Day 1: Arrive and Relax
Get a first impression of Cuba and some information from your tour guide while enjoying your welcome drink in your hotel in Holguín or in Your private pension respectively. We have the first chance to taste the unique Cuban cuisine in our hotel “Mirador de Mayabé” (optional). From here you can let your eye wander over the beautiful and well-groomed city. Alternative accommodations are Pernik or El Bosque hotel, just 1 km from the city center. Depending on the time of arrival, we can go for a stroll through the vibrant night life of Holguín.
Day 2 (210 km): Via Bayamo to Sierra Maestra
After breakfast we get familiar with our motorbikes and begin our first stage. It starts with a well-paved street and few bends to Bayamo and leads us into the mountain range Sierra Maestra little by little. We drive through the impressive mountainscape and finally reach our overnight accommodation Villa Santo Domingo. Alternative hotels: Royalton or Sierra Maestra in Bayamo or private pensions.
Day 3 (190 km): Road through Sierra Maestra
We drive back a part of the route after breakfast. In Bartolomé Maso, we move southwards towards Yara and Manzanillo. Crossing Campechuela and Medialuna, we finally reach again the western foothills of Sierra Maestra. Starting in Sevilla Arriba, we cross the mountain range which seems to be relatively low at this point. In less than one hour we reach Punta Piedra, situated east of Pilón, where we will have a break. We stay overnight in the small hotel or a few kilometres away from here in Marea del Portillo (in “Marea del Portillo” or “Farallón del Caribe” hotel) or in private pensions respectively. Depending on our arrival time, we have the opportunity to have a swim in the sea.
Day 4 (180 km): Lonesome road to Santiago de Cuba
Today we will have a breathtaking drive on one of the most beautiful tracks of Cuba. A narrow street leads us, along the Caribbean coast, to Santiago de Cuba in a few hours. The sea is always within your reach, the mountain range of Sierra Maestra rises on our left-hand side. We have to expect road damages from time to time which are caused by frequent floods. Boulders often bar our way. Using our Enduro motorbikes, we can easily overcome these obstacles. Rocky coastal stretches alternate with numerous small beaches inviting us to relax and dream. Today’s destination is Santiago de Cuba, the second largest city of Cuba. Depending on our time of arrival, we have the chance to visit the city or at least some sights and highlights. After check-in in our accommodation “Casagranda” (booking may be arranged in an alternative hotel or in private houses respectively), we have dinner. We can enjoy the panoramic view over the bay of Santiago de Cuba and have a drink or go for a stroll through Cuban night life.
Day 5 (60 km): One day in Santiago
We start our tour through the city after breakfast. We take our lunch in the fortress “El Morro” and get back to our accommodation. The rest of the day can be used for independent explorations of the surrounding area.
Day 6 (210 km): An alpine pass in the tropics
After breakfast in our hotel we leave Santiago in northeastern direction. Because of the US naval base in Guatánamo Bay, no other route is possible. Today we drive one of the most spectacular roads of the country: La Farola. This pass line reminds us of European Alpine passes and was built in the mid-1960s. La Farola leads us from the dry south to Baracoa, the tropical and humid northern side of Sierra Maestra. It’s a historically interesting city with special flair. We spend two nights in hotel “El Castillo” or in a private accommodation. We take a whole day of time to go on excursions, for example to Río Toa or to the edges of Alejandro de Humboldt National Park.
Day 7 (140 km): Trip to Yumurí
After breakfast we start our tour to Yumurí, just a few kilometres away from “Punta de Maisí”, the easternmost point of Cuba. According to old traditions, the few indigenous Cubans alive moved here during the Spanish Colonial epoch. In fact, the faces of some people living in this region seem to show facial characteristics of indigenous people. We drive back to Baracoa and enjoy dinner together.
Day 8 (180 km): African Feeling
We continue our tour along the coastal road after breakfast. After a drive of 40 kilometres on a gravel and stony track, we will stop for refreshments in a simple but attractive hotel in Playa Maguana. Passing Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, we finally reach Moa, “the Ugly Ducking” of Eastern Cuba. Enormous surfaces torn open by extensive mining and nickel processing give an apocalyptic appearance to the landscape. It is strictly forbidden to take photos here and it will be punished immediately. We move on to Cayo Saetía quickly where we can find an exotic complex of bungalows, amidst a zoo of African wild animals or in private pensions in Mayarí respectively.
Day 9: Time to say goodbye or time to enjoy some more days in Cuba
After breakfast we will head towards Holguin, with short stops in Banes and Guardalavaca. In Holguin we will return the motorbikes and finish the tour having one last lunch together. If you want to stay some more days in Cuba, we would be pleased to help you with an additional booking.
Please note: We usually book the hotels mentioned in our travel information. Unfortunately, it is possible that we have to alter the reservation at short notice because of the current capacity situation. This could occasionally lead to changes in the itinerary.
