Cuban Highlights Ride

Day 1
The group flight arrives in the afternoon and we transfer to our hotel. Those on Land Only arrangements should join us at the hotel in the evening.

Day 2
After breakfast we drive east to Cienfuegos via the Bay of Pigs. We stop mid morning for bike fitting and cycle to Playa Larga along the coast. We stop for a swim at Punta Perdiz. After lunch we cycle to Playa Giron, where we will visit a museum that commemorates the Bay of Pigs invasion, one of the most important events in Cuba's recent history. After visiting the museum we drive to Cienfuegos arriving in time for a visit of the historical centre.
Ride approx. 40km.

Day 3
We set off from the hotel cycling through Cienfuegos and then into the countryside past mango groves. After some short sharp hills, we start to enjoy stunning views of the Escambray Mountains across valleys of sugar cane. The road then undulates close to the coastline and through gentle hills until it reaches Guajimico. The rest of the day can be spent swimming in the Caribbean, walking in the hills around Guajimico or sitting by the pool enjoying the views and sipping a mojito!
Ride approx. 45km.

Day 4
The ride today is along a road that clings to the shimmering Caribbean coastline all the way to Trinidad. We pass small communities and cross bridges over picture perfect bays. Some undulations just before Trinidad give us an appetite for lunch! After we've reached Trinidad we can spend the rest of the day exploring this beautiful World Heritage Site.
Ride approx. 45km.

Day 5
Today you can either take a break from the saddle or continue exploring Cuba on two wheels. For the cyclists, we will make our way through the picturesque fishing village of La Boca. Our destination is La Torre de Manaca Iznaga, an old colonial sugar plantation that is located in one of Cuba's most beautiful valleys - Valle de los Ingenios. We'll then cycle or transfer back to Trinidad for a free afternoon. If you'd like to recharge your batteries with a well deserved day off, take the optional catamaran trip to Cayo Macho instead - a chance to get away from it all on one of Cuba's pristine beaches. Look out for the tame iguanas!

Day 6
After a transfer this morning through the stunning Topes de Collantes National Park, we start cycling along the valley floor between impressive mountains. Scenery is lush with small farms and villages giving way to open vistas as we descend towards Manicaragua. We stop for a picnic along the way and then start to climb towards Hanabanilla, situated on the shores of Lake Hanabanilla and surrounded by lush tropical hills. This is one of the most beautiful days in term of scenery.
Ride approx. 40km.

Day 7
In the morning we transfer to Santa Clara. This was the first major city to be liberated by Castro's army in December 1958. Today a number of monuments commemorate this important period of Cuba's history, including the mausoleum of the legendary Che Guevara, where we stop for a visit. We then transfer to Havana, with a short stop for lunch along the way. Havana is one of the finest colonial cities in the Americas with narrow streets, spacious plazas and glorious Spanish architecture. There is an air of faded grandeur about the place with paint peeling off buildings and '50s and '60s American automobiles still dominating the roads. Time permitting we explore some of modern Havana including Revolution Square and the Capitolio building before checking into our hotel for the night.

Day 8
We dedicate the morning to sightseeing in Old Havana, taking a walking tour of its restored plazas. Those on group flights will transfer approx. 30 - 40 minutes this afternoon to Havana airport for the return flight to London.

Day 9
Arrive London.