Challenge level: 4 out of 5
Need a hand? Get in touch...
5 May - 12 May 2023 | On Sale | |
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Duration | 8 days |
Live the Caribbean dream on this exquisite cycling challenge around its largest island. Together, we’ll explore every part of Cuba, from the turquoise coast to the lush Escambray Mountains.
Kicking off in Hershey, founded to produce chocolate for the US chocolate brand, our unbeatable route takes us up and down through time-warped towns and sugar plantations, citrus farms and forested mountains.
We’ll work up a sweat cycling through rolling countryside and share the road with the vintage traffic Cuba is renowned for. With stops in the old-fashioned town of Trinidad, Cienfuegos, widely known as the “Pearl of the South”, and at the stunning seaside resort of Varadero, we’ll get a feel for the culture and history, while experiencing the paradise we all dream about.
Don’t be fooled, this cycling challenge will be tough. Prepare for steep climbs and undulating terrain. Yet, every pedal will be beautiful, with vibrant green hills, palm trees lining the roads, and colourful colonial towns, full of Cuba’s iconic Classic Cars.
We'll finish our epic challenge at the Che Mausoleum in Santa Clara, with a Cuba Libre and a fantastic Celebration Meal.
Then, we'll head to Havana for an exclusive guided tour and a free morning to relax at the beach or explore the city.
Pay the registration fee (£399) and challenge costs (£1,995) + airport taxes/fuel surcharge (capped at £475).
$2,992
Pay the balance.
Pay the registration fee (£399) and airport taxes/fuel surcharge (capped at £475), and fundraise £3,990 or more for your chosen charity.
$5,985
Minimum sponsorship target
This charity bike ride is not designed for Olympic athletes – it is designed for people looking for an amazing overseas challenge to train and get fit for. A number of the people who will take part in this challenge will have a low level of fitness when they sign up.
We'll cycle up many steep hills in humid conditions, so we strongly recommend you train, and please try to incorporate hills in your training rides. Once you sign up, we'll send you a cycling training plan, which builds up over time and will set you up for success. Remember, the more you train, the more you'll enjoy the real deal!
This adventure is the perfect motivation to get fit, gain amazing insight into the culture and history of Cuba, and raise vital funds for charity.
Please don't be! The majority of people will sign up on their own. Our charity challenges are renowned for the amazing camaraderie and lifelong friendships made as our groups conquer these incredible feats together.
Once you've signed up for the challenge, we'll send you a link to a private Facebook group for everyone registered for Cycle Cuba 2023. Please use this space to swap questions, advice and updates with your fellow cyclists on your training and fundraising.
You may also want to see if any of your fellow participants would like to train and fundraise with you.
You need to be 18 years old or over to take part in Cycle Cuba 2023. There's no maximum age limit. One of the amazing things about this challenge is that it brings adults of all ages and from all cycles of life together for one amazing charity event.
16 and 17-year olds may participate if given permission by Dream Challenges. Please get in touch with us to discuss this. Simply email bookings@dream-challenges.com or call us on 01590 646410 at least 17 weeks before the challenge and we'll be happy to help.
Your non-refundable registration fee of £399 per person is used to secure your seats with the airline and secure rooms at the top-rated, luxury hotels we stay in throughout.
Your challenge costs of £1,995 cover:
*Accommodation is included on a twin-sharing basis. If you would rather pay for a single supplement and have a room to yourself, please get in touch with us at bookings@dream-challenges.com or on 01590 646410 (Mon - Fri, 9am - 5pm) at least 17 weeks before the challenge and we can arrange this for you for an additional cost.
**All participants will need a Cuban Tourist Card to enter Cuba and this is included in your challenge costs, provided you are a British or European passport holder. If you aren't, please get in touch using the details above.
A cycle helmet is essential and must be worn at all times. Cycling shorts are also recommended, and everyone will need their water bottles or a CamelBak-type hydration system.
Apart from that, no specialist equipment is required. We will supply you with a list of everything you will need to take before you go.
Cyclists will have the use of 18 or 21-gear bikes, and we suggest you bring the saddle or gel cover you are used to riding on.
In addition to paying your registration fee (£399) and either self funding your challenge costs (£1,995) or fundraising the minimum sponsorship target (£3,990), you'll need to budget for your:
The Dream Challenges team will support you throughout your charity challenge, from the moment you register until the weeks after you return. We are always on hand to answer any questions that you may have about your training or the bike ride itself.
Once you have registered, we will send you a Welcome Pack with everything you need to know about your cycle in Cuba, including the itinerary, an example insurance policy, details about our destination and the weather we can expect on our cycle, the structure of an average cycling day, a full kit list, and a realistic training plan. The training programme builds up gradually as the challenge gets closer.
We'll also send you regular updates in the lead-up to departure, with important details and seasonal fundraising ideas. During the cycle, we'll have a UK doctor with expedition medicine training accompanying the group at all times, along with a team of outdoor remote first-aid trained challenge guides.
We will stay in comfortable hotels throughout the challenge.
Accommodation is included on a twin-sharing basis. However, if you would rather have a room to yourself, please get in touch with us at least 17 weeks before departure and we can arrange a single supplement for you at an additional price. You can call us at 01590 646410 during our office hours (9 am-5 pm, Monday-Friday) or email us at bookings@dream-challenges.com
We will cycle mostly on road throughout our charity bike ride in Cuba. These will vary from well-surfaced roads through towns, the mountains and the countryside to rougher roads with potholes, and rural lanes.
We will also tackle steep climbs, so please try to include hills in your challenge training. Don't let the hills deter you, though - the breathtaking views across Cuba will be more than worth the climbs!
There will be around 30-35 participants in our group for Cycle Cuba. You will no doubt make loads of new friends.
Travel Insurance
You will need to take out your own personal travel insurance upon registering for this challenge, covering health, accident, loss and repatriation. We advise you to arrange personal travel insurance as soon as possible after you register to ensure you have coverage for your booking as well as the cycling challenge itself.
In your Welcome Pack, you will receive information about an insurance provider that specialises in our type of challenges and also covers you for cancellation due to medically-diagnosed COVID-19. You can, however, take arrange insurance with another provider, as long as it covers you for a charity bike ride in Cuba.
Please ask the insurer about the nature of the cover. It is your responsibility to ensure you have adequate cover for your challenge.
Visas
All participants will need a Cuban Tourist Card to enter Cuba. This is included in your challenge costs, provided you are a British or European passport holder. We will send you all the details closer to the challenge.
If you are not a British or European passport holder, please get in touch at bookings@dream-challenges.com or on 01590 646410 (Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm), and we can discuss your travel card arrangements.
We’ll have a UK doctor with expedition medicine training, who will be with you throughout the whole challenge in Cuba. We'll also have a team of outdoor remote first aid trained challenge guides and a local cycling challenge leader, who knows the area like the back of their hand.
No, your main luggage will be transported in vehicles each day by our support team. We advise you to pack light.
You will need a bag to go on your bike or a waist bag for things like your water bottle (ideally at least 2 litres) and phone/camera, along with any other personal items you want to have on hand.
Any extra items you may need during the cycling day can be carried in the support vehicle, which you will have access to at the snack stops and lunch.
Yes of course! If you wish to extend your stay in Cuba, please let us know at least 17 weeks before our departure date and we can arrange this for you.
You can email us at bookings@dream-challenges.com or call us on 01590 646410 (9 am - 5 pm Monday-Friday).
As we're not medically trained, we're afraid we can't offer you advice on this. We recommend you contact your GP or your local travel clinic, who will have the latest travel health advice.
We also recommend you visit the NHS Fit for Travel website here, to keep up to date with current travel health news and advice on staying healthy abroad.
NHS Fit for Travel website: https://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/home
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