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How To Bring  A Bike To Cuba and Havana

I have a whole section in my guide devoted to biking in Havana and Cuba. In my opinion, it is one of the best ways to explore the whole country and especially the city of Havana and the surrounding suburbs. There are almost no bike paths in Cuba, but nevertheless, the country is very bike friendly. Automobiles usually travel relatively slowly and drivers are very careful. Roads can sometimes be bumpy, but, there are many bike riders in Havana and there is good awareness of bike safety.

 Buying A Bike In Cuba

For foreigners, you should know that bikes are relatively difficult to rent or buy in Cuba. If you have friends on the island, they can probably let you borrow one of their bikes, but f not, the best advice is to bring your own bike from your home country.  This has become so popular in recent years that some airlines even allow you to bring your bike for free, or at a very minimal fee. Sunwing airlines has a plan where you can bring a bike for a supplemental fee of only $30. This is very reasonable and is an excellent idea if you are an avid bike rider.

 

What Types of Bikes And Accessories to Bring To Cuba

In terms of which bikes are best for using in Cuba, I would recommend a cheap mountain bike or hybrid. I would be very reluctant to bring an expensive bike, since it would be a target for theft. I have brought bikes with me on several occasions and I find that the best option is to purchase a cheap, used bike at a garage sale and then just bring that. I use the bike for the duration of the trip and then just leave it with a friend in Cuba or give it away to a deserving local. Also, remember to bring a lock with you. Bike locks are very difficult to buy in Havana and Cuba. I always recommend parking your bike in a designated parking area where there is guard on duty. These parqueo parking locations only cost a few pennies per hour and are the safest bet. Nevertheless, it is still recommended to lock your bike just to be absolutely sure that it is still there when you return.

 Donating Bikes to Cuba

I should also note that there are several organizations that specialize in distributing donated bikes throughout Cuba. One is called Bikes For Cuba, and specializes in bringing speed/racing style bikes to Cuba in order to promote cycling as a sport. The organization collects bikes in Canada and other countries and then uses tourists to transport them to Cuba. So far they have delivered over 230 bikes to Cuba. If you would like to get involved just check out their webpage.

 

If you would like to learn more about biking in Cuba and exploring Havana on 2 wheels, just check out my Real Havana Guide!

Discover All The Benefits of Bringing a Bike to Cuba in the Best Cuba and Havana Guide book

And Best of All, Learn How To Bike Around Havana and Even Get to the Suburbs. All The Info is in theReal Havana Guide.

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By |2017-05-19T02:23:27+00:00June 11th, 2014|Fun and Entertainment, Life|0 Comments

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