Touring Cuba’s Historic Landmarks
There is so much history to take in on a bicycle tour in Cuba! Although you can’t possibly learn everything in one trip, we try our best to give you a good education about Cuba while we’re on the island. Here’s a sampling of some of the historic sites you’ll see and learn about on our Cuba Clásico Bike Tour.
The Cuba Clasico tour starts in Havana, with its syncopated rhythms blending with the sultry tension of salsa.
Visit the streets of Havana!
Founded in the 16th century, Colonial Habana Vieja or Old Havana was inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1982 because of the city’s preservation of ancient structures. Its colonial buildings tell tales of swashbuckling invaders and august colonists seeking to imprint their prosperity onto the island.
Our Cuban guide walks us through the streets and famous plazas, giving us an in-depth tour and great understanding for the foundation of this country. From the indigenous peoples, to the Spanish, French and through to current times, this tour leaves you with a great foundation for what the week will bring.
On Day Two, we ride through pastoral scenes of palms, sugar cane and small settlements. This is the path where the 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion was stopped, and a few billboards on the road point out key points of the failed invasion. Our favorite snorkeling spot on this trip is actually in the Bay of Pigs itself (a.k.a. Playa Giron), where we stop the next morning. We then visit the Playa Giron Museum, where we stop to learn about the Cuban side of the 1961 invasion.
We visit the Museo Giron to learn about Cuba’s side of the Bay of Pigs invasion.
One of our rides concludes in the quaint city of Sancti Spíritus, which was founded in 1514 by Diego Velázquez. We can walk across the Puente Yayabo, a quadruple-arched bridge that looks like it was lifted out of the English countryside, or check out the Teatro Principal, Cuba’s oldest theater. While in Sancti Spíritus, we take a trip to the Museum of the Guayabera, Cuba’s traditional shirt, and learn about its history from a local guide.
In Trinidad, the famous UNESCO World Heritage Site, there are no noisy cars flooding the cobbled streets. This is a delightfully restored 16th century town with preserved Spanish architecture. We spend two days here so you get a chance to soak it all in!
Museo de Ernesto Hemingway
Just outside of Havana, sits the estate of Finca Vigía; otherwise know as the Museo de Ernesto Hemingway. This is the home and setting where the author wrote The Old Man and the Sea. We tour the home museum with a knowledgable guide.
Beyond these specific guided tours, on our Cuba bike tour, we also have many opportunities to connect with local Cubans and learn about their daily life. Our Cuban tour guide also is a great source of information who would be more than happy to interpret local history for you.
Wilderness Voyageurs operates Inn-to-Inn Bicycle Vacations
All Wilderness Voyageurs tours are fully supported with a SAG vehicle and include beautiful routes through stunning landscapes, excellent food and accommodations, top rate equipment, dedicated and enthusiastic guides.
Give our wonderful reservation staff a call to book your next bike tour vacation. (800) 272 – 4141