Guaranteed departures for 4 or more people! Please inquire today to begin the booking process.
Cuba's Best Multi-Sport Tour
This carefully designed tour blends peaceful countryside excursions with authentic cultural encounters as you bike, kayak and hike through Cuba! With visits to Colonial Havana, the Bay of Pigs, Playa Girón, Cienfuegos, Trinidad and Sancti Spíritus, you see for yourself Cuba’s fascinating history and multifaceted modernity. Colonial plazas and palaces, in a staggering array of disrepair and renovation, tell stories of a colonial past still merged with the dynamic present.
This itinerary is available as a fully legal Support for the Cuban People tour for US citizens if booked through a US tour operator or travel agency.
Note: Bikes are carried inside the bus. It’s easy to adjust biking distances on this itinerary, so they can be shortened if some rides seem too long. Kayaks are transported separately if possible and, if not, will be pulled on a trailer behind the bus.
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Itinerary
Day 0
Commercial flights from the United States to Havana are the standard mode of travel between the two countries, and we ask that our guests book their own travel between the U.S. and Havana. This tour will begin in Havana at approximately 11:00 AM on Day 1. We recommend you arrive a day early to allow for flight delays or cancellations and we are happy to book an extra night's accommodation for you as a tour extension.
If you prefer to arrive on Day 1, be sure your flight arrives no later than 9:00 Am so that you can transfer from the airport to the meeting point to arrive by 11:00 AM.
You might also consider flying to Miami on Day 0 and spending the night there, and then flying to Havana the next morning if you can find an early enough flight.
We are happy to offer guidance with scheduling your travel to and from Cuba, and our office staff is ready to answer any questions you may have.
Note: Travel in Cuba requires a flexible attitude. Our days are full, and as required by U.S. law, we have a full-time agenda of meaningful interactions with the Cuban people. Cuba has its own beat and things don’t always run on time. The activities and visits listed are not guaranteed but we endeavor to do our best to provide the content intent of this Support for the Cuban People program. Visiting developing countries can be eye-opening and life-changing, and hopefully visiting Cuba is both. That said, accommodations may not be up to the standards you are used to; sometimes the hot water or air conditioning doesn’t work. We ask all our guests to appreciate the authenticity of your cultural encounters as well as the people, food, culture, and adventures that are exceptional in their difference. Your local guide, along with your Cuba Unbound Tour Leader promise to do their best to make this a fascinating and educational experience.
Day 1
Welcome to Cuba! Havana & Habana Vieja
Havana is a large and exciting city full of people, fascinating architecture, public art, museums, the ocean-front malecon, wide boulevards and narrow alleys. We explore the city on foot, including the many historical plazas of Havana Vieja. Throughout our adventure we eat primarily in private restaurants called Paladars. We enjoy lunch and dinner today at two of Havana’s finest. After our walking tour we have an orientation meeting to prepare you for the week ahead. After dinner some may want to experience some of Havana’s nightlife, a town where music is plentiful.
Day 2
Travel to Playa Larga, Kayak the Bay of Pigs, Ride Zapata National Park - Kayaking and Biking
We wake early and head out of Havana to the southeast toward Playa Larga, a tranquil village on the Bay of Pigs. We stop first at local art and music school to learn about the importance of music, dance, and art in Cuban culture. Later we enjoy lunch before cycling to the sparkling waters of the Bay of Pigs, where the legendary failed invasion of 1961 took place. Upon arrival we launch the kayaks for a leisurely paddle around the sparkling bay. Afterward we check into a casa particular.
In the evening we have a presentation from the Director of the National Park, Frank Medina who gives us an engaging overview of the Park’s history and goals. Then we sit down to a bountiful dinner of local fare.
- Kayak Distance: 3 miles, 1.5 – 2 hours
- Bike Distance: 8.7 Miles
- Elevation: + 188 / - 189 ft
- Time: 1 hour with stops
- Map & GPS Online Profile
Day 3
Snorkel near Playa Giron, Bike towards Cienfuegos - Snorkel and Biking
Our morning adventure takes us to Playa Girón where we visit the Museum of Playa Girón, where you explore the history and artifacts of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion and battle. After our visit it’s a short drive to a snorkeling spot with healthy reefs and crystal clear water. As we explore, our local guides help us understand more of this vibrant underwater ecosystem.
After lunch we get on our bikes for a scenic ride to Yaguamayas, from which we transfer by bus to Cienfuegos. There, we check into our Casa Particulares for the night.
Cienfuegos is known as Cuba’s cleanest city, and the seaside location has such an ethereal allure that it’s been named the “Pearl of the South.” Settle into your Casa Particulares and relax before setting out to explore the city with its charming waterfront and colonnaded streets. We eventually make our way to Teatro Tomás Terry, a 19th century theater well-known for its grand mosaics and whimsical frescoes. Enjoy the views and then some excellent food before making your way back to your casas for the evening.
- Bike Distance: 15-27 Miles (can be adjusted to your comfort level)
- Elevation: + 409 / - 320 ft
- Time: 2-3 hours with stops
- Map & GPS Online Profile
Day 4
Kayak in the Guanaroca Nature Reserve, Bike to the Cienfuegos Botanical Gardens. Continue to Trinidad. - Kayaking and Biking
We enjoy a filling breakfast before heading out for a superb paddle in the protected waters of Laguna Guanaroca. Lying south of Cienfuegos, Laguna Guanaroca’s mangrove-trimmed saline-waters make a stunning kayaking location and bird watcher’s paradise. With luck we’ll have sightings of tocororo (Cuban trogans, the National Bird of Cuba), flamingo, pelicans and more. There’s nothing like kayaking in a peaceful solitude disturbed only by the calls of birds and the shuffling of their wings in flight.
From Guanaroca we enter the bay of Cienfuegos and paddle about two hours towards a remote seaside restaurant near la Milpa, where we enjoy a fresh lunch and the sunshine.
After lunch we switch to our bicycles for a pastoral ride to the Jardin Botánico Cienfuegos, a botanical paradise where over 2000 plant species grow. Though the garden was originally created by American sugar baron Edward F. Atkins to introduce exotic sugarcane varieties into Cuba, the garden quickly became a haven for exotic tropical trees. We do a short ride through the gardens and have a short informative encounter as we meet with staff members who tell us more about how the agricultural and botanical sector has played pivotal roles in Cuba’s history and culture.
From the gardens we drive to Trinidad, Cuba’s second oldest city where we find dinner and overnight.
- Kayak Distance: About 5 miles; ~ 3 hours
- Bike Distance: 14.6 Miles
- Elevation: + 635 / - 413 ft
- Time: 1-2 hours with stops
- Map & GPS Online Profile
Day 5
Hike in the Topes de Collantes National Park to Magical Waterfalls, Kayak the Río Guourabo - Morning Hike and Late Afternoon Kayak
We depart Trinidad early and head into the crenellated, Caribbean pine-coated Sierra Escambray mountains, home to the Gran Parque Natural Topes de Collantes. Though Topes is not considered a national park in the strictest of senses, it is highly protected by the Cuban government as are the four smaller parks that make up the umbrella park of Topes.
One top choice is to hike the section of the park called El Cubano where we hike to magical waterfalls hidden within the lush tropical forest. Topes is also home of a variety of birds, so make sure to look up on the hikes.
After our hike we enjoy lunch in the cool mountain air before descending to the coast and La Boca, where river and sea meet. Here we climb into our kayaks for a lovely river paddle. We visit the place Hernan Cortez landed in the 1500s on one of his explorations, see a myriad of birds and gaze upon views of Trinidad on the hill above us. We then return to our Casas and dinner in town.
- Hike Distance: 3-4 miles
- Kayak Distance: ~3-5 miles, 2 hours
Day 6
Bike from Trinidad to Sancti Spiritus - Biking and Walking
Today we ride a beautiful road heading east from Trinidad towards Sancti Spíritus. Sancti Spíritus is another city that invariably gets compared to Trinidad’s colonial charm and ultimately gets overshadowed by its UNESCO protected compatriot. Founded in 1514 by Diego Velázquez and one of the original seven villas, the city oozes historic appeal.
Once we check into our lodgings for the night, we have the opportunity to explore the city. Walk across the Puente Yayabo, a quadruple-arched bridge that seems more fitting for the English countryside than this somnolent town, or look upon the Teatro Principal, Cuba’s oldest theater. After, relax with a tasty dinner with authentic Cuban dishes.
- Bike Distance: 10-40 Miles (can be adjusted to your comfort level)
- Elevation: + 1660 / - 1676 ft
- Time: 4-5 hours with stops
- Map & GPS Online Profile
Day 7
Return to Havana via Santa Clara and the Hemingway Museum
We depart Sancti Spiritus just after breakfast and drive west, stopping in Santa Clara, if time allows, to visit the Che Guevara mausoleum. We then continue west, stopping for lunch along the way, and on to the outskirts of Havana to visit the Ernest Hemingway Museum (Finca Vigia) where he lived a good 20 years and wrote many of his books. Another 40 minutes or less takes us into Havana proper and on to our accommodation for the night. Our festive farewell dinner is at one of the city's better restaurants.
After dinner return to your hotel and bid farewell to your Multisport Adventure guide.
Day 8
Transfer to the airport on your own, or add our Havana Extension
Dates & Rates
| Dates | Adult (USD) | Child (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 01, 2024 to Dec 31, 2024 Guaranteed departures for 4 or more people | $3,690£0€0$0$0 | $3,690£0€0$0$0 |
Supplementary Information
Dates: Guaranteed departures for 4 or more people on any Sunday! Please inquire today to begin the booking process.
*Note: On trips with 6 or less people, some of our special meetings, like meeting with National Park Staff, may not be included due to cost.
Rate for 2024:
$3,690 per person
Single Supplement: $500
If you are traveling solo and prefer private accommodations (pending availability) you may elect to pay the single supplement fee. If you are traveling solo and wish to be paired up with another solo traveler of the same gender in order to avoid the single supplement fee, please let your Adventure Consultant know at the time of booking. We will do our best to find another traveler to pair you with, however if there is not another solo traveler of the same gender willing to share on your trip, you will be charged the single supplement fee.
Our trips can also be booked on-demand for small and large groups. Please inquire with us to start the booking process for your group today!
12 spaces available
**Note: We can guarantee trips for 2 with a supplement of $300 per person on trips between May 1 and December 15.
Included:
- Experienced English-speaking guide(s)
- Specialized activity guides based on activity of trip (kayaking, biking, hiking, etc.)
- Specialized equipment needed for activities such as kayaks, bikes, helmets, paddles, personal flotation devices, etc.
- Private pre-tour orientation meeting
- Cuba Unbound hand-crafted itineraries
- Accommodations as noted in the itinerary
- All meals as noted in itinerary
- Certification of travel to Cuba under the U.S. Department of Treasury general license
- Small group size (Custom tours for 2, group tours are 16-18)
- All entrance fees to include events and activities
- All in-country ground transportation
- Clean drinking water available at all times
- Gratuities for presenters, luggage handling, and restaurant staff
- Cuba Visa (a $80-120 value)
Not Included:
- Round-trip air to/from Cuba
- Transport to or from airports at the beginning or end of the tour
- Guide and driver gratuities
- Personal expenses such as souvenirs, gifts, alcoholic beverages, additional entertainment outside the standard itinerary, and incidentals
Reviews
FAQ & More
Can US citizens travel to Cuba?
Yes, you can travel to Cuba as a US citizen! Although, the United States is the only country that restricts its citizens from traveling to Cuba for touristic reasons, however, the U.S. does allow travel to Cuba under one of 12 permitted travel categories. Of these categories, most of our travelers are traveling under either "Support for the Cuban People" or "Educational People-to-People" travel.
For more information on Cuba travel entry requirements, please see here.
Do I need experience to join the Multisport adventure?
The good news is that you don't need extensive cycling or kayaking experience to enjoy our tour. However, you’ll want to spend some time training on a bike and paddling before your trip. Work your strength up to riding and paddling the same daily distances that we will cover in our tour while carrying the same gear you plan to travel with.
What type of kayaks and bikes does Cuba Unbound provide?
For our Cuba tours we use polymer Necky Kayaks and you'll find specific information on these models if you follow the link. These kayaks provide a qality paddling experience and are durable enough to hold up with our active itinerary.
We will be using the Trek FX S 4. It is a hybrid/dual-sport bike with straight handlebars designed for both paved and unpaved riding.
Will single Kayaks be available?
We have both double and single kayaks in Cuba. At this time we are not offering the choice for a single kayak rental. Rather, we plan to bring between one and three singles on each tour to be shared among participants, depepnding on expressed interest.
How much cycling and paddling will we do on the Multisport trip?
You will cycle approximately 85 miles and paddle about 5 hours over the course of the tour. There will also be a 5 mile hike in between.
What kind of equipment or gear should I bring?
All of the kayaking and biking equipment is provided as well as personal flotation devices, dry bags and helmet. Just bring your clothing and personal gear. A complete packing list will be sent to you upon reservation. We highly suggest traveling “light” for this adventure.
Can I bring my own pedals and shoes?
You are welcome to bring your own pedals and shoes as we will have a bike technician who can swap out pedals at the beginning of the tour.
Can I bring my own bike?
Yes! But we unfortunately cannot offer a discount for guests who choose to bring their own bike. In addition, you will need to bring any spare parts, tubes, etc. as these will not be available in Cuba. Check with your airline for restrictions and fees.
Is there a support vehicle?
There will be a support tour bus that will be hauling luggage and will be available to riders at all times.
Is there time to rest? What happens if I get tired?
There will be options to rest in the bus for anyone who wants to take a break and/or hitch a ride to the next location. We will definitely take breaks as needed (how often and duration will depend on the group), but there is always an option of taking a break in the support van.
Can I drink the Water in Cuba?
Generally it's best to drink filtered tap water or bottled water. In an effort to reduce the use of single-use plastic, we encourage you to pack a wide-mouth water bottle with a filter built in. There are many brands available. We will also provide clean drinking water at all times during the tour!
Do I need to bring my own snorkel and fins?
We do have a great selection of snorkels, masks, & fins available for your use on this tour. However, if you have your own snorkeling gear, need a very specific size, and/or do not want to share equipment with others, please bring your own snorkeling gear with you. Wetsuits most likely will not be necessary for snorkeling, as the water in the Caribbean is quite warm year-round.
Is ice safe to have in my drinks?
If you are getting a drink at a hotel bar, or other bar establishment, the ice is most likely made with filtered or bottled water, so should not cause any issues.
Can I eat salads in Cuba?
Cubans pride themselves on proper hygiene and food handling. The restaurants we use on our tours are very good and eating any salads or raw vegetables that are served is fine.
Reviews
A wonderful way to learn lots about Cuba, and enjoy it too!
Our trip (February 2020) was fabulous! It was extremely well-organized, with an excellent mix of varied activities and free-time, nice flexibility to accommodate varied levels of skill/enthusiasm (for biking, boating, etc), very good equipment at the ready. This was my first experience as part of an organized tour and I found it delightful to be taken such good care of. Clearly, there was no way we could have managed the logistics of such an amazing 6 days on our own. A note about current travel to Cuba for American citizens: It’s unclear why everyone thinks that Cuban travel has again become nearly impossible for us (as I thought too). As far as I can tell, the only new limitations concern cruise ships and flights to Cuban cities other than Havana. I certainly had no trouble with flights or paperwork for leaving or entering either country. We spent several days on our own in Havana before and after our tour, and had no difficulties with that either. The only real challenge is caused by the fact that because American banks can’t operate in Cuba, credit/debit/ATM cards tied to them don’t function there. Having to manage entirely with cash has become disconcerting for most of us, but we all used to travel quite happily that way. And the very low crime rate in Cuba makes it less alarming. Most tourist lodgings provide a safe in each room, and we used ours when we first arrived in Havana. But we quickly stopped worrying about that and just left our cash stashes locked in our casa rooms with the rest of our belongings, and had no problem whatsoever. It’s easy to change euros or American dollars as needed. Of course a major advantage of signing on to a tour is that virtually all expenses can be paid up-front. On our ROW trip, we spent less than $100 each on extra drinks for ourselves and our guides (@ 3.00 each, with or without rum!) and tips for those wonderful guides and driver at the end of our trip. When we were on our own, we ate royally in Havana for about $50/day/person and rarely spent more than another $10-20/day for museum entries, tips, etc. We stayed in a great prepaid apartment found through air bnb. Without a doubt, the very best part of our ROW trip was the chance to spend so much time with our 2 guides and driver. All 3 were just terrific, and made the trip both pleasant and especially rewarding thanks to many entertaining/educational hours of conversation. All 3 were highly professional and competent re their respective responsibilities and the two guides were also really good at tactfully managing our varied levels of biking and boating competence to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for each of us. Beyond that, it was just fun to spend time with them. Our head guide had near-native English; was amazingly knowledgeable about very wide ranging aspects of Cuban nature, history and contemporary life; and was just a really engaging person. Our nautical guide had good English and lots of charm; he gave us a somewhat different take on Cuban life as a slightly older resident of a provincial city. Our driver seemed to actually enjoy our efforts to speak Spanish with him, and provided yet more insights on life in contemporary Cuba. Just the amount I learned from those three—and the pleasure in learning it—made the cost of the ROW tour a real bargain. Otherwise, our accommodations and food on the ROW tour were all perfectly adequate. I appreciated that most of our casas were close enough to city centers (or the beach, at Playa Larga) that we could easily do some on-foot exploring on our own. In general, the food was more typically Cuban than terrific (except for an excellent restaurant in Trinidad), but we'd been prepared for that and I don't think it was so bad to get us off our Havana diet of excellent (and relatively expensive) cosmopolitan food-for-tourists. Overall, this tour is an excellent way to learn lots about Cuba's history, natural history, and current realities in a thoroughly enjoyable and invigorating way. And a great way to escape from New England winter too!
A Wonderful Time in Cuba
My family and I (ages 70 to 16) did a kayaking, cycling, hiking, and snorkeling trip in Cuba and had a wonderful time. We found the tour driver(s), activity guide and main guide to be extremely polite, helpful and knowledgeable. The vehicles used during the trip were very clean and air conditioned. The casas we stayed in were equally clean, had friendly owners, and substantial breakfasts each morning. We had a full daily schedule with varied physical activity, guided sightseeing with lots of historical information provided, and leisurely dinners in varied restaurants. We are seasoned international travelers who have done inclusive resort vacations with planned guided side trips, and cruises. This trip provided us with an equally enjoyable opportunity to learn about another country, it's history, it's people, and it's culture. We found this trip to provide us with opportunities for lots of physical activity with great equipment provided, and a full schedule, yet times to relax and recoup. Staying in casas is different from a hotel/resort experience and not as luxurious, however it allowed us to better understand how Cuban people live and for us to better understand a culture. If you enjoy challenging yourself physically by kayaking, cycling, hiking, and snorkeling and interested in learning about Cuban/American history this is a trip for you.
Amazing experience!
We had an amazing experience with our knowledgeable guide, Manuel. We began in Havana and hit the ground running with a variety of cultural and site seeing activities. The kayaking was amazing as was the biking and hiking. We were unsure of what to expect with the Casas that were arranged for us, however they were all top notch ~ wonderful hosts, great accommodations and most importantly an additional opportunity to engage with and learn more about / from the Cuban citizens and their lifestyle. The trip was organized like a well oiled machine and allowed us to experience nature, history and culture in ways that we would not have been able to do ourselves. Highlights included snorkeling, the Museum of Playa Giron, cycling to Sancta Spiritus and our casa hosts in Trinidad. On day 6, we were not provided the opportunity to walk across the Puente Yayabo, the quadruple-arched bridge or look upon the Teatro Principal, Cuba’s oldest theater ~ as our guide did not choose to do so (we didn't consider point at the bridge from our dinner table as a suitable experience). However, we arrived early enough in the day to take a self guided walk around the city and absorb some of the amazing beauty on our own. On Day 7 we did not head to Santa Clara to enjoy a city walk or visit the Che Guevara mausoleum as our guide told us that was not part of the program, despite our efforts to show him the itinerary and our willingness to start the day at whatever time was necessary to do so ~ there may have been a few communication barriers!! Overall, the trip was AMAZING. We as a family had such a positive experience and learned so much. Each stop provided us with an opportunity to appreciate the flora and fauna, learn the history of the land and people and become physically connected through exercise and adventure. Our group involved three of our children aged 16-24 and they had no trouble with fully participating and enjoying all of the activities. We feel very fortunate to have enjoyed Cuba through this opportunity. It was incredibly well organized and we felt very prepared with what to pack, and expect. I would highly recommend Cuba Unbound and the multi sport tour to travelers who want to see as much and do as much as possible while in Cuba.
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