Motorcycle Tours: Cuba
Situated just a hundred miles from Miami yet so remote it feels like entering a different world, Cuba is emerging as one of the most intriguing motorcycling destinations around the world. Motorcycle tours in Cuba focus on the cultural experiences just as much as the landscapes and the scenery: due to its unique history and enduring communist regime, Cuba remains one of the most closed-off, enchanting, and fascinating places on Earth. Once home to North America’s bohemian elite including Ernest Hemingway himself, Cuba is now a country of contrasts. On the one hand, Havana has retained some of its former splendor, and its Hemingway Marina area still boasts beautiful colonial buildings, spotlessly white sailing yachts, and airy boulevards. At the same time, Cuba’s rural areas are crumbling, and the poverty in some of its regions is simply heartbreaking. Regardless, Cubans remain some of the most highly educated, curious, and friendly people in the Caribbean, and motorcycling across Cuba is an unforgettable experience. Although Fidel Castro, Cuba’s infamous leader, is long gone, the country remains under the Communist Party control giving it a strange feel. In a way, it appears as if you have been transported back in time: classic American cars of the fifties and sixties are still being used all over Cuba, alongside with old Russian Ladas and Moskovitch monsters; there are hardly any private businesses or shops, except for government-managed enterprises, and the entire country does not have one single commercial billboard in sight. Instead, you get murals of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, clumsy slogans praising the Party, the proletariat, and the Revolution, and it seems like the entire country is frozen in the times of the Cold War.
Motorcycle Tours in Cuba: What to Expect
However, Cuba is an exceptionally beautiful country to travel. Motorcycle tours in Cuba will take you to some of the country’s most charming ports and cities, tobacco plantations, and pristine Caribbean beaches. You’ll see its forested mountains, scenic national parks, and coastal routes, and for the most part, you’ll have the roads to yourself as very few Cubans can afford to own a car or a motorcycle. Motorcycle tours in Cuba feel like a private tour of the country, and you’re guaranteed to make some unforgettable memories. Cuban cuisine, both in Havana and in the coastal fishing villages, is nothing short of mouth-watering: when traveling here, be sure to sample ropa vieja, a Cuban pulled beef dish, and try out some fresh seafood drenched in coconut milk when visiting Bayamo. If you love tobacco, Cuban cigars make for a perfect souvenir, and for those nostalgic about the Hemingway heritage, a visit to the Old Man and the Sea hotel in Havana is a must. While shipping motorcycles to Cuba is not the easiest of tasks, it is possible: there are sailing boats out of Mexico willing to take two-wheeled cargo, and you can get your bike into Cuba without much hassle (you will, however, need to obtain a Cuban license plate and a Cuban driver’s license, all for about $20 at the Cuban customs offices). Motorcycle tours in Cuba, by comparison, are a much easier solution: you simply fly in, pick your ride, and explore. Whichever option you choose, here is what you need to put on your Cuba itinerary: Havana Likely your port of entry into Cuba, Havana is a magnificent colonial city that could be compared to New Orleans – if New Orleans was situated on the coast. Once the pearl of the Caribbean, Havana had fallen into disrepair during the Cuban revolution, and it has not yet fully recovered: while its Old Town is beautifully restored and offers a glimpse into what Havana used to be in Hemingway’s time, most of the city is in various states of ruin and decay. Because of this, wandering the streets of Havana feels like being in some strange movie set where on one corner, you see imperial hotels and stately colonial buildings and on the next, houses are falling apart and families huddle in doorsteps ready to collapse onto themselves. There is beauty, tragedy, and nostalgia seeped into every nook and cranny of Havana, and visiting the city feels like a privilege in itself. For visitors, Havana offers plenty of excellent accommodation and food options, and if you have several days here, be sure to enjoy a live Cuban music concert and try the legendary local rum. Although plagued by a difficult past and faced with an uncertain tomorrow, Cubans know how to celebrate life. Santiago de Cuba The second-largest city in Cuba, Santiago is a colorful Caribbean harbor situated southeast of Havana. Most motorcycle tours in Cuba make a stop in Santiago to explore the city, sample local cuisine, and enjoy a fishing trip or a night out in town. Santiago is the birthplace of the world-famous Bacardi rum and is Cuba’s center for arts, music, and salsa dancing. Vinales Located in Western Cuba, Vinales is the country‘s tobacco capital, but most motorcycle tours in Cuba include Vinales on their itineraries because of its scenic surroundings. The Vinales Valley is known for its magnificent limestone rocks and nearby mountains appearing like a scene from Jurassic Park, and the quiet, one-lane country roads here are perfect for motorcycling. Varadero No motorcycle tour in Cuba would be complete without visiting Varadero, a beach resort town on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. Varadero is famous for its pristine, sandy beaches, voyages to the nearby islands, and chartered fishing trips. Legend has it, Cayo Guillermo and Cayo Coco, two little archipelagos just off of Varadero, were Hemingway‘s favorite fishing spots; whether that‘s true or not, local fishermen still catch tuna and blue marlin in these waters. On your Cuba motorcycle tour, stop in Varadero for a day or two to enjoy the sunny weather, beautiful beaches, and fine dining accompanied by live salsa music.
Practical Information for Motorcycle Tours in Cuba
Situated in the Caribbean Sea between the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, and Jamaica, Cuba enjoys hot, sunny weather year-round. If you‘re thinking of going on one of the motorcycle tours in Cuba, pack light and wear riding gear that is designed for hot temperatures: you won‘t need your warm layers here. When it comes to currency, Cuba is a little hard to figure out at first. It uses two official currencies, one meant for locals and another one, for tourists; in Havana, Santiago, and Varadero, expect to pay premium prices, but out in the rural areas, locals happily accept the local Cuban peso and the prices drop significantly. Cuba is easily among the safest countries to travel. Crime against tourists – or any crime, for that matter – is punished very strictly, and Cubans are incredibly kind and generous people, so don‘t expect any trouble. Even petty theft is uncommon in Havana, so travel with confidence and don‘t hesitate to connect with the locals. If you‘re going on a guided motorcycle tour in Cuba, chances are, you‘ll be offered an adventure or a cruiser type motorcycle. Unless you‘re shipping your own, either type of bike will work: Cuba cannot boast excellent quality roads, and some routes may involve riding dirt trails, but in general, adventure and dual sport bikes should be more than capable to take on local roads and routes.
