Join BMW Brand Ambassador & expert off-road trainer Shawn Thomas, acclaimed moto-journalist & Cuba expert Christopher P. Baker, plus Cuba’s top road guide on a 10-day enduro motorcycling adventure in “support of the Cuban people”

Every U.S. citizen can still legally travel to Cuba, pre-approved, under the “support for the Cuban people” license. This program is designed to maximize “support for the Cuban people” through stays at private B&Bs, meals at private restaurants, and interactions with independent artists, private tobacco farmers, owners of classic convertible taxis, etc.

Please join me and my close friend and Profil-Riesen road guide Luis Enrique González as we host an off-road Adventure Riding Clinic with Shawn Thomas, BMW Brand Ambassador, and Adventure Riding Instructor.  Shawn has spent more than a decade learning the art of Adventure Riding and has traveled the world sharing his knowledge with fellow adventure riders. We’ll spend the early morning and late afternoon hours learning off-road riding techniques and exploring the most magnificent rural landscapes in Cuba using BMW F700s. Our days will also be full of fun meetings with Cubans from all walks of life… such as artists, tobacco farmers, owners of B&Bs and private restaurants, etc.

TOUR LEADER

CHRISTOPHER P. BAKER

It’s true to say… no-one knows Cuba as well as Christopher, the Lowell Thomas Award 2008 ‘Travel Journalist of the Year’ and the author of six travel guidebooks about Cuba. National Geographic acclaimed him “one of the world’s leading authorities on Cuba travel and culture.” In 1996, Chris shipped his BMW R100GS PD to Cuba and made a three-month, 7,000-mile journey as a licensed journalist, resulting in publication of his Moon Cuba guidebook and his award-winning travelogue Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro’s Cuba. In January 2013, Christopher led the first licensed U.S. motorcycle group tour of Cuba end-to-end since the 1959 Revolution. He has since led numerous motorcycle tours in Cuba on behalf of MotoDiscovery, Edelweiss Bike Travel, Bob’s BMW of Maine, and the BMW Riding Academy of Turkey, as well as almost one hundred tours to Cuba on behalf of National Geographic Expeditions and tour companies. In addition to riding “sweep,” ensuring the cohesion of the group, and attending to logistics, Christopher brings something unique to these tours… an ability to share a profound knowledge of Cuba, providing unparalleled context for your travel experience.

OFF-ROAD INSTRUCTOR

SHAWN THOMAS

Shawn Thomas is the brand ambassador for BMW when it comes to all things adventure riding. After starting in 2003 as Sales Manager at a BMW motorcycle dealership in California, Shawn went on to host training and marketing events for the RawHyde Adventures’ BMW Off-Road Adventure Riding Academy. Shawn has spent two decades perfecting the art of individual and group adventure training techniques. Renowned throughout the adventure motorcycle community for his off-road tuition skills and ebullient personality, Shawn is today an official BMW Motorrad Ambassador, serving as a spokesman in training, product presentation, and video production. One thing for sure… ride with Shawn and you’re guaranteed a bundle of fun along with a skill set to envy.

ROAD GUIDE

LUIS ENRIQUE GONZÁLEZ

Luis Enrique González has more experience leading group motorcycle tours in Cuba than any other Cuban motorcycle enthusiast and road guide. Between 2013-16 he worked alongside Chris to lead the very first motorcycle tours in Cuba for U.S. citizens using BMW 1200GSs, F700s, and a medley of Harley-Davidsons. Since 2017, he has acted as lead guide for Profil-Reisen and has led scores of tours throughout Cuba end-to-end. No-one knows Cuba off-road like Luis! An English-speaker, he’s a natural raconteur and all-around “colorful character” with a Rolodex of contacts throughout Cuba (his personal history includes as a mariner and, in the 1980s, as a Lieutenant in Cuba’s Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias in charge of an anti-aircraft battery in Angola). Luis is also responsible for maintaining Profil-Reisen’s fleet of F700s in Cuba. A superb mechanic, Luis exemplifies Cubans’ resourcefulness, ingenuity and indefatigable good humor. When not leading tours, Luis loves tinkering with his collection of pre-revolutionary Harley-Davidsons, a miscellany of other antique motos, plus his 1948 Buick.

 

THE BIKES:

We’ll ride BMW F700s exclusively. Each will be fitted with twin side panniers.

ITINERARY (SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

Day 1: Meet in Havana
The U.S. “support for the Cuban people” license allows individuals to travel freely to Cuba as they wish. We’ll meet this evening at our B&B in Habana Vieja (Old Havana) for a welcome reception. Our welcome dinner will be nearby at Chacón 162, a popular bikers’ bar and restaurant.
Meals: D
Overnight: Hostal Maletas, Habana Vieja

Day 2 (50 miles): Habana Vieja / Greater Havana
After breakfast, we discover the colonial city, which celebrated its 500th anniversary in November 2019. Chris will guide us on foot through the cobbled pedestrian-only plazas of this magnificent historical quarter. After lunch in Plaza Vieja, we return to our hotel to change into our motorcycle gear and pick our motorbikes. In order to get familiar with your bike, we’ll make a circuit of greater Havana, including such iconic sites as the Malecón, Plaza de la Revolución, Museo Ernest Hemingway at Finca Vigía (the author’s former home), and the Castillo del Morro fortress. Dinner is at leisure tonight—a chance to also enjoy the show at Tropicana, Cuba’s famous cabaret nightclub.
Meals: B
Overnight: Hostal Maletas, Habana Vieja

Day 3 (80 miles): Sierra del Rosario / Las Terrazas
Ride through Havana’s chic Miramar suburb to Jaimanitas, stopping at “Fusterlandia” to marvel at artist José Fuster’s amazing community project. Passing through Mariel, we reach the low Sierra del Rosario mountain range and the nature reserve of Las Terrazas, with plenty of off-road trails perfect for our endures. After lunch at Casona de Mercedes, we’ll have our first off-road training with Shawn and Luis along the trails of the Sierra del Rosario.
Meals: BLD
Overnight: Casas particulares (B&Bs), Soroa

Day 4 (120 miles): Sierra de los Órganos / Viñales
Our route today combines the deteriorated Circuito Norte coast road and backcountry mountain trails that lead through the stunning Sierra de los Órganos mountains to “Cueva de los Portales.” This cave is fantastically situated and was used as headquarters by Ernesto Che Guevara during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1960. We’ll have further off-road training from Shawn before continuing our tour to Viñales. This colonial-era village is in the midst of Cuba’s most impressive scenery—the Valle de Viñales—studded with massive freestanding mogotes (limestone formations) that rise over the tobacco fields.
Meals: B
Overnight: Casas particulares (B&Bs), Viñales

Day 5 (60 miles): Off-Road Training / Sierra de los Órganos
Today we’ll put to the test much of Shawn’s adventure training as we explore the Valle de Viñales and Sierra de los Órganos mountains along routes that offer plenty of challenges, including water crossings… mud pools… and eroded hillsides. Shawn and Luis will teach us how to tackle each as we have fun riding mountain trails that connect lonesome farms and thatched hamlets dotting the mountains and valleys. Our route will include a visit to Gran Caverna de Santo Tomás, one of the world’s largest cave systems. Tonight, we recommend you enjoy dinner at your B&B.
Meals: B
Overnight: Casas particulares (B&Bs), Viñales

Day 6 (280 miles): María La Gorda / Cabo San Antonio / Pinar del Río
An early start for a long day today as we follow sensational and little-trafficked route through the Cordillera de Guaniguanico mountains via Guane and Sumidero to Parque Nacional Guanahacabibes. We’ll lunch beside the Caribbean Sea at the scuba diving center of María La Gorda before continuing along a stunning limestone peninsula to Cabo San Antonio, Cuba’s westernmost point. We’ll return via the Carretera Central to Pinar del Río city for overnight.
Meals: BLD
Overnight: Hotel Pinar del Río, Pinar del Río

Day 7 (290 miles): Vuelto Abajo / Cienfuegos
This morning we head through the heart of Vuelto Abajo, Cuba’s main tobacco-growing area, to visit Cuba’s most famous private tobacco farm—Finca El Pinar Robaina. Chris’ friend, owner Hiroshi Robaina. will give us a private tour. We then continue east along the Carretera Central (the arterial road running through Cuba end-to-end) to the Autopista—the freeway—which delivers us to Playa Larga (“Bay of Pigs”). From here, we’ll follow a dirt track along the Caribbean shore to reach the lovely bay city of Cienfuegos in late afternoon. Tonight, enjoy a roast suckling pig dinner alfresco.
Meals: BD
Overnight: Hotel Jagua, Cienfuegos

Day 8 (85 miles): El Nicho / Trinidad
Today’s route is superbly scenic as we climb into the Sierra Escambray mountains for lunch at El Nicho waterfall. We’ll then follow convoluted and challenging forest trails to the mist-shrouded summit at Topes de Collantes, then take a switchback down to the UNESCO World Heritage City of Trinidad—Cuba’s most authentic and perfectly preserved colonial city. This evening enjoy strolling the cobbled colonial streets, plus music and dance at one of Trinidad’s many clubs.
Meals: BD
Overnight: Casas particulares (B&Bs), Trinidad

Day 9 (240 miles): Valle de los Ingenios / Santa Clara / Havana
This morning before we ride through the Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills), another UNESCO World Heritage Site dotted with colonial-era sugar haciendas. We’ll visit Hacienda Guajimiro, then wind over the Guamahaya Mountains to Santa Clara for lunch. After visiting the monument, mausoleum and museum dedicated to Che Guevara, we’ll take the Autopista back to Havana. After return of the motorbikes, the transfer bus takes us back to our B&B in Habana Vieja. After cleaning up, we’ll ride in convertible classic cars to our farewell dinner at la Guarida, Cuba’s most sensational restaurant.
Meals: BD
Overnight: Hostal Maletas, Habana Vieja

Day 10: End of trip
Today transfer to the airport for your departure flight. Or, if you wish, you can stay some more days in Cuba.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

  • Use of BMW F700GS motorcycle
  • Fuel
  • Accommodation and meals per itinerary
  • Support van and driver
  • Cuba road guide
  • Services of Shawn Thomas and Chris Baker

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

  • Flights to/from Cuba
  • Incidentals (tips, alcohol, etc.)

TOUR DATES
TBA 2020

PRICE
TBA

G

RESERVATIONS NOT YET OPEN!


“Christopher… I gave the tour a 99 on a 100 scale as I can’t imagine it gets much better than we experienced in Cuba. You did everything well and made sure that everyone in the group had a very memorable trip.”
BOB HENIG, BOB’S BMW of MAINE