Day 9: Varadero - Havana

Last riding day! Today we gotta ride back to Havana. We can afford a late start from Varadero since the road is not too long. A few highlights on the way out (the city garden and the Casa Al Capone) and then along the Via Blanca all the way to the Cuban Capitol. 

Before getting to the hotel we still have time for a nice city stroll along the malecon and the centre of Havana, breathing in the exciting atmosphere of this timeless city.

Day 8: Remedios - Varadero

Another great day riding across Cuba! This time along many villages, always very lively. We ride the ruta norte on our way to Varadero, the famous beach resort of Cuba. For many visitors this is the only thing they experience in their whole Cuban holiday, for us a relaxing evening at the beach after exploring so much of the Cuban culture and lifestyle.

Day 7: Cayo Santa Maria - Remedios

We do half rest day, since the resort is so nice here at the coast. Meeting time is at noon and we still have time to eat some lunch here. The afternoon ride towards Remedios is fairly short, allowing us some stops on the way, visiting the musuem of train locomotors and sugar cane.

In Remedios our accommodation is fairly special, since we will be hosted in private houses (casas particulares).

Day 6: Trinindad - Cayo Santa Maria

Today we leave the souterh coast of Cuba and we ride across the Sierra de Escambray. Santa Clara and its Che Guevara heritage in our way to the Cayo, so we make a longer stop there visitng the Che Guevara mausoleum and enjoying a tasty lunch.

In the afternoon the ride is fairly short and we arrive early at the resort in Cayo Santa Maria, where we can relax a bit.

Day 5: Rest day in Trinidad 

Who said that a motorcyclist has to ride every day? When you have a tropical beach with caribbean sea just a few step from your room? And what about adding some colorful sightseeing in this ultra charming colonial town known as Trinidad?

So we decided to give the bikes a break (those suspensions are saying thank you for that) and enjoy a laid back beach morning, followed by a guided city tour with our local Cuban guide. Trinidad has so many fascinating corners that is hard to choose what to portrait in a photo... 

Day 4: Cienfuegos - Trinidad 

What a wonderful ride today! Much shorter than yesterday but full of highlights. After a morning ride across some steep up and down in the Sierra de Escambray we reached El Nicho, THE idyllic natural spot of Cuba. Gorgeous waterfalls creating pools to bathe and refresh in the shade of the rain forest. Simply dreamy. A lunch surrounded by lush vegetation and then we traversed entirely the Sierra over topes de collantes. The colonial town of Trinidad and its golden beach will be our destination for today and also tomorrow. Let's enjoy some mojitos at the beach resort... 

Day 3: Las Terrazas - Cienfuegos 

After some tropical rain during the night we wake up among very atmospheric fog, which disappears as soon as we ride our iron horses out of the forest. The ride brings us through tranquil countryside life and old American cars alternate with younger horse carts. For lunch we stop at the bay of pigs, enjoying lopster (and crocodile for the temerarious ones) at the Caribbean side of Cuba.

Cienfuegos and its charming architecture is warmly welcoming us for tonight, with a dinner in the moorish-style Palacio del Valle. 

Day 2: Viñales - Las Terrazas 

The morning starts with some good blue sky and the further we move in the day... The hotter and sunnier it becomes. We spend a laid back morning strolling around Viñales and its surroundings, visiting an authentic tobacco plantation, learning how important is this plant for Cuban economy. Later on we hit a curvy backcountry road towards Pinar del Rio, where we have a relaxed lunch in a garden restaurant. 

In the afternoon we move back towards Las Terrazas, spending our night amidst tropical lush vegetation. 

Day 1: Havana - Viñales 

Bienvenido! Edelweiss riding year begins in the Caribbean.. With two tours running around the island. Our journey is the classic one, including the western part of Cuba, reaching the green "mogotes" (karst formations covered with vegetation) of Viñales. 

We started with a leisurely ride along the north coast, entering then the protected park of Las Terrazas where we had a very relaxed lunch along the quiet river, followed by some curves&potholes along the carretera norte.