For the most rewarding and challenging adventure of your life, join Scope on
this spectacular Caribbean Bike Challenge. With every kilometre cycled you
will be raising much-needed funds for our vital work with disabled people.

FOR AN INFORMATION PACK
& APPLICATION FORM CALL 0800 019 1200 quoting reference BIKEMAGIC

Cycle 330km across this most vibrant of Caribbean Islands, from the captivating city of Havana to the colonial town and World Heritage Site of Trinidad.

Join us in November 2003 as we cycle for five days winding our way through rural Cuban towns and villages. Savour the lush tropical landscapes as our route takes us past mango, banana and pineapple plantations, beautiful lakes and breathtaking mountain scenery. Admire fine colonial architecture, discover the infectious sound of salsa and Cuba’s friendliest of welcomes! There is no better time to go to this rich and colourful country, which is now on the brink of change.

The Cuba Coast to Coast Getaway

Day 1: London – Havana, Cuba

We will be flying with Iberia from London Heathrow, via Madrid to Havana. We arrive in the evening and will transfer to our centrally located hotel. After dinner we will meet our guides, have our bike briefing and prepare for the challenge ahead.

Day 2: Havana

After breakfast we will do our bike fitting in preparation for the start of the ride tomorrow. We then take a guided tour of the beautiful old city on foot, through the packed winding streets and spacious plazas, soaking up Havana’s atmosphere which seems frozen in time with the ’50s and
’60s-style American cars dominating the roads. We also visit by coach the famous Revolution Square, which has come to symbolize the Cuban Revolution. Tonight after dinner we hear more about the challenge and then there’s a chance to explore the captivating city of Havana by night.

Day 3: 1 hour transfer Havana -Villa Loma
Villa Loma – Matanzas 68km

An early start in order to transfer to Villa Loma where our cycling challenge begins. We spend the early part of the day on a scenic road, which runs parallel with the Caribbean Sea. It’s a bumpy ride with lots of potholes but there is very little traffic. The vegetation is lush and fertile. As the
day progresses the terrain becomes gently undulating with one tough uphill stretch. The spectacular view over rolling countryside and the 10km stretch of downhill on the other side,
more than makes up for the hard climb! Towards the end of the day we approach the busy port town of Matanzas. Originally settled as a town fort in 1693 by Canary Islands immigrants, Matanzas had become Cuba’s second largest city by the end of the 19th century. In its heyday, the town attracted artists and intellectuals earning it the name the “Athens of Cuba”. We cycle through the town and around the harbour to our overnight accommodation in a local hotel, a few
kilometres outside Matanzas.

Day 4: 2 hour transfer Matanzas – Santo Domingo
Santo Domingo – Santa Clara 64km

This morning we transfer to Santo Domingo, a pretty, well-kept village, which is the start of today’s ride. We set off on a good-quality, single lane tarmac road with little traffic, just a few horse and carts and tractors. We continue through agricultural landscape passing banana, sugar
cane and maize crops. After around 20km the off-road begins with some big potholes for around 12km, but the route is quiet and fringed with pineapple plantations. After lunch the route begins to become more undulating, before we finish the ride at Santa Clara, a vibrant place with lots of street life. It was the first major city to be liberated from Batista’s army in December 1958. Today a number of monuments commemorate this important period of Cuba’s history, including a statue to the legendary Che Guevara. We stay overnight in a hotel, three kilometres west of the

Day 5: Santa Clara – Cienfuegos 84km

Our journey continues passing the Che monument – a perfect place for a group photo. The terrain this morning is flat with the occasional rolling hill as we cycle through field after field of sugar cane with the odd traditional house dotted around. After 33km we enter the Province of
Cienfuegos and our route becomes more undulating before we stop for lunch at the Palacio Del Valle restaurant. From here we’ll enjoy good views over the Bay of Cienfuegos, our destination for today. Cienfuegos is the provincial capital and a bustling town best known as the site of the historic battle between Fulgencio Batista and Che Guevara’s guerrillas. We spend the night in a hotel located 29km south of the town at the entrance to the Bay of Cienfuegos.

Day 6: Cienfuegos – Hanabanilla 58km

We leave the hotel, cycling alongside the sea on flat terrain. It is quite exposed, so could feel windy. Our route then takes us through picturesque countryside with the odd house or small holding breaking up the lush countryside of banana and mango plantations and orange groves.
The terrain becomes more undulating as the day continues, with a final tough 7km climb. Finally, we reach Embalse Hanabanilla, a large reservoir surrounded by the northern foothills of the Sierra del Escambray mountains. We arrive at our hotel on the edge of the reservoir mid-afternoon in time to explore and have a swim.

Day 7: Hanabanilla – Trinidad 59km

The final day of our cycling challenge and one of the most scenic! The first 7km is downhill followed by around 31km of hilly roads lined with lush foliage and lots of different types of
fruit trees. We arrive at the village of Guinia de Miranda where we load the bikes onto trucks and transfer 15km to lunch. After eating we again transfer along a mountain road to Magua on the edge of Trinidad. From there it’s back on our bikes for the last 21km to Playa Ancon, 12km south of Trinidad, for a mass team finish. Here we celebrate the end of our challenge with some local rum cocktails called Mojito’s, and there’s time to recover, relax and enjoy the fabulous views!

Day 8: Trinidad

Free day to relax by the sea or visit Trinidad. Many people will want to explore this lively “museum town” which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1988. Tonight we
celebrate our achievements with a special gala dinner.

Day 9: Trinidad – Havana – London

Morning free in Trinidad. In the afternoon we have a five-hour coach transfer back to Havana airport for return flight to London via Madrid.

Day 10: London

Arrive back in the UK late afternoon.

This is a complex itinerary and may be subject to change.

No experience is necessary and everything is included. All we ask is that
you pay the £199 entry fee and reach our minimum sponsorship level – but we
will be with you all the way with advice and support. Don’t take a back seat
– live life in the fast lane! CALL NOW 0800 019 1200 quoting reference
BIKEMAGIC

For further details contact:

Scope
Event Fundraising
6 Market Road
London N7 9PW
Tel: 0207 619 7100

Fax: 0207 619 7380

[email protected]
scope.org.uk/adventures

Tour and travel booked through:
Classic Tours
377 Camden Road
London N7 0SH
Tel 020 7619 0066
Fax 020 7619 0077