Cycling Holiday: Cuban Highlights Ride

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 28 reviews.

Julian O'Neill

CUBAN HIGHLIGHTS RIDE

Written November 2012
Brilliant trip.Good organisation and excellent leader in fabulous country.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
1950s classic car ride into Havana followed by an evening at the Buenavista Social Club.
This was organised by our trip leader, something he did not have to do!
What a night. Unmissable!
What did you think of your group leader?
Superb - he really did his best for us.
Very professional, patient, well organised and really wanted to show us around his fascinating country of which he was very proud.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Definitely bring a back pack and, if possible, the best camera you can!
Keep lots of small change for little tips - even just for taking a picture of someone.
Totallly concur with Exodus' advice regarding small cheap gifts - pens, crayons, perfume samplers.
Prepare to accept that everything will not happen quite as you expect or plan - but it will turn out all right in the end - if not better!!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just go there - before it changes!
Prepare to have your opinion of the country altered.
Barbara Chandler

CUBAN HIGHLIGHTS RIDE

Written November 2012
I very much enjoyed travelling around Cuba, learning about its history and seeing its beautiful countryside in action. Our guide, Freddy was excellent: informative and thoughtful. It was great to be in a group where you could share discoveries and talk about everything we were seeing and learning.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Cycling through the rich countryside, past farms and forests.. fragrent and fertile!
But the historic visits were much more interesting than I expected and I felt much better informed by the time I left - was glad to learn it all.
What did you think of your group leader?
Just brilliant: Freddy told us so much about Cuban history and helped us look at what we were seeing with informed gaze. Always ready to answer questions and help us get the best out of our stay. He was relaxed, cheerful and patient with us all!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
BRING YOUR OWN SADDLE! the saddles on the hire bikes were excruciatingly hard and knobbly and those who brought their own had a much better time.
Bring a universal bath plug - several places had no plugs.
Make it clear what degree of cycling energy you plan to put in - and don't be deterred by others with a different outlook.
Several of our party were there for the cycling 'challenge' of travelling quickly through the terrain. This made a difficult contradiction with my motivation - at 66 I was there 'to see Cuba by bicycle'.. you can't see much if you are rushing to the max. If you are like me and don't want to rush, stick to your guns, don't be hurried and in extremis get on the bus!
Get out and explore each of the places you stay in: you will be surrounded by wonders and you are VERY safe: just ENJOY!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Thank you! I would be inclined to rate my cyc;ing holiday itinerary as mostly 'moderate' rather than 'easy'... and I think you could try to recruit people of similar motivations for the same trip. I felt sometimes under pressure for not being interested in racing to the next rendezvous...
But our guide was to be congratulated and thanked for introducing us so thoughtfully - through his introductory 'lectures' and explanations - to his wonderful country. I would love to come here again under my own steam and bring my children to enjoy it too.
Tom Douglas

CUBAN HIGHLIGHTS RIDE

Written November 2012
Then best holiday for a long long time. Partly because everyone on the holiday was really great but also because it was really well organised and with great backup. Freddy and Thomas were really friendly and informative. I got the feeling that they really wanted us to enjoy our holiday. All the Cubans we met were friendly. A real feel good holiday. The cycling was nicely balanced with a real sense of acheivement at the end of each day
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Lots of things. The last days cycling had some real highs. I enjoyed Havana and Trinidad. Nice sightseeing and also the beach in Trinidad. Cubans trying to teach me to play the guitar etc..
What did you think of your group leader?
The best. I was very disorganised at the start of trip and Freddy was very helpful in sorting everything out. He really wanted us to enjoy our holiday, get to know Cuba and its history, gave us a good personal perspective and we got to see the best of Cuba. Top bloke
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you have clip in peddles and your favourite saddle you can certainly bring them. The bikes were good quality front suspension mountian bikes. A racer with thin wheels wouldn't be suitable. I hybrid even without suspension would probably be suitable. The roads on this trip were reasonable quality provided you are sensible and avoid the larger pot holes
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I think that Cubans try to conserve water so don't expect to have a very warm shower ever day. Having said tha that I had a really great time.
Michael Anderson

CUBAN HIGHLIGHTS RIDE

Written November 2012
We, like others on our trip, wanted to experience Cuba before it changes to radically. We weren't disappointed. Cuba is a wonderful country, with great scenary and fantastic people. Our tour takes us from Havana to Trinidad and back via Che Guavara's mausoleum. So on this trip, you get a real insight into the modern social history, which was fascinating. You get to see the wonderful city that is Havana and from there, the chance to cycle in some spectacular scenary as you head towards the Caribbean side of the island. Thoroughly recommended
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the Restoration taking place in Havana
The coastal rides in and around Trinidad
Whilst cycling, being raced by a local riding bareback on a beautiful horse
What did you think of your group leader?
Freddie was great and it helped that his Grandfather was a revolutionary. It meant that he could bring his stories to life with such colour and passion. The genuine article
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't worry about the cycling. As the week progresses, so will you
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A big shout out to the support crew. They are there every step of the way, smoothing out things for you. They really become an integral part of the group.
Freda Sedgwick

CUBAN HIGHLIGHTS RIDE

Written November 2012
I thoroughly enjoyed my holiday. It had just the right mix of leisurely sight-seeing and slightly more energetic cycling.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Experiencing Havana was amazing. There's something special around every corner. I couldn't stop taking photos and ran out of memory on my camera!
What did you think of your group leader?
Freddy was great. His in-depth knowledge of the areas we visited, the history, geography and the local environment were just what we needed - and all the personal stories he was able to give us from his own experience made it more relevant and interesting.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Cuba is obviously changing fast and tourism is becoming an increasingly important part of the economy. If you want to see the 'before' rather than the 'after', now's the time to go. Just remember to take an extra memory card for your camera!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Be prepared to be patient with the queues at the airport and the unique Cuban approach to "customer service".
Jacqueline Nicolle

CUBAN HIGHLIGHTS RIDE

Written August 2012
We hadn't been on this kind of holiday before and it far exceeded our expectations. Although only 8 days from start to finish, and including cycling on most days, we also had time for sightseeing and visiting historic places of interest. Our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about all things Cuban (history, social aspects, birdlife, flora and fauna.....) and entertained us all with his knowledge during the coach transfers from place to place. Transferring by coach allowed us to see different parts of Cuba in just a few days.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Not just one moment, but seeing real Cuban life as we cycled along was fascinating. Trips to a salsa club in Trinidad were fun too, great music and Mojitos.
What did you think of your group leader?
Freddie was the icing on the cake. Have already said how knowledgeable he was, also nothing was ever too much trouble - we asked him endless questions but he was always happy to share what he knew about his country, often offering fascinating personal insights. He also had a great sense of humour!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take padded cycling shorts and maybe a gel saddle cover. We used over a bottle of DEET too (in August) but didn't get bitten.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just do it! It may seem a long way for 8 days, but it was so worth it.
Joanne Liddle

CUBAN HIGHLIGHTS RIDE

Written June 2012
Great trip, fantastic way to see a country. friendly people, amazing sights, fab music and mojitos.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Finishing the cycling on the last day - up the hill - great achievment and amazing scenery
What did you think of your group leader?
Group Leader was fantastic - knowledgeable, friendly, responsible and good fun. very patient, nothing was too much trouble
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
- Take plenty of sunscreen, insect repellent and tolietries. Things are hard to come by. Take plenty of cash - cash points work but can be difficult and plenty of the places are remote.
- Take a padded seat cover to put over your seat