Son of revolutionary leader Che Guevara leads motorcycle tours in Cuba

Cuba

Son of revolutionary leader Che Guevara leads motorcycle tours in Cuba

For many tourists visiting Cuba, one of the attractions is riding around in a classic American car. But it’s not the only way to see the island.

Some prefer the freedom of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and the company of the son of a legendary revolutionary.

CGTN’s Michael Voss reports from Havana.

A convoy of modern American built Harley-Davidson motorbikes is a novel sight on Cuba’s roads with tourists riding through Havana at the start of their island tour.

The man behind the operation and tour leader is Ernesto Guevara. He’s the youngest son of the revolutionary icon Ernesto Che Guevara, whose giant image looks down on Havana’s Revolution Square.

“As a child, I always liked motorbikes, cars and speed. I was able to join up with a friend to turn something we liked into a business. I want people to learn about my country and its culture. So, we imported the motorbikes, and that’s how these tours of Cuba began,” Guevara said.

Ernesto Guevara is a lawyer by training, but he gave that up to run the business along with his wife who handles the bookings and occasionally joins him on the tours. They attract biking enthusiasts from around the world including an increasing number from the United States.

There are two tour options, a six-day or a nine-day Cuba tour. Prices range from around $3,000 and almost $6,000. So far, there’s been no shortage of takers.

Ernesto Guevara’s company is called La Poderosa Tours. It is named after the motorbike his father rode as a young man on his epic journey through South America.

That journey was immortalized in the Oscar award-winning movie The Motorcycle Diaries. Based on his memoirs, it followed the young Che and his friend discovering South America before going on to become a Marxist revolutionary.

Now Che’s son is using his entrepreneurial skills to continue the Guevara motorbike tradition.