Bicycling Cuba: Fifty Days of Detailed Rides from Havana to Pinar Del Rio and the Oriente

by Wally Smith, Barbara Smith

Discover all Cuba has to offer in this complete cycling guide. Wally and Barbara Smith spent 6 months cycling 8,000 miles in Cuba to provide detailed directions for 50 days of cycling. The rides vary in length, many combining to create multi-day loops. Detailed directions describe rides leaving Havana to the west and east. Subsequent rides are clustered in the three best regions of Cuba for Pinar del Rio, Central Cuba, and the Oriente. A final section contains advice on connecting the regions for a long tour of the entire island. In addition, the authors provide information on getting to Cuba, equipment and accessories, food and water, safety considerations, overnight accommodations, and more.

Exploring this fascinating country on two wheels may just be the best way to fully appreciate its history, people, and culture. 50 black-and-white photographs, 15 maps

Genres: Travel

328 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2002

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meticulously detailed rides with endearing recommendations for casas particulares and spectacular sights, compiled by an intrepid couple who drew their own maps: "[Soroa to San Diego de los Baños] is one of our favorite rides and it takes you right off the map! That is, part of the route does not appear in any map collection but one — we found it on an out­ of-date provincial map, and even then it was drawn inaccurately." (Booyah!)... From the majestic mogotes of Valle de Viñales to the pristine playas of Bahía de Miel, let Wally and Barb take you off the pedaled path!

[josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wally and Barbara do an admirable job. The only strong shortcomings are the lack of reverse directions, or maps detailed enough to reliably take a route in the reverse direction. Otherwise spot on.