Cuba Bike Tour

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.

The People-to-People Experience

Backroads is licensed 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 regulations announced by the US government June 16, 2017 and amended November 9, 2017, Backroads People-to-People group trips remain legally licensed. This means our trips will run as usual and we'll continue to deliver high-quality experiences in Cuba. Also, under the new policy, you can still purchase your own commercial flights to Cuba. The new regulations, however, eliminated individual People-to-People licenses. That means you cannot extend your stay in Cuba under that license category. 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.