Whether you’re drawn to the white sand beaches, the history & culture, or the classic cars & cigars Cuba has plenty of experiences to offer worldly travellers. For those of us who like to see exotic places from the saddle, Trek Travel recently decided to offer a new trip option called the Cuba People-to-People vacation.
This trip aims to take guests off the beaten path to see some of the lesser-known cultural and historical sites of Cuba, in between stops at the usual hotspots like Havana and Trinidad. This tour remains one of the few legal options for American citizens looking to see Cuba by bicycle, so if you’d like to combine a multi-day ride with a unique peek at the still semi-restricted area, this could be your best chance…
Based in Wisconsin, Trek Travel offers cycling tours around the globe for riders of all ability levels. The Cuba trip is intended for Level 2 Recreational riders, which the company sets out as those who ride on a regular basis and can cover 30-50 miles of rolling terrain in a day. As the name might suggest, guests are outfitted with Trek bikes to ride (for the Cuba trip, you’ll be riding Trek’s FX hybrid bikes).
On the new Cuba tour, guests will visit places like Trinidad, Cienfuegos, Havana, and the Bay of Pigs among other lesser-known destinations. One such stop is the town of Remedios, which Trek Travel describes as a quieter, less touristy version of Trinidad. After the day’s ride you can rest your legs while cruising around in bicycle taxis to check out some more local points of interest.
Another interesting destination is the 500+ year old city of Sancti Spiritus, a lively cultural hotspot with scenic pastel colored villas. When the tour stops in Trinidad itself (a UNESCO world heritage site), the group will meet local author Julio Munoz and learn first-hand about his home town.
War history buffs will relish in the stop at the Bay of Pigs, where the CIA attempted a failed military invasion of Cuba in 1961. Aside from its historical relevance, the area features sea caves, coral reefs, and tropical fish in its clear blue waters. Riders will even have some free time to snorkel around and explore the shoreline.
The Cuba People-to-People tour is named as such because Trek Travel has crafted the itinerary to include meaningful interactions with the Cuban people each day, giving those who join the tour more of an experience of the local culture and customs.
Aside from cycling, there is also time on the docket to go swimming, hiking, meet local authors & artists, sample fresh local foods, learn how to make Mojitos, learn about Cuba’s world famous cigars, or simply dance in the streets.
The Cuba People-to-People tour has an 8 day/7 night itinerary, and this year’s dates include Nov 4-11, Nov 11-18, Dec 2-9 & Dec 9-16. Its cost starts at $7200 per person (based on double occupancy, with group discounts available).
Boutique accommodations, most meals, gratuities, snacks & beverages for daily rides, technical support, entrance fees to group events, transportation throughout the tour, and of course Trek Travel swag are all included in the price. Check out the website for even more detail and information about the unique travel requirements to get to Cuba.
