Cuba is Ready to Greet You
Between January and March 2025, I will lead three bike tours in Cuba for the well-respected bike tour operator Bicycle Breeze. I hope you can join me for the fun.
This next season will be based in Havana/Varadero providing two airport options for flying to Cuba. Tour registration is open and encouraged - you can reserve a spot at no cost until the Fall. All tours offer e-bikes as an option, making the tours more accessible.
Celia Sanchez Bike Tour Recap
I want to share some photos and a story about the second winter 2024 bike tour that I led, this one in February. This tour is named the Celia Sanchez Memorial Tour as it celebrates the life and times of the "Heroine of the Revolution" as she is known in Cuba. For 15 days, we cycled the region where Celia Sanchez was born, raised and supported the revolution. She played a key role in supporting the revolution, from the time she made preparations for the landing of the Granma boat, to living with the rebels high in the Sierra Maestra mountain range.
We began our tour in Holguin and rode south to Bayamo the pretty capital city of the Province of Granma. In Bayamo we met with our first youth cycling club where we shared half of the cycling donations that riders had brought to Cuba. Peter Marshall the owner of Bicycle Breeze also handed out new jerseys for the club so that they could be recognized as a team when they compete in regional or national events. I really enjoy the fact that we can support these clubs who are dependent upon donations to continue their training.
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| Our crew setting up the bikes at our tour bus which follows us each day |
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| Meeting the Bayamo Youth Club and providing equipment and clothing donations |
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| Our tour guide Karel leading a walking tour of Bayamo |
Moving on we rode to a beautiful spot on the north side of the Sierra Maestra mountain range staying for two nights at El Salton, relaxing at a quiet mountain retreat where few tourists venture. A local guide took us on a muddy walk to look for birds and admire the flora of the region. It rarely rains in Cuba in the winter as it is the dry season, but we had several hours of rain that day.
As we cycled farther south we explored the second-largest city Santiago de Cuba. This city and the surrounding area are where Cuba's revolutions have begun. Celia Sanchez worked with Frank Pais before he was assassinated in the street by the government. With Frank's support, she set up a network of people to plan for the return of Fidel Castro to Cuba. We toured Santiago both on foot and by bus exploring the museums, cathedral, fortress and more.
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| Maria makes traditional coffee by roasting it on an open fire at her home near El Salton |
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| Our tour group at Santiago's Revolution Plaza with the statue of Antonio Maceo |
After Santiago, we headed toward one of the world's top 10 bike rides known as the South Coast Road. This road continues from Santiago approximately 200 kilometres to Marea del Portillo. We broke the ride into two days and used the bus to shorten the total distance. The road begins with fresh pavement and is flat until it starts to get hilly and the road deteriorates due to damage from tropical storms.
We used jeeps to support us along this road and everyone who completed this ride knew they had accomplished something special. It is not an easy day and sensibly some people opted for a ride on the bus to see the sights as they detoured around the South Coast Road.
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| Swimming at Sierra Mar partway along the South Coast Road |
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| Jeeps supported us along this road with snacks and water |
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| The scenery along the road is beautiful |
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| A rough patch where storms have washed out the road |
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| My friend Edelmis prepared a very welcome snack for us during the ride |
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| Another family we love in Marea shared this decadent snack table with us |
We visited the landing site of the Granma boat that brought Fidel and his 82-man revolutionary force to Cuba. They ran out of fuel and essentially ran aground near Niquero. After that, the rebels struggled through a kilometre of mangrove swamp carrying their supplies to dry land. What a way to start a revolution.
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| The landing site was not ideal |
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| Casa de Fidel at the command post |
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| Some of the Las Tunas riders chatting before we set off |
We wound down our tour with a ride to Holguin. We spent two nights seaside enjoying the beautiful white sand beaches of Guardalavaca.
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| A roadside ice cream vendor provided a welcome treat |
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| Our final day at the site where Christoper Columbas first saw Cuba |
Our Cuba 2025 Tour Opportunities
I hope you enjoyed the photos of our recent Celia Sanchez bike tour. My 15 years of experience touring Cuba by bike enables me to ensure your safe enjoyment of Cuba as we enjoy a healthy and relaxing vacation exploring this beautiful island. Our team prides itself in making sure clients are well prepared for their adventure in Cuba and have no surprises.
Fat Mary (María la Gorda) 2025
Fat Mary Website
Colonial Cities & Beaches Tour 2025
For more details or to register for this tour head to the website.
Colonial Cities & Beaches Website
Gringo Viejo Tour 2025
When: March 8 - 20, 2025.
Gringo Viejo Website
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