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'02 Cuba From a backpacker and a motor biker's perspective

Pictures ready to view. Still working on the story. 

CUBA Trip Index                 Read top to bottom or choose a section:

• Preparations
• Backpacking in Havana area
• Cruising Pinar del Rio Province on 50cc Suzuki
• Backpacking central Cuba provinces: Matanzas and Cienfuegos
• Trinidad Area
• Personal observations
• Statistics

Preparations

This paragraph will be short. Pack as little as you can. No visas required. End of story. 

Havana area

After a 8-hour long flight (instead of 3), I arrived in Varadero around 1 after midnight. The plane was delayed, then it had to drop off some passengers in the Dominican Republic, and then we had to wait for the "fuel truck" to gas the plane up. 

I checked in the Pullman Hotel around 2 a.m. 

Not being a great fan of a beach, I left for Havana the next day. I spent 2 days there. 

Construction...

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Pinar del Rio Province on 50cc Suzuki

I rented 50cc Suzuki for three days for US$20 a day and travel around. 

Back to Havana for another day

Construction...

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Matanzas and Cienfuegos provinces

Took a taxi to Cienfuegos. 

Construction...

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Trinidad Area

Nice place to visit. 

Construction...

It was a nice break from a cold Canadian winter. 

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Personal Observations

Culture is tremendously rich. The country is poor but friendly and safe. 

Construction...

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Statistics

• December 21, 2002 - January 4, 2003. 2 weeks. 
• Countries visited: 1. 
• Kilometers on the motorbike: around 300 (speedometer was broken).
• Motorbike used: Suzuki RMX50.
• Equipment failures/problems: 
  • broken speedometer;
  • chain should have been replaced;
  • really weak engine. 
• Pictures taken: 150.
• Cost:
  • flight: $CAD 800;
  • other: $CAD 1400;
  • Total: $CAD 2200.

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Trip summary:

• Day 1, Saturday, Dec 21. Flight to Varadero.
• Day 2, Sunday, Dec 22. Varadero and Havana.
• Day 3, Monday, Dec 23. Havana Vieja.
• Day 4, Tuesday, Dec 24. Bus/ taxi to Vinales.
• Day 5, Wednesday, Dec 25. Vinales to Cayo Levisa (on the bike).
• Day 6, Thursday, Dec 26. Cayo Levisa to Terrazas to Pinar del Rio (on the bike).
• Day 7, Friday, Dec 27. Pinar to Cayo Jutia to Vinales (on the bike).
• Day 8, Saturday, Dec 28. Bus to Havana. Havana Vadado.
• Day 9, Sunday, Dec 29. Bus to Cienfuegos. Cienfuegos. 
• Day 10, Monday, Dec 30. "Taxi" to Playa Giron. 
• Day 11, Tuesday, Dec 31. Playa Giron (scuba). Truck/ "taxi" to Trinidad.
• Day 12, Wednesday, Jan 1. Trinidad.
• Day 13, Thursday, Jan 2. Trinidad.
• Day 14, Friday, Jan 3. Trinidad. Bus to Varadero.
• Day 15. Saturday, Jan 4. Flight to Canada.

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