It’s finally time for your long-awaited departure to Cuba. Wave goodbye to friends and family, before you board the flight and embark upon your challenge! (D)
Accommodation: Hotel
Today you have the chance to explore beautiful Old Havana before heading into the Cuban countryside. A city tour will give you an opportunity to learn about Havana’s varied history from war to revolution, including an introduction to its many beautiful buildings and monuments. You then transfer (approx. 1 hour) to Playa Jibacoa, where you are introduced to your bikes ahead of the adventure that awaits you. (B,D,L)
Accommodation: Hotel
It’s an early start for your long-awaited cycle ride towards Trinidad. Today’s route is hilly with steep climbs up to 200m on gravel roads, generally the road conditions today are poor particularly as you head to Arcos de Canasi. As the route meanders through country villages and pretty scenery, the toughest part of the day awaits at the entrance of Matanzas. The reward is a swim and a comfy hotel bed! (approx. 5 hours cycling) (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Hotel
Today’s ride is along a fairly flat tarmac road, passing many villages separated by fruit orchards, agricultural areas and tree-lined avenues. You will take Carretera Central (Central Highway) for the first 5kms until you reach Guanabana village. Each village that you pass will inevitably leave its mark on you, as the locals go about their daily routines, allowing you to survey life in rural Cuba. Each house differs from the next, but all are colonially designed, and oozing with character.
You will continue on to Triunvirato village, where you will find the only steep hill of the day, approximately 300m. You will be riding alongside and over many of the rural rail tracks that are used at harvest time to transport sugar to the ports for distribution. There are plenty of shaded spots to stop en route Torriente and take a breath of fresh air, with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. From here we head for a late lunch, get off our bikes and then continue to Santa Clara for dinner and overnight stay. (approx. 5 hours cycling) (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Hotel
The beautiful city of Cienfuegos, known among Cubans as ‘The Pearl of the South’, was founded on the fortunes of the sugar industry in the mid-1700s. This morning you cycle to Cienfuegos. Setting off from your hotel by bike, the first stop is at Che Guevara’s Monument which is built to house the mausoleum of Revolutionary heroes who died fighting to free Cuba from Batista’s dictatorship. After a visit and the opportunity to take a group photo, we saddle up and set off on a fast 25km along Cuba’s autopista! With hardly any traffic, this wide 3-lane road is offers perfect conditions for our first let to Cienfuegos. At Ranchuelo we turn off the autopista and head South along a secondary road. If time permits, before reaching the hotel we will have short orientation tour of Cienfuegos before checking into your hotel. (approx. 4 hours cycling) (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Hotel
Today is the penultimate day of your ride and the route becomes hilly, curvy and visibility is limited. In addition, there’s the welcome distraction of the lush botanical gardens on the approach to the Escambray Mountains. Lunch is followed by the toughest part of the day – an 8km hilly ride. Dig deep on this tough terrain, while the glorious views of the Hanabilla Reservoir push you onwards. (approx. 5 hours Cycling) (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Hotel
You will be covering a pedal-pumping 107 km on this grand finale of the ride. You begin with a fun descent before attacking curved roads with potholes, steady hills and limited visibility. After lunch there are tricky hills and a bumpy road. Yet you finish with a thrilling descent down to Trinidad. Spend the evening celebrating at our beach hotel which looks out onto the Caribbean. (approx. 7 hours cycling) (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Hotel
Chill out at the beach or in the hotel pool. Alternatively, you can explore the charming town of Trinidad. With its cobbled streets and colonial housing, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has hardly changed in more than 150 years. In the early afternoon you transfer back to Havana for a celebratory dinner and the chance to sample some of Cuba’s finest exports – rum and cigars! Overnight in centrally located hotel. (B,L,D)
Accommodation: Hotel
Spend more time sight-seeing or perhaps take part in a salsa or rumba lesson. And if you’re feeling hungry you could grab a bite at one of Havanas many paladares (local Cuban houses that cater for paying guests). Supper is provided in a restaurant close to the airport, before your evening flight back to the UK via Madrid. (Please note lunch is not included today). (B,D)
Arrive back in the UK in a whirlwind of emotions as you return to your nearest and dearest, but part ways with new-found friends and trekking partners.
BELIEVE >> ACHIEVE >> INSPIRE
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