Cycle the Backroads of Cuba

It's no secret that we love cycling and many of us at HQ think it's the best way to see a country; however, we realise that organising your own trip can be a total faff. On our cycling trips, we've found a local guide who has put together a perfect route and will navigate for you all the way. We send a van that transports your overnight luggage, as well as providing high-quality bikes and delicious snacks to keep you going. Faff eliminated! All you have to do is turn up, pedal and take in the landscape with your fellow tourers. You don't need to be a lycra-clad 'roadie' although they're welcome too!

Have a read of our article on cycling difficulty levels for further information on selecting the right level of bike adventure for you.

You will be using Trek Allant Specialized Rockhopper hardtail mountain bikes with front suspension and hybrid tyres. These are light aluminium mountain bikes, perfect for riding on roads and rough tracks. The bikes are equipped with a water bottle cage and standard flat pedals. If you would like to bring your own SPD pedals and saddle, these can be fitted for you.

Bikes are available in the following sizes:

• Small (for people 155cm to 165cm tall)
• Medium (for people 165cm to 175cm tall)
• Large (for people 175cm to 183cm tall)
• Extra Large (for people 183cm to 193cm tall)
• Extra Extra Large (for people 193cm to 203cm tall)

Can I bring my own bike? Bringing your own bike is discouraged. This is due to a lack of storage for bike boxes/bags, and also, the support trailers are tailored to fit the bikes the host provides, which means safe carriage of your personal bike cannot be guaranteed. In addition, your own bike may require special parts for maintenance which may not be locally available, nor possible for the support vehicle mechanics to repair, so the use of the bikes provided by your host is recommended.

On some days, you'll cycle point to point; on other days, there will be a transfer to get you between the cycling routes – this is to keep you away from busy roads and on to the best cycle routes. Driving durations are stated in the itinerary above. The backroads take a bit of piecing together to ensure the riding will be fun and stress-free, and the bus will provide some time to kick back and take it all in.

E-bike upgrades are not available for this trip; you’ll be riding hybrid bikes as listed in the trip inclusions. Keeping everyone on the same bike type helps maintain a comfortable group pace, simplifies logistics and ensures a more inclusive experience. We do, however, have a growing collection of e-bike adventures which you can explore.

Casas particulares are Cuba’s answer to the B&B – a Cuban home that rents out at least one room to guests. They became legal to operate in 1997 and have since become the most popular type of accommodation on the island. You'll experience a real Cuban home as the family usually lives in the property they rent out, giving you a unique insight into the way Cubans live. Staying in a casa particular not only it brings you closer to the real Cuba, it’s also a great way to contribute directly to the local economy. The money you spend in a casa particular stays with the family and gets reinvested in their community, making it the simplest way to practice sustainable tourism in Cuba. Your host family will provide breakfast at each of the casas particulares that you stay at on this trip.

Your host provides three litres of mineral water per person, per day. If you require any more than this, you'll need to filter your own water since the tap water in Cuba is not safe to drink. The best option here is to bring a water bottle with a built in water filter, although water treatment tablets are also fine. Have a read of our article on the best water filters for adventurers.

In 2021, Cuba got rid of its dual currency system, leaving the CUP (Cuban Peso) as the sole domestic currency. Cuban salaries are paid in CUP, and locals can pay for basic utilities and goods with this currency. What previously was the CUC (Cuban Convertible Peso) has now been more or less replaced by the digital MLC (Moneda Libremente Convertible), which basically requires Cubans to have access to foreign currencies from outside of Cuba to purchase any imported goods, toiletries, medication, etc.

What does this mean for your trip to Cuba? Long story short, we suggest you bring cash in either USD or Euros (small note denominations) and exchange only a small amount into the local currency (CUP, Cuban Pesos). US dollars currently represent the best value.

GBP and CAD may be accepted as cash payments in some private sector restaurants and bars, however USD and Euros have much more of a reliable and widespread appeal, especially Dollars.

If you want to use your bank card, it is very important to check prior to travel that the bank is not US-owned, as if so you will not be able to use it in Cuba. More ATMs are appearing in Cuba but, in reality, they are very unreliable and often empty. Bank cards can be used in government-owned shops, duty-free shops, as well as hotels, but are rarely accepted in restaurants or bars, so make sure that you plan on bringing enough cash.

Nationals of most countries, including the UK, all EU countries, Australia, Canada and USA require a visa to enter Cuba. The required tourist visa allows the holder to stay in Cuba for 90 days (within 180 days of issue) and is valid for a single entry. You must provide proof of a confirmed return flight and booked accommodation. This tourist visa can be renewed for a further 90 days in Cuba if needed. Note that in 2024, the Cuban government introduced a new 'E-Visa' and announced that the paper 'Tourist Card Visas' would be phased out, remaining valid only up until 31st December 2024.

As long as you are a UK or European Passport holder resident in the UK, you can buy a visa through the local host that we partner with for this trip. Please see Optional Extras to add this to your booking – the cost is £26. Please request this in good time prior to travelling, as the host cannot guarantee the administration of last-minute visa requests.

Alternatively, you can obtain a visa from the Cuban Consulate in person in London, paying in cash. For reliability of service, we strongly recommend purchasing via the host and allowing sufficient time pre-travel.

Note that the visas sold by the host are not applicable for US citizens, nor or anyone travelling from/via/to the United States. In these cases a different type of visa must be purchased from permitted US companies.

You can connect to the internet in most of the larger cities and hotels, but expect the connection to be slower and sometimes patchier than at home (best not plan to watch videos or download large files while you are there). We recommend turning off your roaming data when you land, as you can be hit with heavy charges (check with your provider in case). You will be able to access the internet at your hotel either free of charge, or by purchasing a NAUTA WiFi card. You can also buy a local tourist SIM card (CubacelTur SIM card) at the airport or at offices in the main cities. Unless you have a VPN installed, some US-owned websites will be blocked for you. Your host will be able to help out with more information.

Travel from the USA to Cuba for tourism purposes is currently prohibited by the US Government. This is regardless of your nationality, and applies to all flights scheduled between the two countries. To avoid potential problems with US immigration it is strongly advised not to travel to Cuba via the US. Read the OFAC Regulations on travel to Cuba for more information.

US citizens are very welcome as visitors to Cuba, and commonly fly to Havana on separate flight bookings via regional airports situated in other neighbouring countries.

The US Government classified Cuba as ‘state sponsors of terrorism’ and as a result, anyone travelling to the country after 12th January 2021 is no longer eligible to apply for the US visa-waiver (ESTA) and, as things currently stand, will instead need to apply for a visa through a US Embassy in order to visit the USA in the future. You can request Cuban Immigration not to stamp your passport.

Yes, you can leave any excess luggage at your host's base in Havana.

Yes, you need to bring your own cycle helmet on this adventure. It should meet recognised safety standards, display a relevant certification mark, and be in good condition. It is mandatory for all riders to wear a helmet whenever cycling.

Please make sure your helmet is:

• A purpose-built cycling helmet that meets a recognised safety standard and displays a relevant certification mark, including (but not limited to):

  • CE/EN 1078 (UK & Europe)
  • CPSC or Snell B90/B95 (USA)
  • AS/NZS 2063 (Australia & New Zealand)

• In good condition:

  • ideally no more than five years old
  • not involved in a crash
  • no visible cracks/dents, compressed foam, or damaged straps

• A good fit:

  • sits level (not tipped back)
  • snug, secure and stable when fastened (doesn't rock or slide)
  • retention system and straps work properly

If your helmet isn’t suitable on arrival:

• you may need to rent or buy a suitable helmet locally (availability varies by destination)
• if a suitable helmet can't be sourced, you may be unable to join some or all cycling activities on safety grounds, in line with your booking conditions

Need help choosing or fitting a helmet?
For advice see British Cycling’s guidance.

Cycle Safety Please see our cycling safety guidance for further information.

Sure can! Over 70% of our travellers travel solo, it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.

Our team of Adventure Hunters co-create exclusive adventures which are run by highly vetted, specialist hosts. The trip is run by our trusted host partner in the destination. We only work with independent, local, in-destination experts who know the very best places to explore and how to stay safe. Read more information about the local teams we partner with. You’ll be introduced to the host straight after making a booking via the Much Better Adventures platform.

Much Better Adventures refer to the UK Government’s official travel advice when designing trips and monitoring trip operations. We recommend that all customers are familiar with the practical information provided on the Government’s FCDO website, where current travel advice can be found by searching for the applicable destination(s).

For customers joining this trip from other international destinations – please also read the official travel advice applicable to your country of residence/origin, as this may differ.

We recommend checking out the country-specific information and also talking to a travel nurse.

We automatically convert prices from the local currency that a host receives to your chosen currency. We update our exchange rates on a daily basis so this does mean that prices displayed on the site are subject to currency fluctuations, which is why you may see them change over time.

If you wish to change the currency you pay in, head to the bottom of the page.

All of our group adventures are specially designed for adults to enjoy as we want these adventures to bring together outdoorsy people who are truly like-minded. You must be over 18 to join one of our trips.

You're always in good company on one of our adventures.

Our trips are typically made up of a mixture of solo travellers and small groups of 2 or 3 friends, with most in their 30s-50s.

Our sociable adventures are solo-friendly by design and naturally attract outdoorsy people with a shared mindset; a love for adventure, a desire to push themselves and meet awesome, like-minded people along the way. Check out our Community Values – a shared code to make sure that everyone's experience is safe, inclusive and brilliantly unforgettable.

It’s this camaraderie that has so often turned a great adventure into a life-changing one.

Don't just take our word for it:

• 95% of people rate the group dynamics on our trips 5/5
• 90% of people recommend joining a trip to make new friends
• 75% of people have met people on our trips that they would now consider friends

See here for more info about the Much Better Adventures tribe.

Cuba is always warm, but certain months are better to visit than others. High season is November to mid-April, with pleasant temperatures in the mid-high twenties Celsius, and plenty of clear skies. September and October bring a higher risk of hurricanes in the Caribbean, so we don't offer trips during those months. Temperatures are higher in the low season, particularly July and August with highs of 32°C/90°F in Western Cuba. April-June is the shoulder season and can be an excellent time to travel, as the weather is pleasant and there are generally fewer visitors. The month of May can be wet, though it’s considered good luck to get wet in the first May showers!