Introduction to Cuba

Cuba is the largest, most varied and most beautiful of the Greater Antilles islands. It is long and narrow, extending approximately 1,260 km east-west in length; its width ranges from 193 km to 32 km. No point in the Island is more than 80 km from the sea. Cuba is bound by the Atlantic Ocean on the north and east, the Caribbean Sea on the south, and the mouth of the Gulf of México on the west.

Cuba is part of a limestone platform related to the limestone areas of the Yucatán, Florida and the Bahamas. The Central American Antillean System, the main mountain system of the West Indies, crosses south-eastern Cuba, where it is known as the Sierra Maestra. Although most of Cuba is low, there are several upland and mountain areas that increase in height from west to east. Several mountain formations are found in central Cuba, the most important being the Sierra del Escambray, with Pico San Juan, its highest peak, at 1,160 m. Extreme eastern Cuba is a mountainous area divided into northern and southern ranges by the Guantánamo Valley. North of the valley are the Sierra de Cristal, Sierra Nipe, Cuchillas de Toar, and Sierra de Purial, with elevations up to 1,230 m. South of Guantánamo Valley is the Sierra Maestra, which holds Cuba's highest peak, Pico Turquino (1,974 m).

Cuba has a tropical trade-wind climate moderated by the surrounding waters. The temperature decreases slightly with elevation and exposure to open waters, but the mean annual temperature at Havana is 25^oC. The coldest months are January and February, with average temperatures of about 22^o C; the warmest is July, with 28^o C. Occasionally during the winter, a cold air mass from the north shifts southward, giving north-eastern Cuba near-freezing temperatures. Almost all of Cuba, except the extreme southeast, gets at least 120 cm of rainfall a year, mostly in summer. Cuba has two perfectly identifiable seasons - the 'dry season' from November to April, and the 'rainy season' from May to October.

Useful Tourism Links:

Frequently Asked Cycling Questions:

HOW DO I GET TO CUBA WITH MY BIKE?
It is not difficult to get to Cuba from Canada; especially during the winter months. Air Canada, Air Transat and Skyservice all fly into Cuba from various Canadian cities. They usually accept bicycles (for a fee!), but it would be a good idea to check ahead of time.

IS IT POSSIBLE TO RENT BICYCLES IN CUBA?
There are bicycles galore in Cuba, but they tend to be one-speed "Made in China" machines. I have yet to track down an organization that rents "good" bicycles.

CAN I TRANSPORT MY BIKE ON CUBAN TRAINS AND BUSES?
It would appear that you can take almost anything on Cuban buses and trains.

IF I TAKE MY OWN BICYCLE, WHAT TYPE SHOULD I TAKE?
The roads are all paved, but they can be a little rough in places. You will definitely encounter potholes! I found my touring bike with 700x35 tires to be ideal; alternatively, you may wish to use a mountain bike with 'slicks'.

HOW DO I PAY FOR THINGS?
As a tourist, you will probably use US dollars almost exclusively. Visa and MasterCard credit cards are accepted at tourist resorts as long as the cards do not come from a US bank! American Express cards are not accepted.

page updated on 06-Mar-2006