Cuba e-bike tour

Planet

Beyond promoting a carbon-neutral form of transport, we do all we can to make sure our cycling trips have as positive an impact as possible on the surrounding environment. Where possible, we only use minor roads and well-established trails and make sure we dispose of our litter responsibly. We aim to book our travellers into casas particulares or small hotels which use less energy and waste less food than larger properties. Similarly, all meals included in the trip are made with seasonal produce grown locally.

To reduce plastic consumption we encourage our clients to invest in a filter bottle before coming to Cuba. Modern filter bottles are able to filter up to 99.9% of bacteria and can be refilled at any water source, including rivers and even puddles! This saves travellers having to rely on mineral water. Until filter bottles become the norm we will continue to provide mineral water for cycling days on our tours. Every 5 litre plastic bottle we use is recycled by local communities. Equally, any old bike parts are donated for recycling.

On day 5 of the tour you bike through Las Terrazas biosphere reserve, Cuba’s first ever self-sufficient community dedicated to the research and protection of the local ecosystem. Your entrance fee to Las Terrazas goes directly to the community’s ongoing environmental initiatives. We will also eat in El Romero eco-restaurant, one of Cuba’s only vegetarian eateries and a pioneer in sustainable dining.

People

During the majority of this tour accommodation is in casas particulares, family-run B&Bs. Not only do casas particulares give the opportunity for cultural exchange between hosts and guests, they buy from the local economy. Meals in casas particulares are made with fresh, seasonal ingredients often bought off a neighbour or at a local market.

For meals not included in the trip price we encourage travellers to eat in paladares, privately-owned restaurants. These are often family initiatives that use seasonal ingredients bought on the day. As with casas particulares, paladares reinvest their profit directly in the local economy and provide jobs for their community.

This tour includes many visits to places of historical significance. From 500-year-old colonial settlements like Trinidad, to more recent places of interest like The Bay of Pigs. Our guides see it as their responsibility to make sure they teach travellers as much as possible about Cuban history and culture so that they can respect and appreciate the rich tapestry of Cuban society. Guides are also ready to act as interpreters to make sure travellers have as much positive interaction as possible with locals.