This was a fabulous trip. Cuba is like time stood still for 50 years but we still had comfortable accommodation, good routes, good food, great guide. Eats and drinks are very reasonable everywhere.
Wonderful way to see the island Just returned from this trip (land-only option) and have to say it exceeded my already-high expectations. Itinerary was action-packed without being exhausting, with a decent amount of free time including in the evenings and on rest days. I was pleasantly surprised how early we reached our overnight hotels on most days, enabling plenty of siesta time in between cycling and sightseeing. The route was also great, taking in the vast majority of Cuba's surprisingly diverse landscapes and cultures whilst also providing a good variety of accommodation, from private casas particulares, jungle lodges and provincial hotels to the occasional luxurious, American-style resort. The cycling itself was enjoyable and never too tough - perfectly within the reach of the averagely-fit rider, especially given the pretty capable hire bikes provided, although the heat/humidity obviously adds an extra element of challenge at times. Roads were generally quiet but I was also pleasantly surprised by the courtesy shown by vast majority of drivers - if only British drivers were this considerate! There are a fair amount of coach transfers to contend with in between cycling legs, too, but these passed quickly in our comfortable vehicle and enabled us to miss out the less interesting bits of a road whilst also taking in additional sights. In particular, our tour leader Freddy was absolutely superb - by far the best guide I've ever experienced. Highly-organised but also very funny and unafraid to give us 'warts and all' insights into the realities of Cuban life. Our two other support drivers were also great and it was good to know they were on-hand constantly. Overall, I'd thoroughly recommend this trip as a great way to experience a fascinating and superbly atmospheric country whilst also working off some of those endless rum cocktails with a bit of exercise.
You exceeded my expectations for this trip. Everything was handled smoothly and well. We had a variety of accommodations, some Obviously better than others, the the owners of the casas we stayed in were very accommodating and made up for in kindness what they may have lacked in amenities. We had a variety of tours and th MOST DELIGHTFUL tour leader whose memory for dates and details was beyond compare. He was also encouraging and supportive for those including myself who struggled on a couple of rides. (Due to my lack of cycling ability). I believe the rides were exactly what I expected...challenging for me but not beyond my capabilities.....although there were a few times I questioned that!!!! The drivers were kind and funny. When I mentioned we really liked pineapple...Alexis went and got more! The rooms varied a lot in each hotel and I noted that everyone had "the best room" at least once....I have to think that was intentional....it was the extra little touch that made this trip so truly memorable and special. I am already looking at my next cycling trip of yours! I would highly recommend it!