Cuba’s fun February festivals include Harleys, Books, Cigars

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On January 26 I fly into Cuba to lead the first-ever all-Cuba exploration by a U.S. motorcycle group.

The “people-to-people” educational exchange trips, offered through Texas-based MotoDiscovery, will immerse participants in one-on-one encounters with Cubans as we explore the island, from Havana to Guantánamo and beyond.

Although we’ll be riding BMW F650s and F800s, among our get-togethers will be meetings with Havana’s harlistas—Cuba’s fanatical Harley-Davidson owners and fans.

See my blog post: “New iPad book about Cuba’s Harlistas”.

Havana to Varadero Ride
Alas, the two trips that I’ll lead (January 26-February 8, and February 14-27) will each miss a heckuva weekend event… the 2nd Annual Havana to Varadero Ride (February 8) by the harlistas. The ride will launch a four-day bash in Varadero that falls exactly between our two trips.

The Circuito Norte (the North Coast Road) will thrum to the roar of antique Harleys and a miscellany of other bikes—mostly Eastern European Jawas, MZs, etc., plus Russian Urals with sidecars, and a sprinkling of Japanese models plus one or two BSAs and perhaps even a Norton or two. Ha!

Cigar Festival...
If motorcycles aren’t your thing, consider the week-long 15th Annual Cigar Festival (Festival de Habanos, February 26-March 2).

This paean to Cuba’s exalted stogies draws cigar aficionados from around the world for an indulgence in fine smokes and rums. It includes tours to the tobacco farms of Pinar del Río, Havana’s Rum Museum, the Museo Ernest Hemingway, visits to cigar factories of course, and the legendary final night’s gala banquet.

Book Festival...
Meanwhile, bookworms may get their literary kicks at the 22nd International Book Festival (Feria del Libro, February 14-24), centered on Havana but also with regional events nationwide. The core events take place in the Fortaleza de San Carlos de la Cabaña—the huge fortress looming over Havana’s harbor channel.

For complete information on Cuba, including how to travel there, buy my Moon Handbook Cuba—the most comprehensive, information-packed, traveler-friendly, and unbiased guidebook in print.

For further information on Havana, buy Moon Spotlight Havana.

Disclosure: I occasionally accept free or discounted travel when it coincides with my editorial goals. However, my opinion is never for sale. The opinions you see in Cuba & Costa Rica Journal are my unbiased reflection of the good, the bad, and the ugly.

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