Cuba's grid is old and blackouts are a normal part of life, especially outside Havana and especially in the hot months. They're less frequent from January through May, which is one reason we run tours then. Every homestay we use has solar panels, batteries or a generator, so lights, fans and phone charging keep working. You're outside most of the day anyway, and Cuban kitchens cook on gas and charcoal, not electricity. Our founder lives there and wrote an honest guide to what a blackout means for your trip: see the Cuba journal.

Fuel lines are real in Cuba, so we plan around them. Our SAG vehicle starts every tour with a full tank and reserve fuel on board, we buy ahead, and we have suppliers in every town on the route. In nine years no group has been stranded. And the bikes, of course, don't need any.

The shortages you read about are in the state ration stores. Your meals come from the private economy: hosts who buy from farmers and fishermen and cook what's in season. Eggs, papaya, mango, pork, chicken, fish and lobster off the boat, beans, rice, plantains, flan. Vegetarians eat well. Nobody has ever gone hungry on one of our tours; a few have come home heavier.

Not the tap water, and you won't need to. We provide bottled and filtered water on the bikes and in the van, and your hosts keep purified water for guests. Bring a refillable bottle and we'll keep it full. Showers and plumbing work normally in the homes we use.

Yes, most of the time. Guests buy a Cuban SIM or eSIM before departure (we send instructions) and can text, email and video-call home. Most casas have Wi-Fi. It's slower than at home and drops during blackouts. Riders consistently tell us a week of being a little less connected was a highlight.

It depends where your money goes. A resort puts it into state hotels. A trip with us puts it into private homes, restaurants, farms, drivers and mechanics, paid directly. We bring supplies on every trip, helped build the Bamboo Bike Project, and donate a bike for every rider. Our host families will tell you the tours are what's keeping them going. Staying away helps no one.

Our founder and his Cuban wife live in the region, our team is with you the whole way, and the van is never far behind. Your e-visa includes access to Cuba's health system and your required travel insurance covers evacuation. In nine years we've never needed it.

Yes. We travel under the “Support for the Cuban People” category, in compliance with the rules issued by the U.S. Department of the Treasury (OFAC). Our tours are built around that category: we stay in private homes, eat at family-run paladares, and spend our money directly with Cuban people, not the government. We walk you step by step through your e-visa and the required travel forms.

Yes, 100%. Cuba is by far the safest country we have ever visited. The roads are generally in good condition with very few cars or trucks, and drivers are courteous to cyclists. Our founder lives in this region with his Cuban wife and works with trusted partners he's known for years.

Yes, and it's a simple process. You'll purchase a 90-day Cuba e-visa online at least one week before departure (about $60 by credit card, at eVisaCuba.com). Visas can no longer be bought at the airport. We send you a step-by-step guide.

A valid passport. You'll also complete the D'Viajeros form within 7 days of departure using your e-visa number. We provide a simple guide with links for each step. No specific immunizations are required to enter Cuba, but check with your healthcare provider before any international travel.

Yes, it's required, and it should cover delays, illness, lost luggage, medical emergencies and evacuation. Make sure the provider insures travel in Cuba and covers cycling, snorkeling and scuba. We've had good experiences with Allianz and Generali.

No. Your guides translate whenever needed. You'll probably pick up some Spanish along the way as part of exploring the culture.

This is not a hard-core road ride. It's for people who are generally fit and active. The pace is moderate with planned stops for water, photos, lunch and activities. We're out 3–4 hours a day but pedaling about 2. Guides regroup often so no one is left behind, we have e-bikes, and the SAG wagon is always there if you're out of gas.

You choose between a hybrid, a gravel bike and an e-bike, all included. Our bikes are well suited to the roads we ride, with adjustable stems for a custom fit and flat pedals, so running shoes work great. You're welcome to bring your own helmet, saddle, bottles or clip-in pedals and shoes.

It has never been an issue. Our homestays charge from generators, solar and other backup sources, so batteries get charged whether or not the grid is on, and we carry plenty of spare batteries on every tour. If yours runs low mid-ride, we swap it and you keep going.

Mostly flat and rolling with occasional climbs and descents, similar to county roads in the U.S. with a few more patches. There are a couple of short stretches of very rideable dirt road. Compared to the U.S. or Europe there is very little traffic.

We start with breakfast at our lodging and typically roll out by 8 AM, finishing by noon before the heat so there's time to explore the next destination. Rides run rain or shine unless guides decide conditions call for a change.

No minimum age. You need to be healthy, fit and capable of riding 20+ miles on 5 of the 9 days. All riders must be at least 4'10" (147 cm) tall for safe bike fit.

Pack light but comfortable: casual, wicking, quick-drying travel clothing is a good start, plus a sweater or light jacket for cool winter evenings. We'll send you a Cuba kit list of required and recommended items.

Yes. To our knowledge we're the only U.S. bicycle tour company that includes roundtrip flights from South Florida to Cuba. We all meet at Miami International Airport and fly together.

Yes. We stay in casas particulares, private home B&Bs, pre-arranged and included. Groups of 10–12 stay in casas next door or within a block or two of each other. It supports local families and gives you a far more authentic connection to Cuban life.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included. Alcoholic beverages are not.

To keep it personal, 8–12 people on published dates. Private tours are available for groups of 8–14.

Cuba now has two official currencies, the Cuban peso (CUP) and the U.S. dollar. Most people want USD; some locals prefer CUP. If you want CUP we'll exchange for you at the best available rate.

Yes. Each traveler may bring back 2 boxes of 25 cigars and 2 bottles of rum (purchased at the airport), plus gifts and souvenirs.

Yes. A 35% deposit reserves your spot on a published date (or a custom date for your group). The balance is due 60 days before departure.

If Cuba Bicycle Tours cancels a date due to extreme weather or unforeseen conditions, all deposits and payments are refunded. Because our small-group tours sell out, your deposit guarantees a spot on the date you select, so customer cancellations forfeit the deposit. For documented medical reasons or a family emergency we'll apply your payment to another date, or refund if there's no availability.

We run tours January through May, when temperatures are cooler and it isn't hurricane season. Cuba's dry season is December through May with averages of 78–86°F. Nights can be cool in December through February, so bring a light layer.

Hurricane season runs June through early November, with most activity August to October, which is why we don't run tours then. Per NOAA, Cuba experiences the lowest frequency of hurricanes in the Caribbean, and the country has highly developed disaster preparedness.