A Cuba Bike Tour for Active Seniors: What to Expect at 50, 60 and Beyond

Many of the people who ride with us are in their fifties, sixties and beyond. Some ride every weekend at home. Some haven't been on a bike in years. They ask the same few questions before they book, so here are the straight answers about a Cuba bike tour for active seniors, and how to tell whether ours is right for you.

How hard is the riding, really?

This is a culture tour on bikes, not a race. Here's the shape of it:

• 5 to 6 riding days out of 9, at 10 to 25 miles each.
• Riding is done by noon. Afternoons are for lunch, the beach, a farm visit or a nap.
• Mostly flat roads with some rolling hills.
• A stop about every hour for water, photos and a breather.
• The support van is always close. Anyone can ride in it for a stretch, or a whole day, at any time.
• One full beach day with no riding, at Guardalavaca.

One of our riders put it this way:

“The riding was great, mostly flat roads with the occasional hills, nothing a 56-year-old weekend warrior like myself couldn't handle!” Adam R.

Can I choose an electric bike?

Yes. Every rider picks a hybrid, a gravel bike or an e-bike, and it's included in the price. An e-bike is the easiest way to enjoy the riding if your knees, hips or fitness are a question mark, or if your partner rides more than you do and you want to keep up. More on riding Cuba by e-bike.

Where do we sleep, and what's it like?

You stay in casas particulares, private family homes licensed to host guests, with solar backup for lights, fans and charging. Rooms are clean, most with a private bathroom and a fan or air conditioning. They are homes, not hotels, so expect simple bathrooms and the odd quirk.

Traveling solo? You can have a private room for a $375 single supplement, or we'll pair you with another traveler at no extra cost.

What about health and medicine?

• Talk to your doctor about the trip, especially about riding in heat and any conditions you manage.
• Bring all your prescriptions in original packaging, plus a few extra days.
• Travel insurance is required, including emergency medical evacuation. Cuba's hospitals are short on supplies, so this matters.
• Tell us about any needs when you book: diet, mobility, sleep, or anything else. We plan around them.

Is the travel itself tiring?

We keep it simple. You fly to Miami and spend the night near the airport. In the morning we meet the group and fly together to Holguín. Your bags travel in the van, so you never carry luggage between towns. One longer transfer, from Guardalavaca to Santiago de Cuba, is by bus after a morning ride.

Will I fit in with the group?

Groups are 8 to 12 people, mostly Americans, and a mix of couples, friends and solo travelers. What they share is curiosity. If you'd rather sit down with a host family than sit by a pool, you'll fit right in.

“Chris and I thoroughly enjoyed this week-long adventure through eastern Cuba. And as soon as my 3 grandsons are able to out-bike me, I'll be back with them.” L.G. Friedrichs

How to get ready

Eight weeks of easy riding is plenty. Ride three times a week, build up to one 20 to 25 mile ride at a chatty pace, then try two days back to back. If you choose an e-bike, you can do less; just get used to the controls. There's a week-by-week plan in our free trip planning guide.