Cycle Cuba
356-373km
Approx. distance
Challenging (1)
Challenge Grading
9 days
Challenge Duration
Cuba
Challenge Location
Challenge Highlights
Explore Havana – Cuba’s capital – famous for its culture, architecture and monuments
Cycle along the Caribbean Coast, complete with cocktails!
Visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Trinidad
Complete our challenge at Che Guevara’s monument
The Challenge
The destination for this fantastic cycle challenge is the Caribbean island of Cuba. Our ride takes us on an incredible journey beginning in Havana, for approximately 360km. We ride along shimmering coastlines, past tobacco and sugar cane fields and through thriving farming communities, where for many aspects of Cuban life, time has stood still. Cars and Salsa will definitely feature highly as we travel through this beautiful country.
Challenge Itinerary
Day 1 - Depart UK
We depart the UK for our flight to Havana. Upon arrival, we are met by our local guides and transfer to our hotel for dinner.
Day 2 - Havana to Bay of Pigs
Early morning departure for Guama. After our bike fitting we set off for Playa Giron. If there is time, we will visit the small museum, dedicated to the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1962 when a CIA backed attempt to topple Fidel Castro’s revolutionary government met with strong resistance and was ultimately unsuccessful. Nowadays it seems hard to believe that this dusty little village was once the focus of the world for a few days! En route to Playa Giron we’ll stop for lunch and maybe a swim in Punta Perdiz. From here we continue to Giron where we then board a bus and transfer to the Cienfuegos Coast and our hotel for the night.
Cycling distance – approx. 45km
Day 3 - Cienfuegos to Hanabanilla
This morning we start our ascent into the Escambray Mountains, leaving behind the Bay of Cienfuegos. It’s a spectacular but tough morning’s cycle with undulations and short sharp hills! We are rewarded with a stunning view over sugar cane fields to the Escambray Mountains – our destination this evening. We cycle through small farming villages, citrus and mango orchards and trees dripping with epiphytes or ‘air plants’, stopping for a picnic along the way. The big challenge is at the end of the day – a 7km hill, slowly climbing into the mountains to reach our overnight hotel and a welcome cocktail on arrival to celebrate!
Cycling distance – approx. 67km
Day 4 - Hanabanilla to Trinidad
The first part of today’s cycle is all downhill as we retrace our tracks towards Cumanayagua. Next the route follows close to the coastline and through gentle hills. The final 30km is on a flat road which clings to the shimmering Caribbean coastline almost all the way, with some undulations just before we reach Trinidad. We head down to the waterfront, and the final few kms to our hotel is flat, with glimpses of the Caribbean Sea. We reach our beach hotel and check in for dinner and a good night’s rest.
Cycling distance – approx. 85 – 95km (depending on hotel)
Day 5 - Trinidad to Sancti Spiritus
We have a short visit to Trinidad by bus, before continuing on our cycle challenge through a scenic valley of sugar mills and tobacco fields and heading for the market town of Sancti Spiritus. The route today is challenging. We arrive at our hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening soaking up our surroundings. Timekeeping is key today so we can enjoy our visit to Trinidad in the morning, but still have time to tackle the tough day’s riding ahead.
Cycling distance – approx. 77km
Day 6 - Sancti Spiritus to Santa Clara
Our final morning will be quite busy, with traffic heading towards the Cuban Highway. Once past this junction, we share the road with local traffic – 1950s American cars, horse traps, Soviet tractors and bicycles! We cycle through agricultural communities until Santa Clara, where we regroup and enter the city, ‘Tour de France’ style, in a peloton. We finish our ride in front of the Che Guevara Mausoleum where we celebrate with an iconic ‘Cuba Libre’ cocktail! After our visit to the mausoleum we transfer (approx. 3 hours) to Jibacoa Village, where we celebrate the end of our epic journey with a special dinner!
Cycling distance – approx. 82 – 89km (depending on hotel)
Day 7 - Varadero
A free morning to relax on the beach before we drive to Havana for an orientation tour in the old town. The evening is free to explore Havana on your own, perhaps having dinner in a Paladar and then going dancing in a salsa club!
Day 8 - Havana
This morning is free to relax, explore on your own or do some last minute shopping at the handicrafts market in Old Havana before we transfer to the airport for our return flight to the UK.
Day 9 - Arrive UK
We arrive back in the UK and say our goodbyes as a group, before making our onward journeys home.
Please note, this is a complex itinerary and subject to change.
Challenge Inclusions
What's Included
- Return flights from a London airport to Havana
- All accommodation – twin share
- All meals throughout the itinerary starting with dinner on Day 1 to lunch on Day 8, except dinner on Day 7
- Drinking water and snacks during cycling days
- Private air-conditioned vehicles for back up, support and transfers
- Local English speaking cycling guides
- Local doctor during cycling days
- Cycle mechanics
- Global Adventure Challenges Leader from the UK
- Full comprehensive Global Adventure Challenges medical kit
- Local bike hire with spares
- Challenge Medals
What's Not Included
- Airport Tax and Fuel Surcharge Contribution – Please refer to Dates and Costs tab. These are approximately £250 and payable 12 weeks prior to departure
- Visa for Cuba
- Personal travel insurance
- Alcoholic drinks and drinks during dinner
- Tips and gratuities – we recommend a contribution of £25 from each participant to be divided equally between local crew
- International Airport Departure Tax at Havana – currently CUC25 (Cuban convertible peso, approx. US $25)
- Please note that for bespoke challenges, inclusions and exclusions may differ
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this trip for me?
ABSOLUTELY! This cycle is suitable for all ages with the correct training. The minimum age for this cycle is 18 years old (14-17 years must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian). The one thing everyone will have in common is a great sense of adventure and a desire to help a charity. Whether you are taking part as an individual or as a team with friends, team spirit will be flying high on the challenge.
How fit do I need to be?
This cycle ride has been graded as Challenging (1) on our challenge grading scheme, meaning the cycle has been designed to push your boundaries – however it is achievable by most people as long as you fitness train beforehand. Remember, you are cycling for 5 consecutive days, covering over 350km so expect to be in the saddle for about 7-8 hrs per day – the fitter you are, the more you will enjoy this challenge. Cycling training tips can be found on the Global Adventure Challenges website to point you in the right direction.
Our policy is to encourage and support as many people as possible to take part in our challenges. But they may not be suitable for all people due to restriction posed by limitation in mobility, physical or cognitive disability, pregnancy or other various medical conditions. If you have any doubts regarding your suitability for your challenge please contact our office to speak to one of the team.
What is the challenge grading scheme?
All our challenges are graded on a scale from 1 to 3 to indicate the level of difficulty, 1 being the lowest challenge grade and 3 being the most challenging. (1 = Challenging, 2 = Tough and 3 = Extreme).
Do I have to carry my own luggage?
No. All luggage will be transported between accommodation by our support vehicles. You may wish to bring a small saddle bag/bum bag and hydration pack while cycling, to carry items such as camera, sunscreen, etc.
Do I need specialist kit?
We will supply you with a kit list of what to take once you register to take part. Apart from some cycling shorts, a cycling helmet and maybe some cycling gloves, you do not need any specialist kit. Participants can bring their own pedals, bar-ends and any other personal cycling equipment they see fit to modify the bikes supplied, although it is not compulsory.
Where will we stay?
We will stay in local hotels en route, which range from 2* to 3* – remember, this is a challenge! All accommodation has washing facilities available. Rooms are normally twin share.
Food Matters...
All meals will be provided, apart from dinner on Day 7. Whilst cycling, lunch will be a packed lunch or picnic and breakfast and dinner will be in our hotels or nearby restaurants. We cater for most dietary requirements as long as we know in advance – just fill in the appropriate section on your registration form.
What support is there on the challenge?
There will be a strong support team with professional Global Adventure Challenges Leaders from the UK. Full comprehensive first aid kits will be taken and we are never too far away from hospitals if needed. A support vehicle will follow the group providing medical and mechanical support if needed.
Can I stay in Cuba after the challenge?
Yes you can, but this is subject to us being able to amend your booking from our flights inclusive package to our ground only package. For further information on how our ground only packages work, please visit our guide to ground only challenges.
If you have already registered and would like to request a change to our ground only package, please contact customer.care@globaladventurechallenges.com.
What happens if I get tired?
There will be regular rest stops for drinks and snacks – there is no problem if you need to take more rest stops. We will ensure that no-one is left alone – remember though, this is not a race!
How do I go about raising the sponsorship?
Once you have signed up you will receive a fundraising pack from your charity in order to make your fundraising as easy as possible. You will also receive a few tips and ideas from Global Adventure Challenges to help you on your way.
dates and costs
Payment Option A - Minimum Sponsorship
You pay the non-refundable Registration Fee to Global Adventure Challenges. This is used to administer the challenge, and to secure relevant permits. You then commit to raising the minimum sponsorship and send it to your chosen charity as you raise it - 80% of the minimum sponsorship MUST be received by the charity no later than 12 weeks* before departure. Failure to do so may mean non-participation in the challenge. Your chosen charity will decide when the remaining 20% should be received - this is a normally a couple of weeks after your return to the UK - proof of pledges may be required. The Challenge Costs will be paid for you by your charity out of the sponsorship raised. Do try and raise as much as you can, as every penny you raise over the minimum sponsorship will be retained by your charity too!
*For the challenges listed below, 80% of your minimum sponsorship must be received by your charity no later than 6 weeks before departure:
• Snowdon at Night Trek
• Hadrian’s Wall 25KM Trek
• Peak District Trek 25KM
• Ben Nevis at Night Trek
• Yorkshire 3 Peaks Trek
• Hadrian’s Wall Trek
Payment Option B - Self-Funding
This option enables you to fund the entire challenge yourself, which means you do not have to commit to raising a set sponsorship. You pay the non-refundable Registration Fee to Global Adventure Challenges. You will then be required to pay the challenge balance no later than 12* weeks before the challenge date. Although no fundraising is required, we do strongly encourage you to support a charity of your choice and raise as much as you possibly can.
*For the challenges listed below, the challenge balance invoice is to be paid no later than 6 weeks before departure:
• Snowdon at Night Trek
• Hadrian’s Wall 25KM Trek
• Peak District Trek 25KM
• Ben Nevis at Night Trek
• Yorkshire 3 Peaks Trek
• Hadrian’s Wall Trek
2024
Registration Fee
£299
Option A - Minimum Sponsorship
£4,200
Option B - Self-Funding
£2,100
Airport Tax & Fuel Surcharge
£250
Single Occupancy Supplement (Optional)
£350
When?