What customers say about our trips to Cuba

"The journey is the reward" - this motto definitely applies to our cycle tours. Who doesn't know it? The feeling of having achieved something, such as travelling from A to B. And the best thing about it: on the saddle of a bike, the effort is also fun! If you can also get to know your surroundings, spend the whole day outdoors and go to bed in the evening with lots of new impressions.

Our cycle tours are designed to do just that: You get to know a new country, get some exercise or maybe the bike is already your daily means of transport anyway! Here we present our previous tours, which can still be booked today in a slightly modified, improved form at Sprachcaffe Reisen.

And where did this trip take you? The tour started from Havana to the west of the country to Pinar del Río, where a tour of the city and a visit to a tobacco factory were on the programme. After lunch, the bicycles transported on the bus were first customised for each rider before the first stretch of road in Cuba was covered on the bikes, in the direction of Viñales.

The route took the cyclists through the green valley, past the region's famous mogotes to their accommodation for the night. A good rest is very important when travelling by bike, especially here, as the next day's stage was more of a challenge: 55 km in warm and humid Cuban weather.

But the reward follows immediately afterwards: a white, fine sandy beach and crystal-clear water in various shades of blue and turquoise. Cayo Jutías was a good place to rest after the arduous route. The effort was definitely worth it!

The journey the next day through another valley - the Valle Ancón -, interrupted by a picnic in the great outdoors, was also completely focussed on the scenic beauty of the region. Hikes and walks in the surrounding area could be undertaken from the hotel, a change from the usual mode of transport.

After a restful night, the following day began with Cuban history. Have you ever heard of the "Cueva de los Portales"? Initially, the cave was considered an excursion destination and artists of all kinds visited it, but in the 1960s it had another function: it became Che Guervara's headquarters.

After this visit, we got back on our bikes and cycled towards Havana, passing small villages typical of the area, until we reached Soroa, where we planned to spend the next night. Soroa has been home to a famous orchid garden since the 1940s, which is definitely worth a visit. But swimming in a natural pool at the foot of a rushing waterfall is also a real nature experience.

The next leg of the journey once again highlighted the green idyll of Cuba's west: the Sierra del Rosario, a mountainous region declared a biosphere reserve by UNESCO, where ecotourism is now practised. A typical lunch on a farm gave the travellers new strength for the last stretch of cycling, as they were heading back to the capital the next day.

Once there, they had the full programme in the afternoon: a city tour, rum tasting and getting to know the atmosphere of Havana before turning their backs on the Caribbean island. But there is certainly always a reason to return and discover the other sides of Cuba - in the truest sense of the word.

If you would now like to discover Cuba by bike, we can recommend our trip:

• Cuba's Green West

One of our still favourite bike tours is the "Cuba Cross Over". We have hardly changed the course and programme of the trip over the years, because why change something that is good the way it is? Only the final nights in Varadero have recently been removed to ensure an even more individualised itinerary. If you want to relax for a few days in Varadero - or on another dream beach - after your trip, you can do so as you wish. However, as you can see in brackets below, the distances to be travelled by bike are easy to cover. The itinerary includes all the important, beautiful places worth seeing in the west and centre of Cuba:

1. Day: Arrival in Havana
2. Day: Havana
3. Day: Havana - Viñales (20 km)
4. Day: Cayo Jutías (55 km)
5. Day: Viñales (50 km)
6. Day: Viñales - Cienfuegos (10 km)
7. Day: Cienfuegos - Trinidad (25 km)
8. Day: Trinidad
9. Day: Trinidad (40 km)
10. Day: Trinidad - Santa Clara (30 km)
11. Day: Santa Clara - Havana (35 km)
12. Day: Departure or extension

Interested? Here you can find the detailed itinerary: Cuba Cross Over

Why should you learn to dance in Cuba of all places? Quite simply because Cuba stands for music and dance. Hardly any other destination and its people are as associated with music and dance as Cuba. You can always hear music in the streets and see people dancing to it. The trip La Habana en Vivo was put together by Sprachcaffe Reisen in such a way that there is not only dancing, but also time to get to know Havana. An ideal combination of dancing, cultural impressions and authentic life in Havana.

The dance tour is designed for 8 days, but can of course be extended individually. It combines exciting days full of experiences and activities with relaxation on the beach. The tour begins with the arrival in Havana, the capital of Cuba. Havana is an impressive city to discover during your stay in Cuba. To get a feel for Cuban life, La Habana en Vivo starts with a city tour through Havana's historic centre. The accompanying guide not only shows the participants the architectural diversity of the city, but also provides information about its history, politics and culture. During the city tour, it is not unusual to be surrounded by music. A little foretaste of the dance lesson to follow. The rest of the day is all about rhythm as the first salsa lesson begins. After the salsa lesson, the music continues at a concert. Perhaps one or two newly learnt steps will be put to use here. The perfect drink for the evening? Mojito, of course!

If you are in Havana, there is one thing you should not miss out on: a ride in a vintage car. There's no better way to experience the colonial flair as you drive through the modern part of the city. Together with the city tour, this gives you a comprehensive insight into the Cuban capital. Afterwards, it's time to dance again. The highlight of the day is the salsa party, where the steps you have learnt are put to active use.

However, it is not only the musical senses that are trained on this trip, but also the sense of taste and smell. In addition to music, rum and tobacco also have a long tradition and are highly valued in Cuba. The Rum & Tobacco Tour provides an insight into the production and special features of the manufacturing process. Of course, the secret of Cuban rum cannot be revealed. But the steps from the sugar cane to the finished luxury drink are vividly illustrated. A tasting is not to be missed.

The afternoon continues with a dance class. On this day, you will also visit the Casa de la Música. Before the last salsa lesson the next day, you can organise your time individually. Everything that has been learnt in the last few days can be used at the upcoming salsa party. The day ends with a visit to the "Havana Queens" show. The dance ensemble fascinates with a mixture of different dance styles, including salsa, of course, but also mambo, rumba and break dance.

The intensive dance training is followed by a day at the beach. Playa del Este impresses with its white, fine sandy beach and marvellous blue sea. Today, the focus is on rest and relaxation. The last day is once again dedicated entirely to Havana. Of course, an optional excursion can be undertaken, the Viñales Valley would be ideal for this.

Fancy feeling the fire of Cuba? Then take a look here:

• Dance tour La Habana en Vivo
• All dance holidays and dance courses

Hiking gives you a feeling of freedom and space. But why should you only hike in Germany? There are also great routes and experiences waiting for you abroad. Today we would like to introduce you to Cuba as a hiking destination.

The idea of offering hiking holidays was born with us in the trip "Hiking trip to Pico Turquino" trip. The tour started in Holguín and offered 8 days full of experiences on the most beautiful hiking trails in Cuba. The highlight of the hiking route was the Turquino National Park, which is located in the middle of the Sierra Maestra mountain range. Of course, we also included many other highlights of Cuba in this hiking tour.

But the ascent to Pico Turquino, the highest mountain in Cuba, will pay off, the reward is an impressive view of the mountain world of the Sierra Maestra. Nature takes centre stage on this 8-day trip. There is not a hotel or restaurant at every stop. Spending the night in a tent is therefore part of the programme. But getting to know the country and its people is also part of the trip.

Let's go: After arriving on the second day, we explored the city of Bayamo on a guided tour. We then set off on our first hike to the Comandancia de la Plata, the former headquarters of Fidel Castro. The two-hour, easy hike took us through dense forests. I spent the night in a hut and enjoyed a simple but tasty dinner.

On the third day of the trip, the first big hike awaits us, welcome to the heart of the Turquino National Park. Today we continue to the Aguada de Joaquin at an altitude of 1,360 metres. The five-hour, moderately difficult hike through the lush rainforest is a real highlight. The mountain atmosphere is incredibly peaceful. We spend the night there again in huts.

Then the day arrives when Cuba's highest mountain, Pico Turquino, is calling. The climb is on! The eight to nine hour hike is challenging, but the view from the 1,974 metre high summit is worth the effort. It is a triumphant feeling to have reached the highest point in Cuba. We spend the night in a simple hotel in the Sierra Maestra.

After the strenuous hikes of the last few days, a visit to the El Saltón waterfall is the perfect way to relax. A dip in the refreshing water is a welcome change. We spend another night in a hotel in the Sierra Maestra. We continue to Santiago de Cuba, Cuba's second capital. A guided tour of the city offers insights into its rich history and vibrant culture. In the evening we visit the Casa de la Trova and enjoy live music. We spend the night in a 3-star hotel.

The next morning, the bus takes us back to Holguín. We use the afternoon to explore the city's parks. We spend the last night in a 3-star hotel again. Finally, a transfer takes us to Holguín airport. The trip is an unforgettable experience full of adventure and discoveries.

• Cuba hiking trip to Pico Turquino