Cycling holidays in Cuba

Most of our Cuba cycling holidays are graded as moderate. This means that trips are suited to casual cyclists, but you’ll need to be reasonably fit, used to spending multiple days in a bike saddle, and be prepared for Cuba’s heat and humidity. Daily distances vary depending on the route you choose but expect an average of around 35km a day on our small group departure leisure cycling tours, and distances to be a bit longer on self guided bikepacking routes, though you can choose to shorten some rides. If you decide to ride the Cuba Skyline route you might be cycling distances of up to 80km a day.

You’ll be cycling in mountainous regions, like the hilly Biosphere Reserve of Las Terrazas, and flat regions, like Matanzas province, and through sugarcane plantations. Our tours are designed to be as enjoyable as possible, making the most of long downhill cycles, where you can enjoy the views with the wind whistling through your helmet.

Most of our departures are small group tours. These are guided so you don’t need to worry about finding your way, and you’ll be cycling with up to 12-16 participants. Your travelling companions provide a sociable peloton, and you can pedal in pairs on the quiet roads and chat as you go.

You’ll usually have a guide with you throughout, and a support vehicle accompanying where possible – though not all routes are suitable for the vehicle to follow along on every day.

You can do tailor made cycling trips in Cuba, too. Options include a tailor made bikepacking tour, where you’ll carry everything you need with you and cycle from point to point, supported remotely by our teams on the ground, who’ll provide route info and accommodation. You can adapt the routes for your abilities and stop and start as you wish.

Most of our Cuba cycling holidays are point to point routes so that you can see as much of its diverse landscapes as possible. You might do a trip that explores west of Havana, towards Vinales and Comunidad Las Terrazas, or east of Havana, to Santa Clara, Trinidad and Varadero.

It makes sense to have a few centre based days at the start or the end of your trip – perhaps in Havana, to immerse yourself in one area and relax.

Routes on our Cuba cycling holidays are flat where possible and paved 90 percent of the time. You should be prepared for some hilly days, though, necessary for the most scenic cycling – such as in the Sierra Maestra range. There’s a lot of great road cycling in Cuba, sometimes following the Vuelta a Cuba road cycling race routes. Outside of the cities, roads are generally quiet, but they are not always in the best condition.

On some holidays we’re able to provide electric bikes for your tours for an extra cost. E bikes are a fantastic way to cycle if you’re less confident about going the distance. Electricity blackouts have been a feature of life for Cuban people for decades, and this might affect your holiday, and your ability to charge a bike. Our holiday partners have factored in this eventuality and will have contingency plans in place.

Some more challenging tours encourage you to bring your own bike, especially if you’re interested in road cycling or bikepacking. When bikes are provided, you will still need to bring your own helmet.