Cycle through Cuba!

Situated on the northern foot of the Sierra MaestraMountains, Bayamo is the city where Cuba’s National Anthem was first written by Pedro Figueredo. The Cuban lawyer and freedom fighter composed the melody in 1867, but the lyrics were written a year later when he and his fellow nationalistsseized Bayamo. The song later became Cuba’s National Anthem when the island gained independence from Spain in 1902. You will explore and discover Bayamo and its fascinating history right at the beginning of this Cycling Holiday. Even though you will spend most of your time cycling, it is important not to forget that the island has a rich history to explore!

On day 2 of your East Cuba by Bike Holiday, you will head to the Pilgrimage Church of El Cobre. Situated in the foothills of the Sierra Maestra Mountain Range, not far from Santiago de Cuba, this baroque church is dedicated to the “Virgen de la Caridad” (“Our Lady of Charity”). Legend has it that in 1612, when three fishermen were out in the Bay of Nipe, a storm arose. The fisherman saw a strange object floating in the water which turned out to be a wooden statue of “Our Lady of Charity”. The fishermen miraculously made it to shore, with the statue on board. They took the statue back to their hometown of El Cobre, an important mining town, where the statue became an object of worshipand celebrated as the Patroness Saint of Cuba. For Santeria followers, the “Virgen de la Caridad” is the goddess of both rivers and love. Visit this spiritual place of worship on your Cycling Holiday to Cuba and enjoy the spectacular views of the Sierra Maestra Mountains – it does not get much better than that!

Our East Cuba by Bike Holiday also takes you to explore the picturesque city of Baracoa. The city is the oldest Spanish settlement in Cuba, founded by Diego Velázquez in 1511. It is supposedly the exact place where Christopher Columbus first landed on Cuban land during his first voyage. Not only is Baracoa brimming with history, but its incomparable setting within the tropical landscapes of the Sierra del Purial Mountain Range makes the city stand out from the rest. Up until the Cuban Revolution, Baracoa could only be reached by sea, but straight after the Revolution, Fidel Castro built a road to connect the city to the rest of Cuba. In the CatedralNuestraSeñora, you will find the “Cruz de la Parra”; the wooden cross erected by Columbus upon his arrival in what is today known as Baracoa. Come on our Cycling Holiday and you can leave your mark in the same place as Columbus himself.