Upon arrival into José Marti International Airport in Havana please make your way through customs and to the baggage claim area. Make your way out of the airport and take a taxi to the group hotel (approx US$15) specified in your final tour voucher. You may also elect to have a prearranged transfer that can be organised with us before departure. As travellers will be arriving at different times, you should simply check in at the group hotel.

After breakfast, we’ll have a short group briefing where you will meet with your group leader and other members of the group. There will be an informal guided walking tour of Old Havana visiting the Plaza de Armas, the Havana City Museum, the Cathedral Plaza and the Palace of Arts and Crafts. After lunch at La Mina Restaurant, there will be a guided bus tour of modern Havana including the Malecón seafront drive, Revolution Square and the Miramar district. Dinner at the Rest Meson de la Flota.

After breakfast we’ll transfer by bus to collect the bicycles. After some minor adjustments we’ll commence cycling west out of Havana, along the coastal highway to Mariel (50 km), a town founded in 1762 that is today a major industrial town and port with the largest cement factory in Cuba. We travel inland to the Sierra del Rosario Mountains where Royal Palms sprout abundantly among the tobacco and sugarcane filled valleys. Few Cubans own or drive a car making the roads ideal for quiet cycle touring. After lunch we continue to Pinar del Rio, the capital of the province- a bustling town with many historical buildings. Accommodation is at Villa Aguas Claras – a quite resort about 20kms from the Viñales valley. Evening free.

Depart for the Vinales Valley (18 km) in the Sierra de los Organos- one of the prettiest natural areas in Cuba and the country’s oldest geological formation. The mogotes, (eroded limestone mountains) are the main attraction and date back 160 million years. Throughout the Vinales valley there are small villages, mostly self sufficient farming communities and traders, plus a vast cave network. Exploring this friendly and somewhat sleepy area by bike is ideal, giving us plenty of time to witness the farming techniques and to enjoy the warm hospitality of the local people, as well as exploring caves and the generally beautiful scenes at a leisurely pace. The cycling is moderately graded with some small hills. After a traditional lunch at Palenque de los Cimarrones Restaurant we’ll continue on to our evening accommodation.

After an early breakfast we’ll cycle 18 kms to the impressive Santo Tomas Cave after which we’ll head to the historic village of El Moncada were the first revolutionary militia was formed in honour of the local hero Leandro Malagones. Vinales town, a village of 4000 inhabitants that was founded in 1607 will be next on the agenda, before lunch at Mural de la Prehistoria Restaurant. Return to our hotel where we can enjoy the evening dinner.

This morning we travel by busy to Palma Rubia before taking the 10am boat to Cayo Levisa. The island of Cayo Levisa is a small coral key off the north side of Pinar del Río and is part of the Archipiélago de los Colorados in the Gulf of Mexico. It is best known for its white coral beaches, thick mangroves, abundant seabirds and seas rich in red snapper, sea bass, lobster and marlin. Here the group has an opportunity to swim, snorkel, play beach volleyball and enjoy other beach-related activities. Lunch at Villa Cayo Levisa. Return to the mainland in the late afternoon and take in some light cycling (subject to the presence of daylight) to Bahia Honda (35kms) and then continue on by bus on to Soroa.

Morning cycling in and around Soroa - the closest mountain resort area to the capital, known as the rainbow of Cuba. Here we will visit the Salto de Soroa, a waterfall in the Arroyo Manantiales, where it is novel to swim at the foot of the falls. Horseback riding along forest trails is another option. Lunch and continue to Havana where we’ll end the cycling section of our journey. There may be a little leisure time in Havana depending on the activities had during the day. Overnight in Havana with dinner at the Rest Café Taberna.

We drive about 4-5 hours southeast to Cienfuegos, crossing the Peninsula de Zapata - a vast wetland of mangroves, marshes and swamps and home to 160 species of bird and 31 types of reptile. We’ll enjoy lunch at Cueva de los Peces, a huge flooded tectonic fault, or cenote, about 70 meters deep where you can swim in crystal waters. The afternoon will continue with a drive around the famous Bay of Pigs, were the CIA- sponsored landing in April 1961, was defeated within 72 hours. Continue to Cienfuegos to discover the charm of the old city with its grand structures surrounding the central square, ending the day at coastal resort of Villa Guajimico– a diving place with excellent coral reefs. Snorkeling is available here.

From Guajimico it’s about a 45-minute drive to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Trinidad. Facing the Caribbean Sea, Trinidad is a metropolis of beautifully preserved colonial architecture. Much of the city’s fortune came about through the sugar boom that saw great wealth translate into elegant mansions, which till this day form the nucleus of the city. Trinidad is best explored on foot, along cobble stone streets that wind to open market places where old churches contrast with the culture of outdoor café entertainment. Like Havana, Trinidad is a great place to listen to some of the live music for which Cuba is world renown. Another appealing feature is the artistic flare of the town, and as you wander you’ll see merchants crafting their wares such as weaving, pottery, musical instruments, flower decorations, painting and the like. After lunch at Meson del Regidor, we drive up the steep windy hills to Topes de Collantes (2850m) in the Guamuhaya Mountain Massif. Here we will spend two nights.

The Sentinels of the Melodious River trail begin a little over 15kms from our accommodation. We’ll undertake a 5-6 hour day walk through beautiful forest encountering waterfalls, birds as well as Butterfly Lilies, Royal Palms & Giant Reeds that are over 100 years old. A further highlight of the day walk is the visit to isolated rural communities. The final stage of the walk winds up to Rocio Falls and the Venado (deer) pool. Lunch will be at the La Gallega Restaurant that specializes in Creole food. Return to the hotel and the evening is at leisure.

After breakfast we drive to Santa Clara, a city founded in 1689 by settlers who fled the coast fearing the ongoing pirate insurgencies. Today Santa Clara is an important university town but best known for the historic events that surround the great revolutionist Che Guevara. Che led the rebels in the battle of Santa Clara, a decisive victory over Batista's army that resulted in the triumph of the revolution. In the centre of town, the statue of Che Guevara stands in front of the provincial PCC, the Communist Party of Cuba building. After lunch we return to Havana and enjoy a farewell dinner at the Bodeguita del Medio.

Tour ends after breakfast. Make your way to the airport for departure or remain in Cuba.