja (The Old City), where walking or taxi tours are the best modes of transportation. Points of interest in this part of town include La Catedral de San Cristóbal de La Habana, the Palacio de los Marqueses de Aguas Claras (which now houses a restaurant), the Museo de Arte Colonial and the Plaza de Armas, with its statue of Manuel de Céspedes (one of the leaders of the Cuban independence movement). The Palacio de los Capitanes Generales is also located on the Plaza de Armas, which now houses the Museo de La Ciudad (city museum). The oldest colonial fortress sits on the plaza’s northeast sector, the Castillo Real de la Fuerza, whose construction began in 1558. The city is home to various museums, and depending on your area of interest, there is practically a museum for everyone. |
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Day 2 - Pinar del Río A short journey west brings us to Pinar del Río, the “Garden Province” of Cuba. Enjoy a city tour, with a visit to the must-see tobacco factory, as well as the local rum factory. Transfer to our hotel for lunch. Pinar del Rio province has some of the most beautiful landscapes and scenery in the country. The area is also the most famous tobacco-growing region in this, the undisputed world champion of cigar producing nations. Due to the richness of the soil, Pinar del Rio accounts for 59% of Cuba’s tobacco plantation, with the first factory opening here in 1760. Pinar del Rio is also well known for its mogotes, or limestone pincushion hills, which make for an otherworldly landscape. |
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Day 3 - Viñales Spend the day cycling around the pincushion hills of Viñales (approximately 5-10 km), a beautiful small town perfect for outdoor activities. |
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Day 4 Viñales area Spending the day in this beautiful area. Day 5 Cayo Cevisa Enjoy a day on this fantasic island!
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Day 6 - Soroa Soroa is known as the “rainbow of Cuba,” because of its heavy rainfall and resulting rainbows. The region is endowed with clear rivers and tall trees, and features Cuba’s most complete orchid garden. Transfer to our hotel in Soroa for dinner. Day 7 - Las Terrazas/ Havana Cycle to Las Terrazas (approximately 17 km), site of Cuba’s first UNESCO sanctioned biosphere reserve. Visit the 19th century ruins of coffee plantations and coffee houses. Enjoy a picnic lunch surrounded by majestic mountains and beautiful scenery, then transfer to our hotel for a traditional Cuban Creole meal of traditional chicken fricassee, taro root and congri rice. Originating in a 1968 reforestation project, Las Terrazas was created as part of a government funded conservation and reforestation project. Today residents are encouraged to play an active role in the preservation of their local environment. The site became an ecotourism resort in 1990, providing jobs to the 850 inhabitants of the area. At the resort is also located a centre of ecological research and investigation, which offers great hikes and guided trips to the nearby coffee plantation of Cafetal Buenavista. Some local pottery, silkscreen and painting workshops are also offered to visitors where you can participate, shop, or just watch. Day 8 - Havana Depart Havana |
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The Cuban Rhythm Biking Route INCLUDES:
•6 days guided cycling
• Visit to a traditional cigar factory in Pinar del Río
• Havana city tour
• Airport transfer
•7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners.
•Comfortable hotels (6 nts), basic cabin (1 nt).
•Local guide throughout.
•Air-conditioned Van.
Price: 1750 USD/pp
Cuban Rhythm Biking Route does NOT include:
·Airfare, lunches days 1, 2, 4, 5, and 7, telephone
calls, laundry, or gratuities for your guides Early Arrivals.
·Extensions: In the registration application, participants interested
in arriving or staying over additional nights may request the special
Cuba Rytmic Biking Route tour rates, and
these will be reserved based on availability. January is high season
in the Mexican Caribbean and the hotels of the tour are in demand,
thus travelers are urged to reserve early, whether for the tour or
for optional extra nights.
NOTES FOR FOREIGN VISITORS
• Bottled water is used in the hotels and restaurants
that we will be using. Do not drink the water from the hotel spigots
or showerheads.
• Do not eat items from local street vendors unless we tell
you it is sanitary.
• Bring a washcloth. Some hotels do not provide them.
• Bring a biodegradable combination sunblock and insect repellent.
A recommended brand is Mayatan.
• A fat tire bike is recommended (There are some dirt roads
in the route).
• Some rental bicycles are available.
• Rear flashing lights are mandatory.
• Helmets are mandatory.
• Children under 12 will not be allowed on the ride.
Please take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions section for further details.
