RTW Moto Tours is launching a series of motorcycle tours in Cuba for U.S. citizens in 2017, and I’m delighted to have been invited to design the itineraries and lead the trips.
The official launch will be at the BMW Motorcycle Owners Association International Rally, in Buffalo, New York, July 14-18, 2017.
RTW owner and founder JD Smith asked me to design several itineraries that span 8 to 14 days, encompassing the entire island. For now, RTW is offering one departure for each of the 8-, 12- and 14-day itineraries, with more dates to be added.
For example, I’ve put together the perfect 12-day itinerary of Western & Central Cuba–call it ‘Modern Motorcycle Diaries’–that includes the Bay of Pigs plus Santa Clara–with its close association with revolutionary and motorcyclist Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara (remember Motorcycle Diaries?). We’ll also visit the Comandancia de Che (his former headquarters), plus Cuevas de los Portales (a giant cave where Che headquartered during the Cuban Missile Crisis), along with the enchanting colonial city of Trinidad, and the snow-white beaches of Cayo Santa María.
On the 8- and 12-day trips, you’ll also visit Viñales tobacco country. And the 14-day all-island trip takes you as far east as Guantánamo!
And always there’ll be an immersion in the caught-in-the-1950s sites of Havana.
Dates are:
8-day Western Cuba – Dec 2-10, 2017
12-day Western & Central Cuba – Dec 12-23, 2017
14-day All Cuba – Feb 4-17, 2018
As a foremost expert on Cuba travel and culture, I won’t simply be acting as tour leader… I’ll enrich your understanding and experience of this fascinating island by introducing you to personal acquaintances from renowned artists to baseball players and harlistas (pre-revolutionary HD owners), such as my pal Ernesto (son of Che) Guevara!
RTW Moto Tours offers you a choice of bikes, from BMWs to Suzukis, and of course Harley-Davidson loves will get to choose from various models.
With the recent approval of direct scheduled U.S. air service to Havana (to begin this fall), you can fly in early and/or extend your visit using an individual “people-to-people” license to explore Havana in greater detail on your own self-guided itinerary.
These trips will be primarily on paved roads with occasional unpaved sections and areas of maintenance or disrepair. Hence, they’re easily navigated by any experienced touring enthusiast.
I’m thrilled to be invited as part of RTW Moto Tours’ tour leading team, which includes Alex Chacon, Tiffany Coates, and ‘Coach’ Ramey Stroud. Outstanding!
Look for the announcement of additional tours to Baja California (9/26-10/4/2016), Iceland, the Darien Gap, and more.
