Cuba Ride

Arriving & Departing (Important Information)

Arriving

This event begins in Santa Clara, Cuba on March 17, 2019. You must fly into Santa Clara Airport (SNU) on the first day of this trip. There are only two flights per day from the U.S. to Santa Clara, Cuba. You will need to book a flight on JetBlue (departing Fort Lauderdale (FLL) at 11:04 am arriving at SNU 12:00 pm) or American Airlines (departing Miami at 4:01 pm arriving at SNU at 5:05 pm). Depending on your home airport and connections, you may need to overnight in Fort Lauderdale or Miami the night before the trip.

Due to restrictions on Americans traveling in Cuba, you cannot arrive a day early for this event. You are only allowed to arrive on March 17, 2019.

Don’t forget to bring cash and exchange it for local currency (CUC Cuban Convertible Peso) at the airport. American credit cards will not work in Cuba.

Our guides will meet you at the Santa Clara airport at 12:00 PM (JetBlue) or 5:00 PM (American) depending on the flight you choose.

If you arrive on the JetBlue flight, we’ll spend the afternoon on a tour of Santa Clara. If you arrive on the later American flight, our guides will bring you to the hotel to meet the group for dinner.

If you miss your flight or it is delayed, please let us know immediately. We will do our best to help you rejoin the event.

Departing

There are several flights departing Havana on March 24. Taxis to the airport cost ~$30. We will help you coordinate with fellow travelers to share taxis based on your departure time.

Extending Your Stay

Due to changing regulations, please contact us if you wish to extend your stay one to two days. There are very strict rules, but we may be able to accommodate it with our local tour company. Please let us know ASAP (the moment you register) if you wish to extend. If you fail to let us know, it may be too late to accommodate this.

Accommodations & Meals

This is an all-hotel trip. A single supplement may be available if you prefer your own room and there is availability at the hotels, otherwise, you will be paired with another cyclist in our group. All meals and snacks are included once we arrive in Cuba, excluding alcohol and incidentals.

Our local guides contract with various Cuban tourism agencies offering a wide variety of hotels/inns in city, beachfront and natural settings. The properties are generally 3 to 4 star, clean, comfortable and occasionally upscale where available. Most hotel rooms are equipped with twin single beds, and while we can make note of requests, note that double (or larger) beds are not always guaranteed. Cuban tourism authorities occasionally overbook their properties and when that happens our local guides “negotiate our little hearts out” to identify and secure the best alternatives available and work tirelessly to make your vacation top notch in all respects.

From our guides: “We’re very excited to report that we’ve had to update our old description of the gastronomical scene in Cuba where we would explain that you don’t come to Cuba for the food, which is simple, but good, albeit with limited variety. Not so true anymore. While staples in a regular Cuban diet continue to include black beans & rice, fish, chicken and pork, what’s changed is the burgeoning private sector, infusing our deprived taste buds with all kinds of savory delicacies and temptations we previously just dreamed of. We’ll take you to some of our favorite spots to eat & drink in Cuba, with our tour leader’s special condiment selection in tow (hot sauces, infused balsamics, olive oil, pepper, the list goes on…). One of our tour leaders is a chef and we hear he’s even been offering aged rum tastings on tour, pretty exciting! Begin to peruse Cuban restaurants/paladars in advance with this great app: www.alamesacuba.com No drooling allowed.”

What is included?

Included:

Hotels, meals, snacks, and all tips for restaurants and accommodations are included once we arrive in Cuba.

Bicycle (High quality, professionally maintained 27-speed hybrid bicycles outfitted for touring. The bike touring fleet consists mainly of the Specialized Sirrus Comp, the Specialized Vita Comp and Specialized Vita Pro. We also have a limited number of Evox electric-assist bikes available for a small upgrade fee.) Handlebar bag and helmet included (feel free to bring your own helmets, saddles, and clipless pedal/shoe systems).

Not Included:

Cuba visa (your airline may include this in the price, or it is available for $50 at the gateway airport)

Cuba Health Insurance (usually included in your airfare to Cuba if you are using Jet Blue or American Airlines)

Travel Insurance to cover your travel

Travel to/from Cuba

Incidentals, alcohol, additional beverages

Additional activities like snorkeling or other optional activities

Can U.S. Citizens travel to Cuba?

Yes. The current 12 general categories of US-authorized travel (that don’t require you to apply in advance for a specific license) include: family visits; support for the Cuban people; educational activities; journalistic activity; humanitarian projects; professional research and professional meetings; activities of private foundations or research or educational institutes; religious activities; public performances, clinics, workshops, athletic and other competitions, and exhibitions; official business of the U.S. government, foreign governments, and certain intergovernmental organizations; exportation, importation or transmission of information or information materials; and certain authorized export transactions. Following are some further tips on some of the more popular categories for US travelers. Note that you can read full details on all the license numbers referenced below in the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. The Federal Register Rules & Regulations updates can also provide further clarifications and, sometimes, examples for categories. A Resource Center on Cuba Sanctions will have other relevant links you can explore for any further clarification you may require.

We are traveling under the category:

Educational activities §515.565a applies to academic research specifically relating to Cuba for a graduate or undergraduate degree (for credit courses). This category comprises a dozen different potential activities and is intended for college, university and secondary school faculty school, staff, students & chaperones. As noted above, the educational license can be used on an independent basis by faculty and staff to research and prepare for student trips. §515.565b is for non-academic group people to people travel exchanges accompanied by a chaperone (subject to US jurisdiction) assigned by the organization organizing the travel. According to the US Treasury, “the travel service provider and the US organization supervising travel are often [but not always] different entities”. The premise of the category is for the “purpose of engaging, while in Cuba, in a full-time schedule of activities intended to enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people’s independence from Cuban authorities”. WoWCuba urges US travelers to ignore the directive re: independence from Cuban authorities (which could be construed locally as subversion) and focus rather on enhanced contact with the Cuban people & support of civil society for itinerary compliance. If you are taking part in a Group People to People trip, you can rely on the entity sponsoring the travel to satisfy your recordkeeping requirements.

Is everything going to be exactly like the itinerary above?

Maybe, maybe not! While we do our absolute best to stick to the plan, you are traveling in Cuba and the itinerary is a guideline and may change day to day. What’s most important is that we comply with the regulations of traveling in Cuba which means following the schedule for Group People to People educational tours. Enjoy the people and the journey!

What are the documents required for Cuba travel?

For U.S. and non-Cuban foreign residents:

A passport that’s valid for the entire length of stay.
Health insurance: The Cuban government requires all visitors to have health insurance that covers the territory of Cuba; for U.S. citizens, this means local Cuban health insurance. Both Jet Blue and American Airlines include health insurance in your ticket price. For example, if purchasing a JetBlue ticket to Cuba, Cuban health insurance provided by ESICUBA and administered by Asistur is automatically included in the cost of your fare. Terms and conditions of the health insurance can be accessed from the ESICUBA website (English version).

Plus one of the following visas (unless you hold a passport from a country that has a visa waiver agreement with Cuba):

A Cuban tourist visa, which is sufficient for only certain categories of OFAC-permitted travel, can be purchased at a “gateway airport” (the final airport before departing the U.S.) for $50 per person. Customers will need their passports, boarding passes, and a major credit card to buy the Cuban tourist visa. U.S. citizens and citizens from third countries traveling to Cuba from a U.S. gateway airport who qualify for a Cuban tourist visa must have the pink tourist visa issued in the United States. Green tourist visas issued in third countries are not valid to enter Cuba from a U.S. gateway.

Is my U.S. medical insurance valid while traveling to Cuba? Can I get Travel insurance?

Many domestic health insurance companies do not provide coverage outside of the United States, and, before leaving for Cuba, travelers should speak with their healthcare providers to determine if they will be covered. Several private insurance companies offer short-term travel medical insurance. Check out Allianz Travel Insurance or other comparable companies.

Can I use my U.S. debit or credit card in Cuba?

With very few exceptions, U.S. credit and debit cards do not currently work in Cuba. Please bring enough cash to last your entire trip. U.S. Dollars can be exchanged into Cuban convertible currency (CUC) at most airports, hotels, and exchange houses.

Can I extend my stay?

Due to changing regulations, please contact us if you wish to extend your stay one day in Havana at the end of trip. There are strict rules, but we may be able to accommodate it with our local tour company. Please let us know ASAP if you wish to extend. Unfortunately, we would need to know absolutely everyone in the group who wants to extend and arrange it as a group extension. Which means you would likely need to book your flight and then do a fare change if we are able to facilitate an exchange.

Fundraising Beneficiaries

This is a special Climate Ride Funders Trip and the proceeds directly support Climate Ride’s work. Your fundraising will benefit the programs and efforts of Climate Ride including our community scholarships for young climate leaders. You are helping us grow the organization to become an advocacy powerhouse that engages people in the world of active environmental philanthropy and sustainable solutions. Because of this, you cannot change your beneficiary selection after registering. All donations are tax-deductible.

Fundraising and Transfer Deadlines | Important Dates

Fundraising Deadlines:

$3,000 to be raised by:	TBD
$6,000 to be raised by:	TBD

Transfer Deadline: There are no transfers for this event. Donations are non-refundable.

Note: If you’d like to register after or near a fundraising deadline, don’t worry, we’re here to help you get up to speed!

Day 1	Arrival Today we arrive in Santa Clara. We'll transfer from the Santa Clara airport to the historic center of town. In the evening, during our bicycle fitting, our local guides will brief you on local etiquette including currency, bathrooms, water, and more. Tonight we'll have dinner at the private rooftop restaurant, Autentica Pergola. The owners were recently recognized for their restoration efforts at the colonial property. Please read the Arriving and Departing information below very carefully. There are only two flights per day from the U.S. to Santa Clara. If you arrive on the earlier flight, we will go on a tour of Santa Clara. If you are on the later flight, we will bring you to the hotel to meet the group for dinner. We advise that you book your travel immediately after registering to make sure you can arrive on March 17.
Day 2	Bike 31 Miles Today we bike to Placetas and Cabaiguan. Then we'll transfer by van to visit Finca del Medio farm in Taguasco where you’ll explore an agroecological family-owned and operated farm of just over 10 hectares. The owner, Casimiro, hosts a local radio program and loves to share his family’s experience of lovingly transforming the land he inherited from his ancestors during Cuba's harsh economic depression known as the Special Period into the sustainable and productive piece of earth that it is today. He built bio-digesters that not only fertilize the farm’s soil, but also provide the family with biogas for their refrigerator, stove, and hot water needs. They are proponents of the slow food movement and will prepare an ecological farm-to-table lunch for the group to savor in the company of the family and their natural surroundings. We continue to the 500-year old colonial town Sancti Spíritus and check into our hotel. Sancti Spíritus is one of Cuba’s oldest European settlements and features a colonial art museum with over 90 percent original pieces on display in the former Valle Iznaga family’s palatial mansion. Dinner is at a local private paladar restaurant (paladar literally translates to 'palate'). Paladares are one of the best ways to enjoy local Cuban cuisine. A paladar is a small, family-run restaurant, usually in a converted part of a home. Many paladares appear and operate much like a normal restaurant. They sprouted up as a reaction to the state-run restaurants.
Day 3	Bike 32 Miles Today we bike to Banao, an agricultural town, and visit a specialist on cattle operations for a brief conference. Our ride ends at the entrance to Manaca Iznaga entrance, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll have lunch at one of our favorite Trinidad paladars. Today includes a walking tour of the colonial center including visits to and exchanges with local artists in their private galleries.
Day 4	Bike 20 Miles We’ll ride on a former sugar train through the fields (former plantations) to Manaca Iznaga. Founded in 1750, this estate, now a museum, is located in the Valle de los Ingenios, also known as the Valley of the Sugar Mills. It was once the center of Cuba's thriving sugar industry and also its darker side, slave trafficking. You'll have free time for exploring Trinidad or snorkeling/swimming in the Caribbean at the Ancon Peninsula. We'll have dinner in town at a local paladar, and afterward, soak up an authentic Cuban cultural performance at the Casa de la Musica.
Day 5	Bike 28 Miles Today we shuttle 30 km (18.6 mi) west of Trinidad to begin riding along the coastline to the province of Cienfuegos. We'll have lunch en route near Guajimico. Since we are traveling in late March you may witness the land crab migration on the south shore, one of just two places in the world where this can be viewed (fingers crossed). We'll visit the Cienfuegos Botanical Garden for a guided tour. Founded in 1901 by Edwin Atkins, it’s one of the oldest of its kind in Cuba. Plant enthusiasts, he and his wife began a garden in the backyard of their estate where tropical and rare species were imported and grown. Today it features over 2000 species and collections of orchids, palms, ficus, and bamboo. Tonight we'll stay at the Jagua Hotel in Cienfuegos overlooking the bay and have dinner in town at a paladar. Over dinner, our guides will share some history of the construction of an unfinished nuclear plant in the area, abandoned after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Day 6	Bike 31 Miles After an early breakfast we'll ride southwest towards Montemar Natural Park and Caleta Buena, a natural breakwater with great snorkeling and diving, rife with tropical fish. The Zapata Peninsula, one of the largest wetlands in the Antilles attracting migratory and endemic bird life, is a Biosphere Reserve. The area features one of the largest freshwater reservoirs in the country and is also of historical importance (Bay of Pigs Invasion). We highly recommend the optional purchase of snorkeling or diving packages available on site. We'll have lunch in Caleta Buena. Our guides will provide background on one of Cuba’s staples and primary export products, rum, and lead a sampling session to enable participants to appreciate the various varieties available in the local marketplace and their unique nuances. In the late afternoon we'll transfer to Cuba’s capital, Havana with dinner enroute at El Ajiaco, a Cuban specialty restaurant in the fishing village of Cojimar.
Day 7	Bike 27 Miles After breakfast, we immediately transfer East so that we have a full day to explore Cuba's mesmerizing capital, Havana. With its astonishing combination of past and present, there is so much to learn about its history of resistance and revolution, while engaging with energized locals who are driving its renaissance of art, culture, and cuisine. Tonight, we'll have our farewell dinner at San Cristobal paladar in Central Havana.
Day 8	Bike Miles After breakfast, we'll say 'hasta luego'! Depending our your departure time, you can take a taxi to Havana's airport. (See more in Arriving and Departing below.)

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Cuba Ride

Beaches, Historic Towns, Mountains

Photo Gallery

Event Itinerary Overview

(Your Travel Planner will include full details)

Ready to get started?

FAQs and More Info

Arriving

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