Perfect West Cuba Bike Tour Adventure
Welcome to Cuba, a severely underrated destination for stunning tropical bike tours! One of our favorite bike tours to share with our guests is our West Cuba bike tour. Also it is one of the easiest adventure travel destinations in Latin America, read on to see what an amazing experience our guests had in December 2023.
We recently returned from our December tour in this stunning section of the island. This group was a blast to host as this was a private group of friends traveling together. On this trip, there were two Cuban guides, Rei and Ramon, myself, and our wonderful bus driver, Alexis Ariel.
And making it extra special, we had one Cuban American guest who had grown up in Cuba until she was a teen and hadn’t been back since. The group was able to walk around her old neighborhood, enjoy the beautiful beach nearby, and try Cuban cuisine and drinks, of course.
Day 1: Start Our West Cuba Bike Tour with Art and Authors
On day one of our tour, we all got to meet up for the beginning of our adventure! After introductions, we set off for our first stop to visit a local artist, Osvaldo, at his family home and outdoor galley. They were so kind and gracious and interesting to talk to. A few folks purchased paintings to bring home and we all watched in fascination as one man managed to knock coconuts down from a very tall tree with a very long device! We all shared a coconut water toast before saying our goodbyes.
Next stop was Finca Vigia, Hemingway’s former estate just outside of Havana. It’s always an interesting stop, like a snapshot in time, as it has been left as it was in Hemingway’s time. It’s neat to walk the grounds and peek in the windows of the main house.
On this trip, we had lunch in the neighborhood of Cojimar at Cafe Ajiaco, known for it’s Ajiaco soup, which it a unique blend of vegetables, spices, and meats. We shared appetizers of empanaditas and croquetas. And of course, we had a try Ajiaco itself! It was served family style which many full plates of salad, beans, rice, fish, octopus, chicken, and yuka. The post meal coffee was prepared right in front of us with pizzaz.
Then, we were off to Havana Vieja, the historic section of town, for a walking tour of all the historic plazas and significant points. Then, onto the Vedado neighborhood to check into the lovely Hotel Gran Aston, which is a gorgeous hotel right by the Malecon, a walkway alongside the sea. After a rest, we shuttled to the Miramar neighborhood for our dinner and returned to the hotel to rest up for the beginning of the biking the following day!
Day 2: We Hop on the Bikes
The day started with an hour shuttle to San Antonio de los Banos, where the cycling leg of our West Cuba bike tour begins. Everyone unloaded, got fitted to the bikes, and was ready to ride!
Get ready for the beginning of the rough roads of Western Cuba! While today had one of the bumpiest sections, it also has some of the most beautiful views. The bus is always shortly behind us, so folks can hop on whenever needed for a rest, snack, or water. Today we stopped at a shady patch of trees to enjoy our pre-ordered sandwiches and snacks. We made it to Las Terrazas in the afternoon with plenty of time to relax, walk around town, grab a coffee, or enjoy drinks at the bar (the most popular option!). We had a group dinner at the onsite restaurant, where we were serenaded by the lovely musical family, Los Hermanos Morales.
Day 3: Lush Rolling Hills and Fresh Snapper
Day 3 begins by riding directly from our Hotel La Moka. On this leg, you can choose to shuttle in the bus the first 8 miles to avoid some of the hills in the first leg. We passed though beautiful country side, farms, and simple unique homes, with plenty opportunities for breaks. After a good bout of biking, we take another stop in the town of Bahia Honda to get a round of guarapo, which is fresh pressed sugarcane juice – a must try in the area!
We had lunch at a private place run by a family with a small pavillon where they served just our group. There were a few main dish choices and everything was great! I had the fresh snapper, the whole fish fried perfectly. From there, we shuttled the rest of the way to Vinales, one of my favorite spots in Cuba. It’s a nature lover’s paradise: it’s lush and green with mogotes (unique mountains/hills of steep stone and trees) and many caverns nearby. The town and people are wonderful. There are also many farms with tobacco fields and other crops and animals.
We checked into the Hotel La Ermita, atop a hill just outside of town and after some down time, regrouped for a lovely dinner at 3Js in town.
Day 4: Visit a Tobacco Farm and Free Time to Explore
Day 4 – no packing necessary! We stay two nights in Vinales. Today’s ride takes us from the hotel to Puerto Esperanza, where we have lunch at a private restaurant owned by the lovely Rosa Maria. She is so happy to have folks come by and share her story.
We stopped to visit a tobacco farm, where we learned about one of the most important agricultural products of the region. We got to visit the drying room and hear about how it is grown, dried, prepared and eventually rolled into cigars. After the drying room, we sat down to watch a pro cigar roller demonstrate while enjoying drinks and listening. After the tobacco farm visit, there’s a little free time to use as you please. Guests explores the town and purchased souvenirs, swam, or got a massage.
Dinner this evening was and always is a real treat at Finca Paraiso, an eco restaurant and farm known for growing ingredients on site. And they are also know for their ‘anti-stress’ cocktail! This drink can be virgin or with the Cuba traditional rum added – either way, it’s delicious! With the shorter daylight hours in December, you can see a bit on the surrounding farm and plots of veggies, but if you come in March, you get longer daylight hours and have magnificent views, too.
Day 5: A Beautiful Day of Riding
We say goodbye to Vinales and head towards Pinar del Rio, passing through the towns of Pons and Cabeza. It’s another beautiful day of riding, being some folks’ favorite for scenery. We had another casual picnic lunch roadside today, in which riders made friends with locals. Last push to Pinar del Rio, where we stayed for the night and walked to dinner just down the street at a cafe.
Day 6: A Private Family Lunch and Shuttle to Havana
We’re heading back to Havana! After our ride, we stopped en route at the home of a local veterinarian for a family-style meal. They are welcoming and generous and serve us delicious food and fresh squeezed juices. We continue on our shuttle to Havana and the Gran Aston for our final two nights. A storm, which calmed down, brought waves crashing over the Malecon, which is always quite the sight! There was a nice breeze but no rain as we walked a simple block away to Casa Mia for dinner.
Day 7: Historic Havanan Art and a Final Day of Biking
Our final day of biking was spent cruising around Havana, heading West from our hotel to the very unique Fusterlandia. It’s the house of an artist who began creating murals and mosaics with interesting tiles and materials. His project spread to surrounding homes in the area and is continued today by his family. Then, we continued riding to lunch at El Aljibe, where we had another family style meal. El Alijibe is renowned for it’s chicken with a special marinade.
Then, we visited the Nunez Foundation, which is a small museum which houses many of Antonio Nunez Jimenez’s books and collections. It’s an eclectic mix of nature and history. It even has one of the original canoes from their epic trip on the Amazon river!
In the evening, we got to ride the classic vintage cars that everyone thinks of when Cuba comes to mind! We took a leisurely drive around Havana Vieja, taking in the views and waving at each other in our convertibles. The cars dropped us off at the restaurant for our final celebratory dinner together. Afterwards, we said goodbye and our many thanks to Rei, Ramon and Alexis Ariel.
Day 8: Our Goodbyes
The next and last day of our West Cuba bike tour, we had breakfast and folks got prepared for the journey home. We said our goodbyes and headed back to the States with a new understanding and appreciation for Cuba and full hearts and memories for years to come. Gracias!
Check out the detailed West Cuba Bike Tour itinerary. We make travel to Cuba easy, give our office a call to chat about the details of this lifetime trip.
Your bike tour consultant can be reached at 800-272-4141.
Adios,
Stephanie Paul, WV West Cuba Bike Tour Guide