Cuba

Cuba is one of top destinations for cyclists, according to some magazines. Nature is overwhelming, with for example the mogotes around Viñales in the west. In the east you will find the green landscapes and jungle clad mountains. There is hardly any traffic, while the roads are well maintained everywhere. You can also easily find your way with the cycling Lonely Planet. The people are very friendly and always willing to chat if you speak some Spanish. And you can eat delicious things. Time to ask yourself why you haven't traveled to this cycling paradise yet.

The people are very hospitable. It is recommended to sleep with the people themselves in casas particulares. They are very helpful and arrange reservations for the next destination if desired.

The language of instruction is Spanish. Few people speak English, so basic knowledge of Spanish is useful. The people are unusually friendly, helpful and unobtrusive.

The population is poor and of course you are the rich westerner who has a lot of dollars with them that they like to get a piece of. Especially in Havana and Santiago you come across vendors offering you cigars or a woman every five minutes. Outside of these cities, Cubans are more sincere to chat. People react enthusiastically to the bicycles and are now used to the foreigners coming to their country to sweat on a bicycle.

Quite some nationalities need a Tourist Card to visit Cuba, which is different than the Cuban visa. The tourist card is often confused with the visa. On Easytouristcard.com you can get the tourist card online.

Source: Wikipedia.

Cuba is a safe country. It is a dictatorship with an extensive police force. Each village is divided into zones controlled by the party. However, as a tourist you will notice very little of this well-functioning device. The only thing that really struck us was that you were asked to show your passport for registration at a casa within 1 minute. A number of times we have seen registration checked by government officials.

To be on the safe side, take your bike inside the house. Usually, however, the casa owner will arrange all these things for you.

Jonas (2007): "We did not succeed in discussing politics freely. Everyone then says that it is a fantastic system, that Fidel is the great leader and that nothing will change when he dies. I'm not sure what their real opinion is on this case."

Jonas (2007): "Apparently since 2005 it has been forbidden for 'normal' Cubans to speak to tourists. This is to prevent hassle about cigars, etc. This of course makes contact more difficult, although it is not the case. that everyone shies away from that. "

Wim and Corrie (2011): "We have heard this rule, but have heard nothing about it. Every Cuban we spoke to was more than happy to start a nice conversation. Politics is hardly, if at all, negotiable. We were also treated very respectfully. Never even 1 Cuban bothered us. For example, if we indicated that we were not interested in something, they immediately walked away. Even in tourist resorts in Havana."

Paladars

We have always eaten in the casas. We always got a very extensive breakfast with lots of fresh fruit and fresh fruit juice. During the day we had little need for food. We have hardly seen any markets, but a few stalls along the road. Outside the cities it is difficult to get food and drink. It is best to bring enough water and some food with you when you leave.

You can enjoy good food at private individuals (paladar, or with an overnight stay in a casa particular). This is in contrast to state restaurants, where there are not much more than beans, rice, fried chicken on the menu. Breakfast costs 2-3 pesos convertible; dinner 7 peso convertible.

It is not always easy for vegetarians. They can of course ask for a meat-free meal at a casa particular or paladar, although it can become monotonous (it will just be the meal but without meat): lots of rice, beans, green beans, cucumber, mango, banana, oranges, papaya (seasonal).

Shops / supermarkets

Food is sometimes difficult to get. So make sure you always have stock with you. There are not many shops, and often there is not much for sale. Exceptions are the tiendas panamericanas, where you can buy convertibles (Cuban) cola and orange, fruit juice, biscuits, rice, pasta, and sometimes cream crackers with pesos. Shops where you can pay with peso MN usually sell cheap alcohol (1 liter of 'firewater' for 3-4 peso MN), refresco's (can of cola 10 peso MN), sandwiches, rice and local cigars etc.

Stalls

Along the way, people sell tasty juices, fruits (bananas, mangos, and pineapples), and sometimes cakes and small nutritious pizzas. Very cheap, but you have to pay with the MN peso.

Drinkable water

The quality of water varies a lot. It is best to check on the spot. The local population does not purify the water, they often get it from wells. It is important to bring a lot of drink. Bottles of drinking water are available at tiendas panamericanas. Costs 1 peso convertible per 1.5 liters. You need a lot of water, so this will be very expensive. Disinfection pills or a water filter is therefore worthwhile, also for environmental reasons.

Tips

Special recommendations for cyclists and easy to obtain are the pizzas de queso (from 3 to 5 peso), nice and crispy, often baked on coal in a metal mold. Ask for a pizzeria or pizza de queso in almost any town and people will send you there. This is usually a private house with a sign. Are only open at certain hours, + - between 10 and 12 AM, in cities also in the evening between 5 and + - 8 pm.

Fruit is also heavenly for the cyclist; June is the time of the mangoes, along the road there are people with buckets to sell. We tasted quite a few of the thirty varieties, ranging from the size of a pear to pineapple, pineapple, guanabana, zapota (especially the juice), bananas, ...

We have not been vaccinated. We have also had no health problems, even after drinking tap water. For the rest, we have no experience with medical care.

Tom (2003): "The soft drinks you buy at roadside stalls are not made from bottled water. Nevertheless, we did not get sick."

Health care in Cuba has a very high standard. We ourselves have no experience with hospitals, but if you can afford it, you can undoubtedly go to clinics or doctors.

Special sights

We thought Trinidad and Vinales were worth it. You can make various excursions from these towns. Also worthwhile was la cueva de los peces, on the road between Playa Giron and Play Larga = lake connected to the sea.

For those who like to hike on foot, we can recommend a day trip to El Yunque (the anvil) in the east. To the top of the table mountain through the jungle. You can take a guide. Info in the Lonely Planet.

Wim and Corrie (2011): "We traveled through Cuba with a sit-down tandem. Liked the west very beautiful. Have also driven from Cienfuegos to Santa Clara, Remedios, Sancti Spiritus and Trindad. Very favorable distances (start early with cycling) and you will pass many nice places. We did not want to go to the commercial beaches. We therefore had a few wonderful days in La Boca (just outside Trinidad), from there also made a boat trip to an island with Iguanas. Very nice and special. Furthermore, enjoy some snorkeling, unlimited drinks on the boat and a relaxing day."

Wim and Corrie (2011): "In Viñales, Vladimir and Gladys (casa owners) arranged a farmer with horses for us to ride through the tabas fields. Very nice to do for a few hours. Especially viewing and discussing the entire process with these people is very instructive and pure. Quite different from visiting a tobacco factory. Which in itself is also nice, by the way."

Existing routes

Wim and Corrie (2011) We have used the English booklet Bicycling Cuba by Willy and Barbara Smith. It contains many cycling routes, described in great detail and provided with maps. All sorts of great tips, short routes, but also what to bring, a piece of history, etc. are not missing. VERY meaningful little book in our view.

Best bike period

Seasons

Normally from December to April. We cycled from the end of October to the middle of November and had practically no rain. The heat was bearable.

November to March is a good time to travel to cuba. Temperature is around 30 degrees. The wet months are the end of April to July. Admittedly no rain all days. Relatively much North-East and East wind.

Tom (2003): "We traveled around in May and June, but it was very hot (34 degrees every day). It was still doable, but for people who like it a bit cooler, winter is recommended. In Cuba it never gets warmer than 40 degrees, but due to the high humidity every day felt like the hottest day of the year. We only had 1 day of rain during the day, generally it rains in the evening (thunderstorms). "

We went east in June in 2004, which is normally not the best season. Yet we have not had much rain. The plants were also more in bloom, which is very nice. It was very hot, getting up early and starting was the message.

Blanche en Douwe (2008): "We were there in July and August, the hottest months of the year. If you start cycling early, it is doable. We were on our bikes before 7 am every day and had a siesta in the afternoon after a shower. By the way, the light is beautiful for photographing and filming early in the morning."

Wim and Corrie (2011): "We cycled in March and April. Even then it was quickly hot. When you get up often about 26 degrees. We got on at 6.45 am and tried to get off the bike around 12 noon and 12:30 pm. Drink enough and eat on time !! Also make sure you have enough drink with you. There is not always something available everywhere !! Finally, it might also be good not to think "100km = 4 hours cycling". This does not work with these temperatures and if you want to see and do something on the road. Perhaps superfluous information for experienced cyclists, but as beginners we made this mistake the first few days."

Wind direction

It is important to cycle from east to west, that way you always cycle with the wind. In the west you can e.G. First take the bus to trinidad and from there cycle west to vinales and return by bus to havana.

Spare parts

We had spare parts with us. We did not meet any bicycle repairers on the way. We have not had any bad luck, not even a single flat tire.

Spare parts are hardly available. There are 28 inch tires for sale, but strangely enough they often just don't fit around our rims.

It is advisable to bring your own spare inner tube and tire and spokes, depending on the quality of the parts on your bike. The helpfulness is great, you will probably be able to get a lift, even if it is illegal.

Tips

It is forbidden to bring a GPS to Cuba. This was even stated in the new folder about import duties from Customs at Varadero airport. Bringing one with you is therefore at your own risk, there is a chance that you have lost your expensive device. By the way, it is not difficult to navigate in Cuba, there are not that many roads. Even the cities are easy.

Astrid: "Contrary to the information in travel guides and the country information of Vlieg & Fiets, your European mobile phone does work in Cuba, as long as you have network coverage (in the big cities). So bring it with you." Blanche: The GPS is officially prohibited. There have been cases of customs confiscating the GPS !! We wisely left the GPS at home. A GPS is also not really necessary.

Ati and Marise: "Cuba is a country in desperation because of the political situation, which, unfortunately, makes it special to visit it. Nobody knows what it will look like after Fidel Castro, but I hope better for the Cuban."

Ati and Marise: "In terms of nature, Cuba is not very special in the part where we have been, but that is of course very personal and depending on what you have already seen. The area around Vinales is very green, also good for a walk. You also seem to be able to dive well and enjoy the beach. Yes, and Havana is a must. "

Wim and Corrie (2011). We made a day trip from La Boca (Trinidad) with a catamaran to an island with a number of iguanas on it. Had a wonderful day. Boat is regularly stopped for swimming and snorkeling (everything on the boat), lunch on the island with the iguanas where you can also relax on sun beds for a while. In addition, the whole day of drinking is included.