Cuba has been open for tourism since November 2021 and has had a very successful launch of its tourism industry which is critical to its prosperity. Our tours last winter were a blast. This year there will be several more tours running and almost all hotels on the island are now open.
Canada has maintained the Cuban travel advisory at the “take normal precautions level” for a long time now. There is no reason to expect this to change. So the government’s advice against travel is long gone – something many travellers were looking for. I am often asked if Cuba is safe. It’s the safest place I travel to and the best place to cycle as drivers are particularly courteous and gently toot their horns to let you know they are about to pass.
Cuba itself has maintained one of the highest numbers of vaccine doses per 100K of the population in the world and has over 90% of its population fully-vaccinated including children over 2 years old. There are no Covid testing requirements or other challenges to overcome to travel to Cuba.
The Cuban economy is suffering and Cuban Nationals are having a difficult time once again; however, tourists are treated in high esteem and have the best access to goods due to the hard currency we bring (Canadian/US dollars, Euros, Pounds Sterling). Currency exchange rates went up by a factor of five in our favour this summer so we anticipate prices to be very good for us in Cuban stores and restaurants.
Bicycle Breeze has summarized the current information on tourism in Cuba HERE. We hope it answers most of your questions and is helpful.
Meet one of our Cuban Cultural Tour Guides
Carlos Martinez has supported many Bicycle Breeze tours over the years. He graduated from the University of Havana and began his working life as a school teacher.
Carlos now works for Cubanacan, a state-run tourism company, supporting tourists from around the world and helping them learn about Cuba. It’s one of the realities of Cuban life that getting into the tourism industry is difficult to achieve but has the potential for better pay.
 |
| Carlos Martinez and Beth Orphan - Lunch in Havana |
Carlos, his wife Lidia, and his son Jack live in Bauta on the west side of Havana. They live on top of his mother-in-law's house, it's a three-bedroom house, living room, kitchen, bathroom, with a small back terrace which is not finished yet. The same is true for the outside of the house which lacks the last layer of cement and therefore paint. It took some years to be built because the materials and labour are very expensive.
Carlos says that for Cubans “life is exceedingly difficult at the moment, with blackouts, line-ups for everything, inflation is really high, products are scarce, and there are no medicines.”
Our Cuban cultural tour guides are highly trained and fluent in English and often additional languages. They will spend as much time as you desire to answer your questions and give you honest insights into Cuban life. Leaving you with a clear awareness of the challenges they face and their strong will to overcome hardships.
Our guides are dependent on our tours and the tips from clients to make ends meet. The money they make in the high season (Nov – April) has to sustain them for the rest of the year. Hard currency from tips enables them to purchase “luxury” items that we all take for granted in our home countries, such as building materials.
Similarly our bus driver and bike mechanic will go above and beyond to make your trip safe and comfortable. Tip them well.
Our Cuba Bike Tours this Winter
Beth and I will be co-leading two bike tours this winter – we are finalizing the tour groups now so please get in touch ASAP so we can hold a spot for you as limited spaces remain (two for Fat Mary, and one for Cayo – unless we go with a bigger bus, which is a possibility).
We hold spaces until November at which time, the tour company seeks a deposit to confirm your commitment. In December, the final payment will come due.
Here are links to read details about the two tours:
Fat Mary Tour of Western Cuba, January 21, 2023 (15 days)
https://bicyclebreeze.net/biking-tours-cuba/fat-mary-bicycle-tour-in-cuba-lee/
Cayos y Seis Ciudades Tour of Central Cuba, February 11, 2023 (15 days)
 |
| Fat Mary February 2022 Tour Group - lunch at Cayo Jutias right on the beach |
Zoom Tour Presentations
Beth and I continue to hold monthly zoom meetings to show some great photos of past tours, explain the upcoming tour routes, and answer your questions. Here are the coordinates for our next meeting - Email me if you would like a meeting invitation for your calendar.
Topic: Bicycle Breeze Cuba Bike Tour Presentation - Cayo y Seis Ciudades
Time: Sep 22, 2022, 07:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Click this link to join the presentation. Zoom Meeting Link...
In Closing
Beth and I wish you all the best and hope to see many of you this winter in Cuba. If you ever have any questions let us know.
Best wishes, and stay safe,
Lee & Beth Orphan
Tour Leaders – Bicycle Breeze
Phone: +1 519 471 9060
Email: lee@bicyclebreeze.net
YouTube Video Channel: Lee's Cuba Cycling YouTube Channel
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leescubabiketours
Comments
Post a Comment