Tour overview

This 14-day small-group cycling trip crosses Cuba from the tobacco country of the west to the Caribbean coast and the beaches of Varadero. Groups have up to 16 travellers aged 14 and over, with a leader and a support crew. A support vehicle carries your luggage, covers the longer distances and is always there if you need a rest, and hybrid bikes are provided. You stay 13 nights in casas particulares, family-run guesthouses with en-suite rooms and air-conditioning, with 11 breakfasts, eight lunches and three dinners included, and an arrival transfer in Havana.

The first week explores the green west. After being fitted to your bike in Vedado, you ride through Havana past John Lennon Park and the Capitol, take a guided walk in Old Havana and head to Soroa for its orchid garden and a swim in the San Juan River. You cycle past the cave where Che Guevara trained his troops into the UNESCO-listed Viñales valley, with its limestone mogotes, tobacco farms and lunch with a local farmer, and ride through flat farmland to the white sands of Cayo Jutías.

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Back in Havana you have a free day and meet new travellers joining for the second week. You start at Playa Larga at the head of the Bay of Pigs, scene of the failed 1961 invasion, and ride on to Cienfuegos, the elegant Pearl of the South. Rolling hills and mango groves lead to the sea and colonial Trinidad, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of cobbled streets and pastel houses.

From the coast you climb into the jungle-covered limestone mountains of Topes de Collantes nature reserve, with its waterfalls, before Santa Clara and its memorial to Che Guevara. A ride across the flat plains of Matanzas province brings you to Varadero for a free day on one of the Caribbean's longest beaches, and a final coastal ride along the Straits of Florida returns you to Havana.

The physical rating is medium, with daily rides on quiet roads and some hills. This trip suits active travellers who want to see the real Cuba at bike speed. You can also join just one week.

Trip highlights

  • A bike ride through Havana and a walk in the old town (Day 2)
  • The Viñales valley and a tobacco farm (Day 4)
  • The white sands of Cayo Jutías (Day 5)
  • The Bay of Pigs and Cienfuegos (Day 8)
  • Colonial Trinidad and the Topes de Collantes mountains (Days 9–10)
  • A free beach day in Varadero (Day 12)

Your route

11 stops from Havana to Havana

14-day route: Havana – Viñales – Havana – Cienfuegos – Trinidad – Santa Clara – Varadero – Havana
  1. Havana Day 1
  2. Soroa Days 2–3
  3. Viñales Days 4–5
  4. Havana Days 6–7
  5. Playa Girón Day 8
  6. Cienfuegos Day 8
  7. Trinidad Day 9
  8. Topes de Collantes Day 10
  9. Santa Clara Day 10
  10. Varadero Days 11–12
  11. Havana Days 13–14

Why choose this tour

The west and centre of Cuba by bike in one trip, with a support vehicle throughout. Family-run guesthouses and plenty of contact with local people.

Best suited to

  • Active travellers who enjoy cycling
  • Travellers who want to see rural Cuba
  • Solo travellers looking for a group
  • Families with teenagers aged 14 and over
The Viñales Valley and its limestone hills, Cuba

Day-by-day itinerary

14 days from Havana, Cuba to Havana, Cuba

  1. Day 1 · Havana Arrive in Havana

    An airport transfer to your guesthouse and a welcome meeting at 6pm.

    Hotel
    Cuban guesthouse
  2. Day 2 · Vedado, Old Havana, Soroa Havana by bike to Soroa

    Get fitted to your bike, ride through Havana, walk in the old town and drive to Soroa.

    Hotel
    Cuban guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Soroa Orchid Garden, Las Terrazas Soroa and Las Terrazas

    Visit the orchid garden, cycle west and swim in the San Juan River.

    Hotel
    Cuban guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  4. Day 4 · Cueva de los Portales, Viñales To Viñales

    Ride into the Viñales valley for lunch with a farmer and a tobacco farm visit.

    Hotel
    Cuban guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Mural de la Prehistoria, Cayo Jutías Cayo Jutías

    Cycle through flat farmland to the white sands of Cayo Jutías.

    Hotel
    Cuban guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  6. Day 6 · Viñales, Havana Back to Havana

    A final ride across the western plains, then drive to Havana.

    Hotel
    Cuban guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast
  7. Day 7 · Havana Free day in Havana

    A free day, with a 6pm meeting for new travellers.

    Hotel
    Cuban guesthouse
  8. Day 8 · Playa Larga, Cienfuegos Bay of Pigs to Cienfuegos

    Cycle from the Bay of Pigs towards Cienfuegos.

    Hotel
    Cuban guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Trinidad To Trinidad

    Ride through rolling hills and mango groves to colonial Trinidad.

    Hotel
    Cuban guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  10. Day 10 · Topes de Collantes, Santa Clara Topes de Collantes to Santa Clara

    Explore the mountains and waterfalls of Topes de Collantes, then continue to Santa Clara.

    Hotel
    Cuban guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Jovellanos, Varadero To Varadero

    Cycle across the flat plains of Matanzas province to Varadero.

    Hotel
    Cuban guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  12. Day 12 · Varadero Free day in Varadero

    A free day on the beach.

    Hotel
    Cuban guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast
  13. Day 13 · Varadero, Havana Coast ride to Havana

    Cycle along the coast, then return to Havana.

    Hotel
    Cuban guesthouse
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch
  14. Day 14 · Havana Trip ends in Havana

    The trip ends after breakfast.

Varadero beach and palm trees at sunset

Where you stay

  • Havana (1 night) Cuban guesthouse
  • Soroa (2 nights) Cuban guesthouse
  • Viñales (2 nights) Cuban guesthouse
  • Havana (2 nights) Cuban guesthouse
  • Cienfuegos (1 night) Cuban guesthouse
  • Trinidad (1 night) Cuban guesthouse
  • Santa Clara (1 night) Cuban guesthouse
  • Varadero (2 nights) Cuban guesthouse
  • Havana (1 night) Cuban guesthouse

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 13 nights in guesthouses with en-suite rooms and air-conditioning
  • Meals 11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 3 dinners
  • Hybrid bike hire for the trip
  • Support vehicle for luggage and longer distances
  • Guided walk in Old Havana, the Soroa Orchid Garden, Las Terrazas, a Viñales tobacco farm and Topes de Collantes
  • Airport arrival transfer
  • Leader and support crew throughout

Not included

  • Flights to Cuba
  • Cuban tourist card
  • Meals not listed
  • Departure transfer
  • Tips, travel insurance and personal spending
A cobbled Cuban street with classic cars and cyclists

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want hotels — you stay in Cuban guesthouses
  • You have never cycled — a medium level of fitness is needed
  • You want to visit Santiago de Cuba — the trip covers the west and centre
  • You want flights included — they are not

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Cuba
Misty mountains and forest at dawn in Topes de Collantes

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £2,080 per person, twin share, tour only. 12 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

How fit do I need to be?

The physical rating is medium. Rides are on quiet roads with some hills, and the support vehicle is always close by.

Are bikes provided?

Yes, hybrid bikes are included, with sizes allocated by height.

What are casas particulares?

Family-run guesthouses in private homes. Rooms have en-suite bathrooms and air-conditioning, though power cuts can happen.

Can I do just one week?

Yes. The 7-day western section runs as its own trip, and the group changes in Havana halfway through.

Do I need a visa?

UK visitors need a Cuban tourist card, arranged before travel.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 14, with under-18s accompanied by an adult.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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