This trip is the most interactive way to appreciate Cuba’s natural beauty. Ride west from Havana on Cuba’s north shore to the beach/artist community of Banes, visit the Las Terrazas sustainable development community and the Soroa nature hotel in the Sierra del Rosario biosphere reserve. Round out your adventure at Mirador de San Diego next door to thermal springs and one of the best birdwatching areas in Cuba. Bike pickup service is included from San Diego de los Baños from where you may continue by taxi to your next destination. WoWCuba can assist with arranging trip extensions.
Self-Guided Bicycle tour FAQ’s
Self-Guided Bicycle Pre-Tour Information

Route | ride ~ kms | Destination | # nights | Lodging Category | |
Havana – Banes beach | 38 | Banes Beach | 1 | private B&B | |
Banes beach – Las Terrazas | 52 | La Moka | 1 | eco lodge | |
Las Terrazas – Soroa | 19 | Soroa | 1 | nature hotel | |
Soroa – San Diego de los Baños | 55 | Mirador de San Diego | 1 | semi-rural hotel | |
Total Distance (km): 164 |
Route Statistics & Elevation Chart
Distance | 163.719 km | Total Ascent/Descent | 1777 m / 1716 m |
Lowest Point | 1 m (at 4.86 km) | Highest Point | 380 m (at 103.95 km) |
Uphill | 65.97 km (40.3%) | Downhill | 61.47 km (37.5%) |
Flat | 36.27 km (22.2%) | Height Gain | 379 m |
Steepest Uphill | +22.2% (at 103.41 km) | Steepest Downhill | -26.7% (at 104.22 km) |
Longest Uphill | 1.89 km (at 101.25 km) | Longest Downhill | 1.80 km (at 110.16 km) |
USD per person | ||||||
Group size |
1 pax |
2 pax |
3 pax |
4 pax |
5 pax | 6 pax |
DBL occ | – | $1389.25 | $1150.26 | $1030.76 | $1023.08 | $910.53 |
SGL occ | $2416.63 | $1483.34 | $1244.35 | $1124.85 | $1117.17 | $1004.62 |
- Specialized performance hybrid rental bicycle (up to 5 rental days) equipped with handlebar or trunk bag and helmet. If your head is difficult to fit, we recommend traveling with your own helmet. We are happy to switch out our saddles/pedals for your personal equipment upon outfitting.
- 1 Garmin cycling computer per group pre-loaded with programmed routes
- printed route cards with highlighted map, detailed daily itinerary
- 1 spare tube per bike ($5 /tube if you use it, payable at end of rental period)
- 4 nights lodging in venues hand-selected by our local team
- 4 breakfasts
- luggage transfers (with options for bike pickups/equipment exchange on that schedule). *Bike pickup is included on Day 5 in San Diego de los Baños. It’s presumed luggage will directly accompany travelers from that point forward with independent transportation arrangements.
- bike pickup on Day 5 in San Diego de los Baños
- insider tips for meals and activities
- For CicloCuba’s rental equipment, emergency road repair services* are free when a) notified in advance and b) combinable with scheduled luggage transfer services.
*What if you have a mechanical enroute that you can’t fix yourself? We’re on call outside of luggage transfer schedules for a fee. Or if saving $ is a priority and the luggage transfer is already underway/completed for that ride, then if you can hitch a ride to your next destination, just let us know when you get there and we can arrange to have your CicloCuba bike fixed or replaced first thing the next morning.
- $200 USD/bicycle pre-authorization (security deposit) on primary traveler’s credit card
- local payments for meal services not expressly indicated as included
- gratuities, payable locally
- transport between accommodations and airports/bus stations/CicloCuba
- ongoing passenger transport from San Diego de los Baños on Day 5
- we recommend you bring your own lock, pump, tire irons & multi-tool for minor repairs.
- Optional bilingual cycling guide services ($100 USD/day excluding guide’s transportation to/from start/end of trip, accommodations &meals)
- Local cell phone SIM card for emergency calls (prepaid phone/message/data credit not included) $3 /day
- Basic rental locks: $1 /day, payable locally
- Emergency road repair services
- Notified in advance and combinable with luggage transfer services:
- Your personal equipment: ∙$10 /hour (roundtrip time) for mechanic (parts not supplied).
- No advance notice &/ not combinable with luggage transfer services:
- CicloCuba equipment: $rate/km based on roundtrip mileage from CicloCuba
∙Your personal equipment: $rate/km based on roundtrip mileage from CicloCuba + $10 /hour (roundtrip time) for mechanic (parts not supplied).
- CicloCuba equipment: $rate/km based on roundtrip mileage from CicloCuba
- Notified in advance and combinable with luggage transfer services:
Total route length | Base Rate* /km | ||
0-99.9 | $1.00 | ||
100-199.9 | $0.75 | ||
200-299.9 | $0.65 | ||
300-499.9 | $0.55 | ||
500+ | $0.50 |
*Base rate excludes transit on any unpaved or poorly-paved roads where the support vehicle cannot maintain 80 km/h i.e. the section of road between La Mulata & Palma Rubia Supplement $1/km (based on return mileage) for rough terrain
Supplement for payment in USD by credit card: $15 administrative fee + 12% banking fees
Itinerary
After bicycle outfitting at CicloCuba either dally around exploring some of Havana’s neighborhoods, or head straight out of town hugging the northern coastline. Today’s cycling route is relatively flat, and usually with tailwinds to accompany the ride. We recommend stopping for lunch at one of our favorite off-the-beaten-path seafood spots, directly on the water in the coastal town of Baracoa. Your destination is Banes Beach, a small seaside artist community. Free afternoon to swim, lounge in a hammock, or just kick back and relax with a good book in some lovely surroundings. We suggest ordering dinner at Berta’s, just a short walk from your lodging, and eating in at your lodging. Or you could also order a taxi back to the town of Baracoa, the choice is yours.
Note: you should bring your luggage with you to CicloCuba today.
Distance (km): 38.0

Route Statistics & Elevation Chart
Distance | 38.032 km | Total Ascent/Descent | 201 m / 208 m |
Lowest Point | 1 m (at 4.86 km) | Highest Point | 20 m (at 35.64 km) |
Uphill | 12.33 km (32.4%) | Downhill | 12.33 km (32.4%) |
Flat | 13.32 km (35.0%) | Height Gain | 19 m |
Steepest Uphill | +7.8% (at 37.35 km) | Steepest Downhill | -7.8% (at 37.17 km) |
Longest Uphill | 1.35 km (at 34.47 km) | Longest Downhill | 1.08 km (at 21.15 km) |
After breakfast you’ll continue west along the coast to the industrial port town of Mariel and then head inland to the lush Sierra del Rosario mountains and biosphere reserve. Ride past lush farmland and through forested areas. Your destination is the ecolodge La Moka, nestled in the terraced hills of Las Terrazas community, a successful experiment in sustainable development and reforestation. In the biosphere reserve you can enjoy ziplines, boating, hiking to the ruins of French coffee plantations, swimming in rivers, small waterfalls, museums, a variety of restaurants featuring Cuban cuisine, ecological dining, and even a cafe specializing in Cuban coffee.
Distance (km): 52.3

Route Statistics & Elevation Chart
Distance | 52.292 km | Total Ascent/Descent | 674 m / 480 m |
Lowest Point | 1 m (at 9.09 km) | Highest Point | 203 m (at 52.11 km) |
Uphill | 24.12 km (46.1%) | Downhill | 18.36 km (35.1%) |
Flat | 9.81 km (18.8%) | Height Gain | 202 m |
Steepest Uphill | +11.1% (at 22.59 km) | Steepest Downhill | -12.2% (at 50.13 km) |
Longest Uphill | 1.17 km (at 19.62 km) | Longest Downhill | 1.08 km (at 9.81 km) |
After breakfast, ride through Las Terrazas and the Biosphere Reserve. As you exit, there’s still a bit of a climb until you reach the summit. At that point, there’s a road on your right that crosses the crest of the Sierra del Rosario (not marked on all maps). If you were looking to extend your ride, the views are definitely spectacular from here. Alternatively, you can also just opt for the nice long downhill to Soroa and once there, head off to explore the waterfall, orchid garden, or hike up to the Castle in the Clouds for a bird’s eye view of the complex and the lowlands on the other side. The hotel has a pool, and there’s also a center with a mineral bath (and sometimes a massage therapist) near the entrance to the waterfall. You can have lunch and dinner at the hotel, or try out someplace nearby, like El Chilindron, for homemade local fare.
Distance (km): 18.9

Route Statistics & Elevation Chart
Distance | 18.853 km | Total Ascent/Descent | 439 m / 441 m |
Lowest Point | 154 m (at 1.17 km) | Highest Point | 381 m (at 14.04 km) |
Uphill | 8.55 km (45.4%) | Downhill | 8.82 km (46.8%) |
Flat | 1.44 km (7.6%) | Height Gain | 227 m |
Steepest Uphill | +24.4% (at 13.41 km) | Steepest Downhill | -23.3% (at 14.22 km) |
Longest Uphill | 1.80 km (at 11.25 km) | Longest Downhill | 1.17 km (at 15.30 km) |
You’ll take the winding Central Road heading west through small country towns and villages, including San Cristobal, until you reach San Diego de los Baños. Your destination is Mirador de San Diego, located beside the local mineral baths, a great reward for your body after a day of cycling. Nearby is La Guira Park, a birder’s and naturalists’ paradise with a rich history.
Distance (km): 55.0

Route Statistics & Elevation Chart
Distance | 55.015 km | Total Ascent/Descent | 465 m / 586 m |
Lowest Point | 45 m (at 11.52 km) | Highest Point | 202 m (at 0.27 km) |
Uphill | 20.70 km (37.6%) | Downhill | 22.59 km (41.1%) |
Flat | 11.70 km (21.3%) | Height Gain | 157 m |
Steepest Uphill | +7.8% (at 48.15 km) | Steepest Downhill | -17.8% (at 0.81 km) |
Longest Uphill | 1.44 km (at 27.90 km) | Longest Downhill | 1.80 km (at 1.53 km) |
Breakfast at the hotel. Bike pickup service is included from San Diego de los Baños from where you may continue by taxi to your next destination. WoWCuba can assist with arranging trip extensions.