Day 1: Welcome to metropolis

Get a first impression of Cuba and some information from your tour guide while enjoying your welcome drink in your hotel. Depending on the time of arrival, we have the chance to discover night life in the old town of Havana and to enjoy dinner (optional) in one of the most beautiful squares of the historical old city center. Live music in small bars and cafés makes us move our feet to the vivid music of Cuba. We can go for a stroll through animated streets and alleys and can stop for a rest in one of the restaurants and cafés under the open sky.

Day 2 (50 km): Test drive in Havana

After breakfast we discover the historical old town of Havana and its culinary highlights. We get back to our accommodation afterwards, change our clothes and take our motorbikes at Parque Central. In order to get familiar with your bike, we do a short and relaxed tour throughout the city and get back to the hotel for dinner (optional).

Day 3 (130 km): Throughout Sierra del Rosario

We take the broad esplanade and roadway Malecón towards the west. Driving through Miramar, Jaimanitas and Mariel, we reach the low mountain range Sierra del Rosario and finally the nature reserve Las Terrazas. The entire route is asphalted; however, the road surfaces are of different conditions and quality. We spend the night in “Moka” hotel or in comfortable and pleasant private accommodations in Soroa.

Day 4 (180 km): Tour to Viñales

After our tour through the impressive mountainscape and over narrow streets, we get to “Cueva de los Portales”. This cave is fantastically situated and was used as headquarters by Ernesto Che Guevara during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1960. After a break, we continue our tour to Viñales where we can relax in one of the idyllically located hotels or in private accommodations in the city center.

Day 5 (80 km): Discovering the environment

After breakfast we discover the surroundings by motorbike. Narrow streets lead us to Moncada, a cute village west of Viñales. The burial places of numerous fighters of the Cuban Revolutionary War and of militia soldiers can be found here under the open sky. “Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás”, part of a cave system extending for kilometres which has been opened for visitors at the beginning of the 21st century, is only a few steps away from here.

Day 6 (250 km): Towards the far western corner

After a short stop at cigar factory “Francisco Donatien” in the provincial capital Pinar del Río, we move on southwards towards Sumidero, one of the most beautiful routes of Cuba. A relatively good but little frequented road leads us through picturesque valleys to Guane and further to María La Gorda where we stop for lunch. Afterwards we drive further towards the west, up to our destination Cabo San Antonio where we stay overnight.

Day 7 (180 km): Back to the east

On our way back from Cabo San Antonio to Havana, we keep driving on Carretera Central, the most important arterial road running through the whole island from west to east. It leads us through Cuba’s main tobacco-growing area where we stop for a visit at the private tobacco plantation “Vega del Tabaco”. After getting some information about tobacco growing and processing and spending our lunch time, we move on to San Diego de los Banos and enjoy a delicious BBQ on the terrace of a simple but clean hotel.

Day 8 (160 km): Back to metropolis

On our way back, we follow Carretera Central up to Candelaria. We cross the highway, drive past over adventurous roads to Cabanas and Quiebra Hacha up to Mariel. We take the final leg via the coastal motorway ending in Jaimanitas. Driving on Quinta Avenida, we quickly reach Miramar and finally Malecón leading us back to the old town. After return of the motorbikes, the transfer bus takes us back to the old city where we can review the highlights of the day during dinner.

Day 9: Time to say goodbye or time to enjoy some more days in Cuba

This day is at leisure. 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 the itinerary. 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.

Day 1: Arrival in Cuba

Get a first impression of Cuba and some information from your tour guide while enjoying your welcome drink in your hotel. Depending on the time of arrival, we have the chance to discover night life in the old town of Havana and to enjoy dinner (optional) in one of the most beautiful squares of the historical old city center. Live music in small bars and cafés makes us move our feet to the vivid music of Cuba. We can go for a stroll through animated streets and alleys and can stop for a rest in one of the restaurants and cafés under the open sky.

Day 2 (50 km): Test drive in Havana

After breakfast we discover the historical old town of Havana and its culinary highlights. We get back to our accommodation afterwards, change our clothes and take our motorbikes at Parque Central. In order to get familiar with your bike, we do a short and relaxed tour throughout the city and get back to the hotel for dinner (optional).

Day 3 (220 km): Tour to Zapata Peninsula

We leave early today in order to avoid working up a sweat in city traffic. Our first longer stage leads us over narrow roads to Matanzas and finally to Jagüey Grande. We spend the night in “Bohíos de Don Pedro” resort or in the simple but attractive resort of Guamá. The next morning we pay a visit to the crocodile farm of Guamá. We take the road along the Bay of Pigs up to Girón where invading troops, trained by the American CIA, landed in April 1961. They attempted to overthrow the Cuban revolutionary government which was established two years earlier. Then president John F. Kennedy half-heartedly supported the unloved project which he had taken over from his predecessor. The invasion failed and nearly every invader was put into Cuban prisons. If you like, you can get more information about the historical event in the little museum. We drive along the coast on poorly maintained roads up to Cienfuegos and have a little break. Afterwards we follow Carretera del Sur up to Trinidad where we will stay overnight in Las Cuevas hotel or in a smart Casa Particular. After dinner in a private restaurant (optional), we enjoy vibrant nightlife in the city streets.

Day 4 (100 km): Tour to Valley of the Sugar Mills

After a short tour through the historical city center of the former sugar metropolis, we continue our one-day excursion to the Valley of the Sugar Mills, embedded in a wonderful landscape northeast of Trinidad. From the observation tower “Torre de Iznaga”, formerly used to monitor the slaves working in the sugarcane fields, you can let your gaze wonder over the huge sugarcane fields to “Topes de Collantes”, the central region of the Escambray Mountains. After our return we spend another night in Trinidad or in a beach hotel on Ancón Peninsula.

Day 5 (200 km): Trinidad and Topes de Collantes

Today we traverse the central region of the Escambray Mountains: Topes de Collantes. Driving past the Hanabanilla Dam, we finally reach Santa Clara after two hours drive. The conquest of the city on December 29th, 1958, by Revolutionary Troops under the command of Ernesto Che Guevara, finally led to the victory over the army of the Cuban dictator and president Fulgencio Batista. Three days later, he fled into exile in the US, the Public Treasury of Cuba with him. After a short stop in the city we make our way through Remedios up to Cayo Santa María where we spend the night in an attractive all-inclusive hotel.

Day 6 (180 km): Cayo Santa Maria

We are having some time off and enjoying the gorgeous beach of Cayo Santa María. Optionally, we offer an excursion to Cayo Coco.

Day 7 (140 km): Varadero

Our motorbike trip continues; shortly after leaving “Terraplens”, the connection between the archipelago of Cayo Santa María and the main island, we take a short break in Remedios in order to marvel at the unique colonial city center. Along the coast and using the Carretera del Norte, we reach Varadero after a few hours drive. We stay overnight in Varadero which is the best-known bathing spot of Cuba.

Day 8 (160 km): Return to Havana

We seize the opportunity to explore the peninsula in the morning. After lunch in our hotel, we check out and arrive in Havana after a few hours drive on Carretera del Norte. We return the motorbikes and check in in our next hotel, located in the old city of Havana. We review the highlights of our tour during dinner together.

Day 9: Time to say goodbye or time to enjoy some more days in Cuba

This day is at leisure. 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 the itinerary. 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.

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. 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.

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). 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), 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 the itinerary. 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.

• Rental motorbike (from noon of 2nd day til 2pm of penultimate day)
• 8 overnight stays with breakfast in medium class hotels and/or private homes
• English-speaking tour guide
• Luggage storage for duration of tour
• Maps
• All meals / entry fees and other services according to the itinerary that are not defined as 'optional'

Services not included

• International flights and airport transfers
• Fuel (full-to-full-rule): roughly around EUR 130,-
• All meals, excursions, entry fees etc. that are defined as 'optional' in the itinerary
• Visa
• Escort vehicle / luggage transport
• Additional travel program

You may choose to be primarily accommodated in medium class hotels or primarily in private homes (casas particulares), but due to disposability issues accommodation only in hotels or only in casas isn't possible. You may easily experience different regions of Cuba by booking subsequent trips.

We also warmly recommend to add a beach stay to your Cuba holiday.

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