Most Inspirational Moment
Reaching the lake at the top after a gruelling 7km uphill on the final day 40km cycle - such an achievement
Thoughts on Group Leader
Fantastic - highly knowledgeable & alwys ready to help
Advice for Potential Travellers
Go!
Reviews
Your Words – We tell it like it is! Holiday Reviews by previous Exodus travellers
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Reviews
Cycling Cuba - Fantastic!
What an amazing way to see Cuba! I loved every second & Freddy, our guide, was so knowledgeable & clearly passionate about Cuba, that it really added to the experience. The group was great fun too. All in all a brilliant holiday.
Cuban Highlights Tour
Fantastic trip with great cycling, cultural and historical aspects. The entire trip exceeded my expectations for the quality of bikes to accommodation and food. The cycling was relaxed and, although mostly on main roads, traffic was not heavy (unlike the headwinds!) and there was always full back up with the support bus. The food was simple but tasty and the casa’s were comfortable and far more interesting than staying in a hotel. Cuba was fantastic and everything we needed was available, just be prepared for some unreliability such as lack of hot water, toilet paper etc
Most Inspirational Moment
The entire trip!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Freddy was excellent. Very knowledgeable about Cuba and it's history and patiently dealing with all our questions and ability to miss the (almost) unmissable cycling stops
Advice for Potential Travellers
Extend your trip, one week just isn't enough
Cuban Highlights
Very enjoyable and well organised. Lovely rides through varied countryside and interesting towns which transported us back in time and gave fascinating insights into the country’s history. Routes were good and the bikes ideal for the various challenges – hills, road surface etc. Pleasant helpful supportive staff always ready with water, snacks and repairs if needed.
Most Inspirational Moment
Happy Cubans! Despite its troubled history and obvious deprivation it is a land full of fun and welcome. Whether cycling through rural villages or in towns we were always greeted with cheerful "Holas!" and waves from smiling adults and children.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Lenay was an excellent group leader and tour guide. She speaks very good English, has an extensive knowledge of her country's history and culture and is thoughtful, witty and helpful.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just go and embrace their vibrant world of sun and salsa and have plenty of Cuban currency. Although it is not the land of plenty and the food is bland the facilities are very clean!
Cuban Highlights Trip
Wonderful holiday!
Most Inspirational Moment
Completing the cycle without using the bus! Learning about Cuban history and feeling sad that the West has misunderstood Cuba all these years. They have done a great job of surviving and thriving despite all the difficulties. Our guide, Alex, who was full of surprises, knowledge, variety and went out of his way to organise every detail for individuals in the group ensuring we all had the best holiday.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alex was great. He easily interacted with all members of the group. He was our interpreter for language and events. He worked hard behind the scenes, cultivating good relationships with Casa owners etc, organising travel details for group members coming and leaving at different times, dealing with all the tipping, giving clear instructions and direction and just generally making sure everything was hassle free for us. He worked patriotically and with sincerity - very catching! There was never any pressure. A great holiday because of him.
Advice for Potential Travellers
A universal plug ( for sinks, baths etc) would be useful.
Historical, Hot and Colourful Cuba - on Christmas Day!
Take what you imagine to find in Cuba – this is most likely what you will get. I did anyway. Marinade yourself in Cuban culture with salsa, cigars and mojitos. Get lost in the myriad of cobbled streets in Trinidad. Combine some great sightseeing with some challenging but not impossible cycling. From Ernest Hemingway’s bar to a tour of the city in a Cadillac, Havana is rich and diverse in both its history and landscapes and even how the country is in a little bit of a technological time warp adds to its charm.
Most Inspirational Moment
Learning about the history of Castro and Che Guevara before seeing the sights in Revolution Square was fascinating. The most thrilling moments were in the American cars tour of Havana - one hour of exhilaration, a must-do!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Alex was informative and humorous while always putting our needs first.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take toilet paper for the casas. Not always available - the standard of the casas within our group was variable. I was very lucky with Alfonso and his lovely family. Also take plenty of money - its not cheap.
Cuban Highlights Ride
What a lovely trip – we had lots of laughs, learned a great deal about Cuban history and enjoyed a wonderful Cuban crew.
Most Inspirational Moment
Inspiration took many forms - our group discussions about Cuba, world politics and kindness to others inspired me each day.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Have to say that both our guide and mechanic took significant efforts to ensure we were keen to ride and well supported - from cold drinks and sweet snacks to gentle nudges up big hills to an unwavering love of their country that was shared each day. Our guide (Alex) was incredibly well informed, engaged in all he did and had a great sense of humour - as he might say, quite 'cheeky'!
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take lots of time to engage with the communities you travel through - the people are very fun, kind and interesting. Tried to leave toiletries behind as tips in each place we stayed - these are crazy expensive in Cuba and so easy for travelers to share. Take the time before or after this trip to spend an additional day or two in Havana - really great city. We also spent time on our own in Mantanzas and found many wonderful surprises including a great art studio, fab little bar and paper making gallery.
Wonderful country, beautiful and vibrant.
I throughly enjoyed the trip, a true holiday of a lifetime! I LOVED Cuba, it was so colourful, sunny and full of music and dance. A great tour group, everyone was lovely and happy to join in!
Cycling was fine, I am active person but not a cyclist except for cycling tours in the Netherlands, but the cycling was steady and I was tired at the end of the day, but manageable.
Cycling was on tarmac roads, and mostly fairly straight, but there was little traffic, just a 1950s car passing regularly to add to the atmosphere. There were regular breaks, and water was provided by the guides, and the bus was behind us all of the way.
Was glad to have cycling shorts with padding and also a gel saddle cover. Ended up leaving my bag on the bus which was always with us, and just cycling. It was hot and found a bag too annoying to be carting around.
Accommodation was clean and comfortable, though lacked soft furnishings, but personally for me clean is the important bit! Staying in the Casa’s were my favourite, gave a more authentic feel, and while simple still had air con, and I think more comfortable beds than the hotels in my case (we broke into smaller groups for the nights in the Casa’s).
Food was simple, a yummy meat (grilled chicken, pork that fell apart), with rice and plantain chips. I thought it was tasty, even if less varied! Fizzy drinks and fruit juice with meals that you bought separately.
Group tour leader, Alex was excellent. He organised on the tour excellently, looked after us, and also taught us so much about Cuba’s history and way of life. He was full of tips and ideas.
Non cycling time was just as fascinating, we learnt to salsa, drank mojitos, had walking tours around and went swimming in the sea. Really liked Trinidad and staying there two nights, and Havana town was charming.
Think that doing a tour was a really good way to see Cuba, afterwards stayed on 4 days at the memories hotel in Jibacoa, but after the fun of the group and wandering around and being able to mingle it felt a bit fake at the resort – wish I had done it before the tour rather than after. Other people in the hotel who did organised trips out weren’t that enamoured and felt alone it was a bit complicated doing a trip to a neighbouring town or Habana.
Most Inspirational Moment
Loved the whole Cuban experience and the friendliness of the country. The tour itself was really well structured, and the cycling was very well organised - good bikes, safe cycling, and good resources with snacks and water. Cuba is a wonderful mix of carribean, spanish language, sun, fun and music.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Group tour leader, Alex was excellent. He organised on the tour excellently, looked after us, and also taught us so much about Cuba's history and way of life. He was full of tips and ideas. Was clear with instructions and to also give some free time, but also ideas with what to do in that free time. Perfect balance of information and helpfulness without being intrusive.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take a saddle cover - bikes are excellent quality but the saddles are narrow. I wish id taken a actual sports bottle rather than using a normal water bottle which i couldn't undo the screw top while cycling. Take little and cycle light! Stop and take photos etc if you want, its not a race and everyone has to wait at the end, however fast you cycle. Don't need to be a cyclist, but you do need a certain amount of fitness, and the sun can be intense, but be reassured that the bus is behind you if you need it.
Fantastic Cuban Adventure
We have just returned from Cuba having done the Cuban highlights cycle & a beach extension in Cayo Levisa. This is a fantastic trip with very pleasant cycling, trips to places of cultural & historical importance & some down time.
The bikes were much better than we expected, the cycling was relaxed & not too demanding & the motorists very mannerly. The roads were quiet. Full backup with the bus is there at all times which is great. It was nice to be able to leave all our things on the bus while cycling.
Most Inspirational Moment
Trinidad is a beautiful city & cycling out of the city towards Playa Ancon was lovely. Staying in Casas Particulares in Trinidad & Cienfuegos was a highlight. Cycling with a great group & an inspiring leader made this an unforgettable holiday.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Freddy was simply amazing. Kind, courteous, really interesting & generous with his time.
Advice for Potential Travellers
If you want to really see Havana, spend an extra day or two there as time there on this trip is limited. Internet etc very limited so warn friends & family that you may not be in contact & then relax & enjoy the freedom from technology. If you have time, the beach extension to Cayo Levisa is very relaxing. Gel saddle pads are useful for the bikes & bring a water bottle.
Cuban highlights ride
Excellent trip, (I was in Jane’s group, see review below) Freddy was indeed excellent, in addition to being a great cycle guide his knowledge and passion for Cuba knew no bounds, I came away refreshed and more knowledgeable after a most enjoyable holiday
Most Inspirational Moment
The whole trip!
Thoughts on Group Leader
excellent, difficult to see how he could have been any better
Advice for Potential Travellers
cash points available in Havana and Trinidad
Cuban Highlights
This was a very well organised trip lead by Freddy, who was a brilliant guide. His knowledge of Cuba and its history was exceptional. He made the trip so interesting and his attention to detail was second to none.
Most Inspirational Moment
Difficult to pick just one as the whole trip was fascinating.
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was excellent.
Advice for Potential Travellers
The food is uninspiring, so don't go with high expectations. Wi-Fi is very limited so warn family/friends that communication will not be easy!