Cuba Bike Tour

While new rules issued by the US Treasury Department on June 5, 2019 eliminate the People-to-People group educational travel category, our trips to Cuba through 2020 are grandfathered in and will run as scheduled.

National Parks & Latin Rhythms into Havana

From $6,099 - $6,499 pp dbl. occ. | 7 days / 6 nights

(+$740 to $780 for sgl. occ.)

White-sand beaches and turquoise waters. Lush Viñales farmlands. Historic Havana, biospheres and national parks. See it all riding side by side with the locals. We're the first US active travel company to offer road biking trips in Cuba. And no one immerses you into this country's natural beauty, culture and history like we do.

Highlights

Embark on this unique US-approved Biking Trip—Backroads was the first to launch a trip of this kind!
Journey by bike to magical Havana, crossing unique mogotes, tobacco farms and Las Terrazas Biosphere
Pedal alongside the Cuban Masters Cycling Club through beautiful natural areas, rural villages and captivating colonial towns
Engage with local people from all walks of life—from farmers to Cuba's famous artisans and dancers

Cuba

Start/End Havana

Itinerary

Days 1-2 Cycle through Viñales National Park amid dramatic domed hills or mogotes | Get to know a family at their prize-winning farm and enjoy a farm-to-table feast | Visit a tobacco farm and learn how the leaves are rolled into cigars | Bike to the miles-long white-sand beaches of Cayo Jutías and dine on fresh fish | Expert salsa dancers teach you how to move to the rhythm | In the evening, join the locals for more music.

Days 3-4 Bike with members of the Cuban Masters Cycling Club from the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve to Havana | Artists welcome us to Las Terrazas, a sustainable eco-village within the reserve.

Days 5-7 Discuss art and its influence during a visit to the studio of José Fuster, dubbed Picasso of the Caribbean | Join an award-winning journalist who has lived in Cuba for over 20 years for an informative Q&A session | We're treated to a performance by the young Habana Compás dance group | Starting in the Plaza de Armas, Havana's oldest square, explore vibrant Habana Vieja with an expert from the city's Historian's Office and witness the preservation efforts firsthand | Local entrepreneurs and paladar (restaurant) owners share their passions and stories of how they launched their businesses | Meander through lively plazas and side streets including Callejón de los Peluqueros, home of a community project centered around one of Cuba's most famous hairdressing salons.

Please note: Read our Straight Talk for must-read requirements regarding travel to Cuba with Backroads.
Also: Guests who are non-US citizens and without a US passport or US immigration status are required to travel to our trip start via a US city.

Next: Dates & Prices

The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.

Cancellation fees may vary based upon departure date. Please review the grid below:

Number of Days Prior to Trip Start	Cancellation Fees (per person)	Departure Dates

For information on our trip transfers see here.

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

Available
to Book i
Going
Fast i
Contact
Us i
Private Trip
– Reserved i

C Classic Dates

2019 November

11/24–11/30

2019 December

12/8–12/14

12/15–12/21

12/22–12/28

12/24–12/30

12/30–1/5

2020 January

1/1–1/7

1/12–1/18

2020 February

2/9–2/15

2020 March

3/8–3/14

2020 April

4/5–4/11

2020 May

5/3–5/9

5/31–6/6

2020 November

11/22–11/28

2020 December

12/13–12/19

12/20–12/26

12/22–12/28

12/28–1/3

12/30–1/5

View Private Dates

Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group of 8 or more. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.

2019 Private Trip Pricing

10 or more guests Guests: from $6,099 pp dbl occ
8-9 Guests: from $6,899 pp dbl occ
2-7 Guests: Give us a call or reach out here!

Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.

Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date

2+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 2 or more guests
8+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 8 or more guests
16+ AVAILABLE TO BOOK
for 16 or more guests
Reserved

C Couples, Friends & Solos Tours

The sky’s the limit! Tell us what your dream trip would be and we'll make it happen! Whether you're looking for a honeymoon trip for 2, a 30-person family reunion or a 100-person corporate trip, we can do it all. A dedicated Custom Trip Consultant will work closely with you to bring your dreams to reality. Call us at 800-462-2848 to speak with your Custom Trip Consultant or click on the button below.

REQUEST YOUR CUSTOM TRIP NOW

Previous: Overview

Dates

2020
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Nov
Dec

View Scheduled Dates
Go Private
Go Custom

Prices

From $6,099 - $6,499 pp dbl. occ.
7 days / 6 nights

(+$740 to $780 for sgl. occ.)

Reviews

Read the Reviews
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Casual Hotels*

Hotel in Viñales

Viñales (2 nights)

Hotel Moka Las Terrazas

Las Terrazas (2 nights)

Gran Hotel Manaza Kempinksi La Habana, Cuba

Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana

Havana (2 nights)

* Premiere Hotel

See Lodging Details

Activity Level

This trip is rated Levels 2-4

See Daily Route Options

What's Included

Services and equipment are included.

See how we include more

Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Cuba

Find out What sets us apart

More On This Trip

Watch videos

Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

Reviews by Power Reviews ®

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Next: Lodging

Casual Hotels*

Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.

Hotel in Viñales

Viñales (2 nights)

Lodging for our first two nights will be at Hotel Los Jazmines, Hotel La Ermita, Villa Rancho San Vicente or similar—each situated in the lush Viñales Valley.

Hotel Moka Las Terrazas

Las Terrazas (2 nights)

A unique hotel designed to blend with the forested surroundings of the Sierra del Rosario Biosphere Reserve. (pool)

Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana

Havana (2 nights)

* Premiere Hotel

Originally built between 1894 and 1917 as the first European-style shopping center, this lovingly restored Old Havana building is now Cuba's first "true luxury" hotel and includes a modern revival of upscale shopping. Set in an ideal location overlooking Parque Central, the Kempinski celebrated its grand opening in summer 2017. (pool, spa)

Previous: Reviews

Next: Activity Level

This Trip Is Rated Levels 2-4

Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do.

Daily Route Options (drag to see full )

Day	EASYGOING				ACTIVE				AVID
Daily Route Options
	Level 1		Level 2		Level 3		Level 4		Level 5
	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain	miles	feet gain
1	11*	700	17	900
	Tobacco Farmer Cultural Interaction (30 Minutes)
	Agricultural Community Project & Dinner (2 Hours)
2			26*	1300	36*	1500	45*	1600
	Educational Exchanges near Viñales (1 Hour)
	Evening Local Dancers & Musicians Exchange (1 Hour)
3	16*	500	21*	800	37*	1900	48	3000
	Las Terrazas Community Interactions with Artists (1 Hour)
	Cuban Masters Cycling Club Members Q&A Cultural Exchange & Dinner (2 Hours)
4			24*	1700	35*	2200	52	3400
	Cultural Exchange Ride with Cuban Masters Cycling Club Members (3 Hours)
	Cultural Exchange in San Blas (1 Hour)
	Cultural Exchange in Las Terrazas (2 Hours)
5			26*	800	37*	1200	45	1200
	Cultural Exchange Ride with Cuban Masters Cycling Club Members (3 Hours)
	Fuster Community Project Visit (1 Hour)
	Cultural Exchange with Cuban Entrepreneurs & Arte Corte (2 Hours)
6	Historical City Walking Tour (2 Hours)
	Educational Exchange with City Expert & Community Interactions in Old Havana (2 Hours)
	Daycare Center Visit (30 Minutes)
	Arte Corte Community Interactions (1 Hour)
	Q&A with Marc Frank (1 Hour)
	Habana Compás Dance Performance & Cultural Exchange (2 Hours)
7	Vedado Food Market Visit (30 Minutes)
7	Vedado Neighborhood Walk (1.5 Hours)

Note: Humidity and heat can make routes feel more challenging than the mileage may suggest.

* Includes shuttle.

Learn more about how we determine our activity level and fully support a range of abilities and interests.

Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies and other external factors.

Previous: Lodging

Next: What's Included

Meals

All breakfasts, 7 lunches, 5 dinners

Available Bike Options

The key to a stellar day’s ride is a bike that’s perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.

Backroads Titanium Bikes (Included in your trip price)

Our custom-built titanium bikes are specially designed for you—and we offer different models for varied terrain so your bike is ideally suited to the region. Our custom-made bikes are included in your trip price.

Touring Bike (Included)

Performance Road Bike (Included)

Also Included

Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
Snacks and beverages between meals
Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
Park and other entry fees
Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
Select coach transfers
Baggage transfers and porterage

Previous: Activity Level

Next: Straight Talk

Next: Why Backroads

Get the Straight Talk about This Trip

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

The People-to-People Experience

Backroads remains licensed through 2020 by the United States Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) to engage, organize and conduct authorized People-to-People group travel to Cuba that engages participants in meaningful interactions with individuals in Cuba. In order to adhere to the US government requirements for travel to Cuba, this trip does not allow for the degree of flexibility we build into all of our other itineraries; as a guest, you must adhere to the full-time schedule of enriching People-to-People educational exchange activities.

New US Regulations for Travel to Cuba—Flights & Hotels

Under the new Cuba travel rules announced by the US government June 5, 2019 the People-to-People group educational travel category has been eliminated. However, Backroads People-to-People group trips remain legally licensed for our departures through 2020 since our reservations were made prior to the rollout of the government’s new rules. This means our 2019 and 2020 trips will run as scheduled and we'll continue to deliver high-quality experiences in Cuba. You can still purchase your own commercial flights to Cuba. Please keep in mind you cannot extend your stay in Cuba and your flight to Cuba must arrive no earlier than the evening before the Backroads trip start and must depart the evening of the trip end, or no later than the following morning. Beginning November 9, 2017, US policy also prohibits direct financial transactions to entities related to the Cuban military, including various hotels. Please feel free to contact us with questions or concerns about your travel arrangements for the days before or after your Backroads trip. And for more information on the new guidelines, please refer to OFAC's FAQs. For a complete list of restricted hotels and other entities, please refer to the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs.

Itinerary Changes

When traveling abroad, things don't always go according to plan and, particularly in Cuba, itinerary changes or shifts mid-trip are quite common. In the event of a last-minute change to the scheduled activities, your leaders will find alternate activities that you're sure to enjoy. Expect the unexpected in this region—it's all part of the adventure!

Accommodations & Meals

As "luxury" accommodations in Cuba can generally be very hard to find in smaller towns or be characterized as large all-inclusive, resort-style hotels, our accommodations in the towns we visit outside of Havana are not typical of the Backroads experience. While the hotels are the best available in the towns we visit, even the nicest properties in Cuba do not come close to equaling the accommodations on other Backroads trips.

Please note that although meals are fresh and tasty, the variety will be limited, with many of the same ingredients featured (such as poultry, pork, beans and rice).

Developing Country

The people and places you'll visit on this People-to-People Program in Cuba will stay with you for a very long time. But keep in mind that Cuba is a developing country and travel here isn't always easy; occasional scenes of poverty and litter can be jarring. Still, the beauty of the people, the culture and the landscape shine through, making for an amazing and fulfilling experience.

Previous: What's Included

Next: Why Backroads

Why Travel with Backroads in Cuba

The Best Leaders in Cuba

Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Cuba, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.

The Right Local Pairings

Our Trip Leaders combine deep local expertise with a firm grasp of North American expectations around quality of service. By the same token, we pair experienced Backroads leaders with local guides who know how to cater to your needs while cracking open the culture or natural history in ways that are meaningful, memorable and often magical.

Experts with Secrets to Share

In choosing the ideal experts to enrich your travel experience, we look for people with a wealth of local knowledge, but also the ability to convey their insights in English. Too often travelers find themselves smiling politely, not quite understanding what they're being told. Our experts share intriguing facts, anecdotes and inside stories that stay with you forever.

Our Cultural Roots Run Deep

Thanks to our extensive connections in Cuba, Backroads takes you off the beaten track and deep into the region's culture in ways that traditional travel can never hope to do. We know the people and their customs, the legacy of art and architecture, the complex history and politics – and if we're not sure, our amazing local experts can fill in the blanks.

We Speak the Language

If we told you many companies' leaders can't actually speak the language where they lead trips, you'd say incroyable... ridicolo... không the tha thú. At Backroads, fluency in the local language is a given. Find out more on the best leader recruitment, training and development in the business. (And by the way, that was "unforgivable" in Vietnamese.)

We've Set the Standard

For nearly four decades we've worked to earn and maintain our right to call Backroads the world's #1 active travel company. In pursuing that vision on behalf of our guests, we believe we've set the standard for our industry—captured in the Backroads Quality Guide, which clearly sets out the benchmarks of excellence, choice and support that we live by

The Value of Casual Hotels

In addition to the ideal balance of comfort and hospitality in our choice of lodgings, this trip featuring Casual Hotels includes nearly all of your meals, plus everything from cocktail receptions to the best snacks along the road. So there's rarely a need to reach for your wallet – we've got you covered.

Choose Your Fellow Travelers

With Backroads you won't end up with kids on what you thought was an adult trip; we have exclusive departures for families, so they're off having their own adventures. As you browse our unrivaled selection of trips and dates, you can count on finding a trip in Cuba that's geared exclusively to your choice of traveling companions.

Quality You Can Measure

Since 1979, Backroads Founder and President Tom Hale has shown that staying #1 means constantly evaluating our performance using the best possible source of information: our guests. As we systematically analyze your feedback on our trip consultants, leaders, hotels, meals and on-trip activities, we never stop working to make a great company even better.

We Know Where We're Going

Tom Hale has been keeping Backroads on track, with one eye on the horizon, since 1979. His passion for active travel, and for ensuring the highest-quality travel experience, is evident in every detail we add to make a guest's trip unforgettable—and the fact he's right there in the office, making it happen. To hear Tom describe his vision, watch our video.

Previous: Straight Talk

Previous: What's Included

Detailed Itinerary Reserve This Trip

Guest Photo Gallery

Straight Talk

We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.

Cuba Bike Tour

National Parks & Latin Rhythms into Havana

From $6,099 - $6,499 pp dbl. occ. | 7 days / 6 nights

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Cuba

Highlights

Cuba