Trinidad, Cuba
Trinidad is Cuba’s best preserved colonial city, a unique mix of 1850’s architecture & 1950’s cars that feels frozen inward time. Check out some of my favorite things to exercise inward Trinidad.
Trinidad was i of the kickoff Cuban towns founded past times the Spanish, in addition to it chop-chop grew wealthy from the production of saccharide cane, cattle, in addition to tobacco due to the importation of African slaves.
The town’s wealth funded extravagant palaces, large plazas, in addition to colorful colonial homes for rich plantation owners.
Much of this colonial architecture remains, making it i of the best-preserved historic towns inward North America, in addition to it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Trinidad has larn i of the most pop Cuban cities for travelers to visit, exterior of Havana of course!
You tin walk cobblestone streets, hear to alive music inward the plaza, cool off amongst fresh saccharide cane juice, hop into a horse-drawn carriage, chat amongst locals, or see fascinating colonial museums spread almost town.
Things To Do In Trinidad
Enjoying The Cuban Vibe
Anna in addition to I spent 2 days exploring Trinidad amongst our friends Hannah & Adam from Getting Stamped. Honestly it didn’t experience similar nosotros were inward town long enough, there’s a lot to see, in addition to Trinidad is bigger than I thought.
It’s for sure a tourist town though — but fifty-fifty amongst other travelers around, Trinidad doesn’t lose its charm.
Trinidad is a identify where novel mixes amongst old to exercise a jumble of sights, sounds, in addition to smells.
The metropolis has a slap-up laid-back Cuban vibe — I highly recommend getting away from the principal foursquare to explore, losing yourself on the fascinating dorsum streets & alleys.
Hang Out In Plaza Mayor
Plaza Mayor is the pump of Trinidad, a large plaza comprised of raised gardens, walkways, in addition to cobblestoned streets. Historic buildings from the 18th & 19th centuries nonetheless environs the plaza.
Many are painted inward pastel colors, topped amongst cherry terra cotta roofs.
The plaza was built dorsum when the part was rich from saccharide plantation wealth. Yet you’ll nonetheless detect the same churches in addition to mansions previously owned past times saccharide barons — restored in addition to transformed into museums.
Grab a topographic point on i of the cast-iron benches, bask the gardens, in addition to hear to salsa music emanating from the buildings nearby. However because it’s the principal tourist area, live wary of local touts trying to sell yous stuff.
Climb The Bell Tower
You’ll notice Convento de San Francisco correct away, every bit yous tin come across the brilliant yellowish bell tower from most parts of town. It’s the most prominent landmark, in addition to a pop postcard photo.
A erstwhile convent, it’s straightaway a museum amongst artifacts from the revolution.
The climb upwards to the give of the tower is worth the view, in addition to the museum is interesting too. They receive got some armored vehicles in addition to materials from the U.S. of A. invasion.
Visit Historical Museums
The Museo de Arquitectura is located inward a 18th century mansion formerly owned past times Sanchez Iznaga. Inside you’ll larn a glimpse of what these large homes looked like, every bit good every bit a 19th-century mode bathroom.
Palacio Cantero is some other erstwhile mansion, straightaway the Municipal Museum. The principal attraction is magnificent views of the metropolis offered past times its tower.
Palacio Brunet was i time the abode of the wealthy saccharide baron Conde de Brunet, today it houses Museo Romantico, showcasing luxurious items belonging to the family. Like a 1.5 ton marble bathtub!
Sample The Cuban Food
Cuban nutrient often gets a bad rap. While I didn’t heed it in addition to thus much, it’s definitely non every bit spicy & flavorful every bit Mexican cuisine. Lots of rice, beans, yuca, in addition to meat on the bland side.
You tin purchase basic meals at restaurants inward Trinidad for betwixt $5-10.
While yous mightiness non write abode almost the food, Republic of Cuba excels inward coffee, rum drinks, in addition to saccharide cane juice. Make sure to see the La Canchánchara mansion for their special cocktail made of rum, honey, lemon, in addition to water.
Playa Ancon Beach
Playa Ancon is a beautiful white-sand beach solely vi miles away from Trinidad. For solely $5-10 CUC yous tin grab a vintage taxi in addition to pass the afternoon there.
For the to a greater extent than adventurous, rent a bike pedal over on your own, which takes almost an hour. Cuba’s beaches aren’t really crowded, in addition to the turquoise H2O is crystal clear.
Grab an icy cocktail in addition to larn some sun, or if you’re a scuba diver, there’s a dive store at Playa Ancon from Marina Blanca, straight across the route from Hotel Ancon.
Wander The Streets
Trinidad has an older “city center” expanse simply about Plaza Mayor where most of the historic buildings in addition to attractions are located. It’s a pedestrian walking area, no cars are allowed. Most tourists tend to stick simply about Plaza Mayor.
But taking a long walk downward some of Trinidad’s side streets until yous larn completely lost is i of my favorite things to do. You’ll larn a glimpse of what life inward Trinidad really looks like.
Locals often get together on doorsteps in addition to street curbs, hiding from the relentless sun. You may come across games of dominoes, deep conversations, plane cages hanging from porches. Don’t live afraid to state hullo — in addition to inquire some questions too. Most people volition live happy to chat!
Dance To Traditional Music
Every black simply about 7pm locals in addition to tourists alike volition trip the lite fantastic toe salsa at the open-air Casa de Musica. Order a cocktail in addition to sit down downward to spotter from the broad rock staircase every bit the Sun sets, soaking upwards the atmosphere.
The steps are i of Trinidad’s few world wifi hotspots, in addition to thus you’ll come across plenty of people on their smartphones for a quick Facebook or Instagram fix.
Music is a large purpose of Cuban life, particularly inward Trinidad. Musicians pose upwards on street corners, world parks, or within restaurants. There’s fifty-fifty a cool nightclub called Disco Ayala that pose within a natural cave!
Go Horseback Riding
When Anna in addition to I wanted to go out horseback riding, nosotros simply asked the kickoff guy nosotros came across. “No problem!” he said. His friend owns horses in addition to tin receive got us into the mountains for a few hours.
Cuban cowboys were oft riding their horses downward Trinidad’s streets, in addition to thus nosotros knew it wouldn’t live difficult.
Jesus, our guide, led us out of town past times Cuban tobacco farms in addition to upwards into the dry out hills behind Trinidad. We made our means through a forest, eventually arriving at a swimming hole to cool off from the day’s heat.
Topes De Collantes National Park
The Sierra del Escambray mountains are Cuba’s sec largest mount range. It was hither some CIA sponsored anti-Castro “bandits” hid inward the mountains in addition to fought to attempt in addition to receive got dorsum the novel socialist government.
The Escambrays are abode to Topes De Collantes National Park, a beautiful nature reserve where yous tin go out hiking, horseback riding, see numerous waterfalls, or relax amongst a scenic picnic.
The drive into the mountains is pretty steep, but nosotros nonetheless managed amongst our rental car. After stopping at the visitor’s center, nosotros hiked to a stunning bluish waterfall & swimming hole called Vegas Grandes. The hike took 2 hours circular trip.
Valle De Los Ingenios
Trinidad was i of the most prosperous cities inward Republic of Cuba due to enormous saccharide production inward the nearby Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills) which nonetheless has some working saccharide mills/fields.
The part i time housed 50 saccharide mills in addition to 30,000 slaves to operate the fields. During the 18th in addition to 19th centuries this valley was the saccharide producing working capital missive of the alphabet of the world.
Don’t missy the Manaca Iznaga Plantation if yous see the valley, where yous tin come across the remains of the plantation’s principal house, a huge tower, in addition to the old slave quarters. You tin fifty-fifty ride a classic steam educate into the valley from Trinidad.
Getting To Trinidad
Trinidad is located inward South Central Cuba, a 5-hour drive from Havana past times car. With our rental car, nosotros took a longer route through Playa Giron, a dainty means to intermission upwards the trip in addition to go out scuba diving at the famous Bay Of Pigs.
By bus, it’s a vii hr trip from Havana in addition to costs $25 USD/CUC. The Viazul Bus lastly inward Havana is located at the corner of Avenida 26 in addition to Avenida Zoologico. You often receive got to purchase tickets at the station i hateful solar daytime inward advance.
You tin rent your ain vintage 1950’s taxi (with driver) for almost $100-$120 per day, or part a taxi amongst other travelers in addition to split upwards the cost. Just go out along inward heed these old cars intermission downward from fourth dimension to time.
Where To Stay In Trinidad
We based ourselves inward Trinidad Republic of Cuba for 2 nights at Hostal Vidal, located across from the motorbus station (there’s no website). Here are some other recommendaitons for places to remain inward Trinidad:
Hostal Dona Antonia
Excellent casa particular (homestay) run past times a really dainty Cuban family. Comfortable beds, goodness breakfast, in addition to AC.
Check prices: Booking.com
Read reviews: TripAdvisor.com
Iberostar Grand Hotel
Trinidad’s nicest luxury hotel. Caters to adults only. Beautiful classic building. Extensive breakfast included.
Check prices: Booking.com
Read reviews: TripAdvisor.com
Tips For Visiting Trinidad
Because Trinidad is purpose of Cuba’s tourist trail, yous won’t live able to escape the Jineteros, or hustlers. While they aren’t nearly every bit bad every bit they are inward Havana, they’re around.
Everyone in addition to their grandmother is trying to sell yous something. Taxi rides, cigars, casas particulares, bicycles for rent, or they desire to demonstrate yous a slap-up eatery their cousin owns.
Don’t lose your cool. Be nice, but firm, in addition to state no thanks. You actually can’t blame them for trying — Cubans don’t receive got many options for earning extra coin — their regime salary is almost $30 per MONTH.
Independent locomote inward Cuba is raw, challenging, in addition to refreshing, but the hustlers tin live annoying sometimes too.
Cuba’s Colonial City
Trinidad is i metropolis yous shouldn’t missy traveling inward Cuba. While the isle gets 2-3 1000000 tourists per year, most don’t leave of absence Havana, in addition to there’s in addition to thus much to a greater extent than to come across inward this fascinating country.
The mix of colonial architecture, historical significance, laid-back local vibes, vintage cars, horse-drawn carts, in addition to scenic mountains nearby made Trinidad i of my favorite places to see inward Cuba. ★
Travel Video! 10 Days In Cuba
(Click to spotter 10 Days In Republic of Cuba – Havana, Trinidad, Vinales, in addition to More on YouTube)
Packing Guide
Check out my travel gear guide to assist yous start packing for your trip. Pick upwards a locomote backpack, photographic television set camera gear, in addition to other useful locomote accessories.
Book Your Flight
Find inexpensive flights on Skyscanner. This is my favorite search engine to detect deals on airlines. Also brand sure to read how I detect the cheapest flights.
Rent Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 Car
Discover Car Hire is a slap-up site for comparison machine prices to detect the best deal. They search both local & international rental companies.
Book Accommodation
Booking.com is my favorite hotel search engine. Or rent apartments from locals on Airbnb. Read to a greater extent than almost how I mass inexpensive hotels online.
Protect Your Trip
Don’t forget locomote insurance! I’m a large fan of World Nomads for short-term trips. Protect yourself from possible injury & theft abroad. Read to a greater extent than almost why yous should e'er bear locomote insurance.
Recommended Guidebook: Lonely Planet Cuba
Suggested Reading: The Other Side Of Paradise
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READ MORE FROM CUBA
How To Travel To Republic of Cuba For Americans
Horseback Riding & Tobacco Farms In Vinales
Cuba Travel Guide: Making The Most Of Your Trip
Best Things To Do In Havana
Have whatever questions almost visiting Trinidad? Are yous interested inward traveling to Cuba? Drop me a message inward the comments below!
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