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Cuba cycling holiday

COUNTRY:
Cuba
HOLIDAY TYPE:
Moderate / adventurous cycling holidays
DEPARTURES:
2012: 5 Feb, 4 Mar, 1 Apr, 1 Nov, 22 Nov
PRICE:
From £1595 (15 days) excluding flights
MORE INFO:
Price includes: Place to place, 10 nights hotels, 4 nights casa particulares (Cuban private houses) 95% of meals provided, 9 days cycling, 4 days sightseeing / rest days / transfers, guide & vehicle support. Optional: Insurance £70, bike hire £150, estimated flight price £650
LATE AVAIL:
We still have places left on the 4th March departure on this amazing cycling adventure to the Caribbean's most vibrant island.
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Cuba cycling holiday

Cuba cycling holiday

Small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.

How this holiday makes a difference

We start with a local perspective - that's our philosophy.

Whether abroad, or just as importantly at home, the start point is the same; how to get the most enjoyable holiday for our customers while benefiting the local people, economy and respecting their environment and their culture.

Our cycling trip in Cuba is as much a way of experiencing the life, history and culture of this fascinating island as it is about a great cycling holiday. As well as our own guides, we have local guides who, through their stories, memories and experience will help you to understand this unique way of life.

Our trip takes us on a journey through the history of Cuba. We visit many sites of great importance to the revolution; we take a city tour of Santiago de Cuba with local expert guides, stay in the provincial town of Niquero – the landing point for Castro, Che and the revolutionaries, visit Santa Domingo – the secret jungle base used to control the revolution by Castro himself, and stay in Trinidad – a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The trip will allow you to experience the lives of the people of Cuba and we choose a variety of accommodation to help you experience the many different sides of Cuban. For many people, one of the highlights of the trip is staying in casa particulares, homestays with local people who will welcome you into their homes and give you a unique insight into their lives. During the trip we will eat in paladors, local restaurants run by local people, reflecting the changing political atmosphere and of course we take the time to learn about local tradition by watching local bands and learning salsa dancing.

Cycling around Cuba enables us to visit isolated towns and villages well-off the normal tourist track. We take time to visit la Terrazas, an eco-development near Soroa which helps us learn about the local environment and way of life past and present. We deliberately keep our group sizes small with up to12 people, which minimises environmental impact and allows our groups to interact with the local communities.

For all our trips we off-set emissions for staff and guide flights, office energy and vehicle usage and recycle our office waste. We offer all our customers with the opportunity to off-set their emission for flights.

Voted one of the Best Tour Operators in two categories in the Guardian / Observer Travel Awards 2010.

Voted in February 2010, by The Guardian newspapers list of experts as one of the top 75 outstanding green travel companies in the Guardian Green Travel List 2010.

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Story of the holiday provider

Having stayed in touch since primary school, Andy and Paul decided to cycle around South America in 1994. Andy was a keen cyclist but Paul hadn’t been on a bike since doing his paper round. They didn’t have an itinerary and used military maps to navigate through the desert. They had so much fun and met such amazing people that they agreed to set up a cycling tour company together. Andy says their trips create a flexible and intimate way to travel and absorb the local culture and, whats more, you never forget how to cycle – it’s just like riding a bike!

Holiday provider no: 146

Cuba cycling holiday

Reviewed 14 Dec 2010 by Nuala Galazka5 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Cycling 85 km along the coast road on the third day between the ocean and the mountains, the great music and dancing...Jazz in Camaguey, staying in the Casas.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Get a bit fit beforehand. It is not too strenuous but some training helps. Learn some Spanish.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


We used a local guide and driver and stayed 4 nights in Casas Particulares. In the more isolated places we stayed in hotels catering for westerners I think this was unavoidable.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Fantastic fun and a great crowd of people.

Reviewed 13 Dec 2010 by Lauren Barker4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Cuba is a fantastic holiday destination and well suited to cycling. The trip was extremely well thought out and well organised. Superb!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


To book it now!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes, we cycled much of the route, stayed in some casas and also ate in them on some days. Also used a local guide and driver.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Fantastic! One of the best holidays I have been on.

Reviewed 18 Dec 2009 by Shirley Howdle4 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


History of Cuba and the cycling.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


Use the mountain bikes - don't bother taking your own bike (roads are very rough.)

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Casa Particulares for 4 nights - very good.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Excellent.

Reviewed 14 Jan 2008 by Jane Burton5 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


Every day was an adventure so it's difficult to pick a highlight. We cycled a day off road around the country side in the south-east of the island which was great fun. The following day we walked up to Fidel's hide-out in the Sierra Meastra. The scenery was beautiful. Another highlight was visiting Trinidad, a colourful place with some lovely architecture. We spent the evenings listening to some great live cuban music.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


It's not easy to draw money out so I would take Sterling/Euro and change it at the airport in Havana. You need enough cycling gear to last you about a week. Once you get to Trinidad you can wash your clothes at the casa particulares that you stay in for a very small price.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


Yes, I do. We stayed 2 nights in Casa Particulares (a cuban family that sets up a bed and breakfast business in their home). Also one of our guides was cuban and the bus driver too.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Absolutely fantastic. I never thought that going on holiday on your own could be so much fun. It was a real adventure and I have very fond memories of my time there.
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Holiday Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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