Cuba: open for business after years in isolation
Cuba, south of Miami and north of Jamaica, is a new entrant in the Bike Holiday Guide, and La Poderosa Tours know the place inside out. They should because the company was created by Ernesto Guevara jnr, son of Che Guevara. This is Ernesto’s Cuba…
CUBA IS A WONDERFUL combination of beautiful landscapes, history, colonial architecture, nice friendly people, good food, drinks and cigars set in the unique context of a country that in some ways is frozen in the 1950s. Getting to know Cuba on a bike provides direct contact with the Cuban culture, the unique history of this country and its spirit…
Why choose La Poderosa Tours for your 2018 motorcycling adventure?
La Poderosa Tours is the leading motorcycle tour agency in Cuba and our team is composed of passionate and experienced people who adore what they do. Ernesto Guevara jnr has been a Harleydavidson aficionado ever since he was a teenager and will show you around the island with his best childhood friend Camilo and Luisito who also loves Harleys, and music. We have 14 modern Harley-davidsons ready for you to ride including: 4x Electra Glides; 3x Street Glides; 2x 1200 Sportsters; 4x Dynas (a Wide Glide, a Low Rider, a Switchback and a Street Bob) and 1x V-rod Muscle. Basically we can satisfy any taste you might have when it comes to cruiserstyle bikes. Our philosophy is that each rider first contacts us as a client but leaves Cuba as a friend. We believe in a brotherhood among riders no matter where they come from and we treat people as if they were one of our own. Imagine how your vacation would be if your best friend, a Cuban, organized the trip for you, took care of every little detail, accompanied you on the whole trip, introduced you to his friends and family… Our customers don’t just visit Cuba as tourists we put them in direct contact with the people, the real treasure of this island, and make them feel at home while providing them with safety and security for the length of their holiday. Is there a better way to visit a country? Plus, they get to ride bikes the whole time! For many Cuba is a new destination option so please feel free to read our customer comments on our website and blog, and follow us on social media… lapoderosatours.com instagram.com/lapoderosatours facebook.com/lapoderosatours twitter.com/lapoderosatours youtube.com/lapoderosatours
Guided or self guided?
All our tours are guided and fully supported, and our customers are taken care off from the moment they arrive in Cuba. This includes: VIP service upon arrival at the airport; 5-star or top end accommodation in traditional hotels or unique private hostels; the best restaurants; the best cigars; Cuban music and lots and lots of rides. We provide a fully equipped support vehicle, a trailer with a spare bike, two tour leaders and tourist guide/ translator in almost any language. So there’s nothing to worry about, all the details are taken care of so you can just relax and ride. Our tours are open to any rider from any part of the world which makes for a totally unique experience not only because of the destination and our top end, personalized custom services, but also because people from all over the globe unite, ride and discover Cuba together. It’s priceless.
When to go?
The best time to visit the island is definitely from October to May. This is Cuba’s winter and the temperatures are warm and nice, there’s also little or no chance of rain, humidity is lower, and of course there is
‘11 million people of all races live happily together on this crazy island where people still say, “good morning” to complete strangers’
always a chance to swim in the turquoise Caribbean waters.
The best roads…
Cuba has many great roads. Firstly there are the Las Terrazas mountains with their spectacular curves and huge variety of flora. Then there is the Viñales valley with its endless fields of green tobacco and the Mogotes mountains. After this how about the breathtaking 30-mile Cayo Santa Maria causeway with the Atlantic ocean on both sides? Add to this the Havana Malecon, Revolution Square, the Topes de Collantes nature reserve, the colonial city of Trinidad which arguably boasts the best colonial architecture in the Americas and it is really hard to choose where to start.
Photo opportunities ahoy…
Incredible blue skies, white cotton clouds, beautiful seas and beaches, rich flora, the Cuban people themselves who are always happy to pose for pictures, plus beautiful architecture and old American classic cars turn every one of our customers into a great photographer.
Things to do and see…
Don’t miss the Cuban and international cuisine, and cocktails in one of the numerous new top end paladares (think family run restaurant) and bars. Or smoke a cigar – Cuba is famous for the best cigars in the world. Cuba also has many fabulous museums, including Havana’s National Museum of Fine Arts. You’ll also find music and dance is very important to Cubans, in fact it is on almost every street corner. It’s true to say that when you visit Cuba there is never enough time to do everything, and yet time here is a completely different concept. You will only understand what this means when you come.
What’s the nightlife like?
When the riding is finished for the day there is plenty to do at night. We have fantastic historic cabarets such as the Tropicana, underground latin jazz bars, Salsa clubs or you can just wander in the Havana Malecon, along the Atlantic ocean where Cubans spend their nights with a guitar and a bottle of rum.
What about the food?
Expect lots of seafood including lobster and shrimps, truly organic pork, black beans, fried bananas and lots of Mojitos, Daiquiris, Cuba Libre, or a great seven-yearold dark rum.
Are there any bike shows or races to go to?
An event not to be missed is the annual Varadero Harley-davidson meeting that happens during the second weekend of
February. It attracts the majority of the island’s Harley riders and the really amazing thing is that most of the Harleys owned by Cubans, around 150 in total, are bikes made and imported to the island before 1959.
What are the locals like?
Cubans are super friendly, open, happy people who show solidarity, are willing to share experiences and are curious about the world beyond their shores. 11 million people of all races live happily together on this crazy little island where people still say, ‘good morning,’ to complete strangers or talk at the bus stop like they have known each other their whole lives.
What about wifi?
Cuba’s connectivity is as good as you will find in most other countries around the world and there are numerous hot spots in hotels, parks, squares and even in the tourist stops you find along the highways. Then again maybe vacation time is also the time to completely disconnect from the internet and take it easy.
How much does it cost
Our published tours start at around $3250 usd per person. We also offer bespoke tours for arranged groups and prices for these vary according to season, number of people and level of accommodation, among other factors.
Contact
For more information email us at info@lapoderosatours.com We will be happy to assist you in English, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese and Greek. We usually answer all emails in 24 hours, or less.