Sail Mexico Cuba Mexico

[Ken and Carol]

For travelers wishing to sail from Mexico to Cuba and return the 'Stahratte' has just posted a trip in April/May 2014. Contact them via their web site or Facebook page for dates and costs. Https://www.stahlratte. de .

Ken & Carol

[Peter Bodtke]

This the once a year trip that Captain Ludwig offers, so plan accordingly.
The overall itinerary is actually: Columbia-->Jamaica-->Cuba-->Mexico-->Panama
I got on the boat in Colombia, saw Jamaica and Cuba, then got off in Cancun, MX. You don't have to sail from Mexico to Panama, but I know riders that did. Its a five day sail from Colombia to Jamaica and the first two days benefit from strong winds north of South America. The downside, big waves and resulting sea sickness for some. I highly recommend motion sickness pills. No problems for me, but others has challenges the first day or two.I first took the Stalhratte from Panama to Colombia and had a great time, so I went for the Caribbean sail.For details visit caribic_tours_en

[Peter Bodtke]

Captain Ludwig of the Stalhratte posted the following on Facebook:

MEXICO-CUBA-MEXICO 2014

You want to visit Cuba with your motorbike?
We bring you over there from Mexico starting April 3rd.

Roundtrip 2500$
(Including transport for you and your bike, imigration works, food, water, juices, tee, coffee)

Leaving Isla Mujeres/Mexico 03.apr
Arriving Cienfuegos/Cuba 07.apr

Leaving Cienfuegos/Cuba 23.may
Arriving Isla Mujeres/Mexico 25.may

That gives you 6 weeks to explore Cuba!!!

For more please contact
info.steelrat@les-raisting.de
CHECK YOUR SPAM FOLDER IF YOU DON'T GET AN ANSWER !!!

[Peter Bodtke]

I just heard from the Stalhratte and learned the length of the trip and resulting time in Cuba has changed. The period in Cuba is now 3 weeks (20 days), reduced from 6 weeks.

leaving Isla Mujeres/Mexico 30.Apr 2014 arriving Cienfuegos/Cuba 03.May 2014
leaving Cienfuegos/Cuba 23.May 2014 arriving Isla Mujeres/Mexico 27.May 2014

Personally, I feel 3 weeks in Cuba is the right amount of time to fully explore the island. Given the current challenges getting a motorcycle to Cuba, the Stalhratte's new service from Isla Mujeres (an island off the shore of Cancun, Mexico) is a unique offer that is hard to match.

[Throttlemeister]

Cuba is starting to get popular on bikes

I wouldn't mind spending 6 weeks on island, would prefer to be able to have my Garmin with me again, makes getting around in the back country so much easier.

[Peter Bodtke]

Originally Posted by Throttlemeister

...would prefer to be able to have my Garmin with me again, makes getting around in the back country so much easier.

When we entered Cuba by boat customs had us list our laptops and GPS devices. They photographed each GPS, wrapped them in a plastic bag and left them with the captain. The devices were probably checked by customs as we left the country, but I don't know for sure. If you decide to sneak a GPS into Cuba, don't mount it on the bike! Be prepared to be stopped roughly once a day to have your documents checked.

Its very strange, Open Street Maps has very detailed maps of Cuba, but taking a device into the country is prohibited. Obviously there are people that have devices in Cuba and have recorded many of the roads.

The only countrywide maps I found in Cuba are in tourist map books. The country is broken down into sections and the detail outside of Havana is high-level at best. Havana is represented in several sections, which makes piecing together and understanding the outskirts of the city very difficult. Forget using Google Maps, et al, while in Cuba. Internet access is extremely slow, expensive and generally not available. I highly recommend trying to find robust maps before arriving, if available.

Last thing, there are more political signs in Cuba then road signs. Some major intersection have poor or non-existent signage. The on ramp to the major highway north of Santiago de Cuba that heads to Havana has no signage, none. I took a guess that it was road I needed.

[markharf]

I thought signage was fine, even outstanding in a lot of cases. I was prepared for a lot more blundering around than turned out necessary. And I can't recall any document checks at all in my week and a half, but maybe I've forgotten one or two. Certainly not once a day.

Internet was a bit of a pain, but not that bad. I'm not a Googlemaps fan under the best of circumstances. I agree that best bet is to bring a map with you.

Mr. Throttlemeister has more experience using a hay pay essay in Cuba than anyone else I've heard about.

[Peter Bodtke]

The number of times I had to pull over for a documents check has probably grown in my head more than in fact. The officers were always civil, with a mild undercurrent of suspicion, but isn't that universal with law enforcement? I recall checks always happened on the highways or open road between towns, and I can't remember ever getting stopped in a city. In 27 days, riding nearly the length of the island, over 1,800 miles, I was pulled over no less than 6 times and probably more like 8 or 10.

The pull overs were no big deal. No long delay and I never got hit up for a bribe. After a while I only produced the "driver’s license" document and sometimes threw in the passport. With very interaction, even stopping to ask for directions, the officer gave me a quick salute. A uniquely Cuban custom. I suspect the treatment of tourist changes every few years as the political climate shifts. I rode a F800GS and the headlight lamp is always on. Apparently riding with lights on is either reserved for emergency vehicles or is simply not done. The headlight might have contributed to getting pulled over, but it was never mentioned. People walking down the street would make a hand gesture like a duck quack, to inform me that my light was still on...regardless that I couldn't turn it off. After I figured out why people were quacking at me, I felt it was an indication that Cubans are in some way involved with the enforcement of rules. One day I counted 12 quacks.

There is a lot of good signage, but every now and then nada, when you would expect something. Like much of the emerging world, many of the streets have no name. Damn, now I have the U2 song going through my head...

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Very interesting info on the Cuba ride.

The people gesturing at you because of the daytime headlight is
not something exclusive to Cuba though. It is quite common to receive
that fingers-opening - and- closing " quacking" or pinching-like gesture in Mexico and Central America.
I think the concern for daytime running lights is partly out of frugality, the idea being that running the headlight is not needed to see and it is using electricity in a wasteful manner and driving up your utility / fuel bill.
The same idea must probably be behind all those silly drivers in the USA
who refuse to turn on their headlights until after the sun has set

[Peter Bodtke]

Sept 8, 2013 - I heard from the Stalhratte that the price for passage with motorcycle from Mexico to Cuba and back has been reduced to $1900.00.

[Nttra]

Originally Posted by Peter Bodtke

Sept 8, 2013 - I heard from the Stalhratte that the price for passage with motorcycle from Mexico to Cuba and back has been reduced to $1900.00.

$1900 indeed.
I am trying to figure out my way to this trip, since I am in Mexico now, 1 1/2 months before the stahlratte departs from Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and I want to go from Mexico, to Cuba, and then, instead of going back to Mexico, go to Colombia and from there, to Ushuaia. No rush at all.

Thanks for sharing the info guys! You rock!

[Peter Bodtke]

For anyone else, check with Ludwig and get a price quote, I did for the two times I sailed with the Stalhratte. The website provides a semi complicated pricing formula which is based on days on board the boat. Easier to get a locked in price...

The Stalhratte takes a counter clockwise trip through the Caribbean: Colombia, Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, back to Cuba, back to Mexico, Panama, Colombia...which won't help you. Unless you decide to noodle around Mexico and northern Central America for a month and a half...which you probably don't want to do.

I would recommend pushing on south. Cuba was a unique experience, one that I am glad to have done and won't forget. That said, it's difficult to describe the downside of Cuba without a deep drive into all the political and economic dimensions effecting the culture. My trip there was 27 days, which was more than enough. The special trip Ludwig is offering this year, MX > CUBA > MX means ~20 days in Cuba. From my experience, you'll lose the first, second and last days to paperwork: first getting then surrendering license and license plate, customs, immigrations, etc. If you don't make it to Cuba, you're trip will still be packed with adventure.

Here is a copy of the voyage as schedule now (leaving Colombia shortly!)

leaving Cartagena/Colombia 18.Mar 2014
arriving Jamaica 22.Mar 2014
leaving Jamaica 29.Mar 2014
arriving Santiago de Cuba 30.Mar 2014
leaving Santiago de Cuba 04.Apr 2014
arriving Cienfuegos/Cuba 10.Apr 2014
leaving Cienfuegos/Cuba 25.Apr 2014
arriving Isla Mujeres/Mexico 28.Apr 2014

leaving Isla Mujeres/Mexico 30.Apr 2014
arriving Cienfuegos/Cuba 03.May 2014
leaving Cienfuegos/Cuba 23.May 2014
arriving Isla Mujeres/Mexico 27.May 2014

leaving Isla Mujeres/Mexico 30.May 2014
arriving Isla Providencia 04.Jun 2014
leaving Isla Providencia 10.Jun 2014
arriving San Blas/Panama 13.Jun 2014
leaving San Blas 20.Jun 2014
arriving Cartagena/Colombia 23.Jun 2014

caribic_tours_en

[PaulNomad]

Originally Posted by Nttra

$1900 indeed.
I am trying to figure out my way to this trip, since I am in Mexico now, 1 1/2 months before the stahlratte departs from Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and I want to go from Mexico, to Cuba, and then, instead of going back to Mexico, go to Colombia and from there, to Ushuaia. No rush at all.

Thanks for sharing the info guys! You rock!

Hi Nttra,

Where are you in Mexico? I am in the Copper Canyon and heading to the Pacific coast in a week or so. I'm booked for Cuba so will meet you on the yacht. Eventually I will travel to South America but this is my first time in Central America so want to soak it up.

PN

[Nttra]

Originally Posted by PaulNomad

Hi Nttra,

Where are you in Mexico? I am in the Copper Canyon and heading to the Pacific coast in a week or so. I'm booked for Cuba so will meet you on the yacht. Eventually I will travel to South America but this is my first time in Central America so want to soak it up.

PN

Hey Paul,
I´m in Mexico City. I will be here for a week more or so, since I am taking care of some unfinished business.

The plan is to head up to Oaxaca, stay there for a about a week and from there ride to Tabasco, Campeche and Yucatan, all on Federal Roads (AKA, not highways) and camp near the Cenotes all the way, and arrive to Cancun by April the 28th, to be on time to catch the boat to Cuba.

I will be meeting you there, or if you arrive earlier, we can share the road on the Cenotes route.

-Ed

[PaulNomad]

Sounds good Ed. Not sure where the Cenotes route is but will look it up and see if it where I plan to go. Have to duck into Guatemala for an oil change for the bike!