WHERE  
 
Sitting close to the mountains of the Sierra del Escambray, Trinidad and the near Valle de los Ingenios, World Heritage by UNESCO in 1988. Trinidad is the town in Cuba that has preserved the majority of its colonoal buildings; stones-paved roads and no car trafic give this town a very paricular atmosphere. Stay here for a few days to enjoy the relaxed but lively atmosphere; it will seems like travelling bck in time. Trinidad is avery small town centered around Plaza Mayor, where many streets start from; you can start form the Plaza, exploring all these small streets and then go back to the Plaza again.
  
     
 
TO VISIT
  
 

Plaza Mayor is a typical colonial-style square, with gardens in the centre, church and administration buildings on the side; the church of Santisima Trinidad, built in 1892, was to replace the original church built by the Spanish when they founded the town. The Christ's cross in the church, dates back to 1713. Right on the Plaza are also the il Museo Romantico - with a collection of colonial furniture and porcelain, the Museo de Arqueologia and the Museo de Arquitectura.

 
 
 
The most beautiful museum is the Museo Historico Municipal, in Calle Bolivar: old mansion of a rich sugar cane farmer is home to many historical remains found in the region. A good walk is the one that leads to the church Eremita de Nuestra Senora de la Candelaria de la Popa; the church itself is abandoned and the door has been walled, but it sits aop of a small hill with a marvelous view of all Trinidad and its sea. At the Casa Templo de Santeria Yemayà you can watch Santeria altars, and Santeros waiting for forecasting future to tourists.
 
     
 

AROUND TRINIDAD

 
 
Valle de los Ingenios
On the road to Sancti Spiritus there is a valley spotted with remains of the sugar-refineries - ingenios - dating back to the 1800s, when Trinidad was one of the major producing sites of sugar; many of them where destroyed or damaged during the independence war. Some farms - haciendas - are still well preserved, like the Manaca Iznaga, of Pedro Iznaga, a rich slaves-trader in mid 1700, and the Casa Guachichango of Don Mariano Borrel; very interesting is the visit to his house, the Sitio Guaimaro. There is also a beautiful view atop of a 192m tall mirador, the Mirador de la Loma del Puerto.
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Playa Ancon e Cayo Blanco
10 km from Trinidad is the beautiful beach of Playa Ancon; it is the icon of caribbean white beaches: 4km of white sands, palm trees and a wonderful sea. It's a pity that the Hotel Ancon - a soviet-style square structure - is there to ruin the view, but its presence is not so "intrusive". From the Marina on the back of the hotel, daily boat excursions can take you to the small Cayos nearby, inclusive of lunch and snorkeling gear.
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Topes de Collantes
On the Escambray Mountains near Trinidad there is a spa resort built by Batista in the 40s; today it's home to hotel and spa, with beautiful mountain walks that will disclose all the fauna of this region: pines, vineyards, and coffee plantations. In the area watch for the Batata, a cave with an underground river, the Parque la Represa and the Salto de Coburnì, where you can swim in natural pools surrounded by vegetation.
 
 

 

  
  HISTORY  
 
Founded in 1514 by Diego Velasquez, the Villa de la Santisima Trinidad was the third settlement founded in Cuba by the Spanish. The gold reserves in its area vanished very soon and a period af abandon followed, when the town was mainly a base for pirates and buccaneers. In the beginning of the XIX century Trinidad became the capital of the Provincia Central and was a trading point for slaves coming from Haiti and Jamaica; in this period a large number of sugar-cane farms were created, that formed the base for the town's economy for many years.
 
 
The beautiful churches and colonial buildings date back to this reach period in Trinidad's life. Independence War brought destruction to plantations and industrial activities moved to Cienfuegos and Matanzas. In 1965 the Cuban Government declared Trinidad National Monument and, in 1988, UNESCO declared the whole area World's Heritage, boosting tourism, main industry of Trinidad nowadays.
 
 
 

 

  
  MAIN EVENTS  
 

The Fiesta Sanjuaneras is a sort of carnival that lasts 3 days, during the last weekend in June; it is the occasion for many farmers to ride a horse being drunk in the town's streets, sa well as during New Year's eve.

 
 

 

  
  NIGHT OUT  
 

Cubans musicians playing popular songs - and also some tourists - can be found at the Casa de la Trueba - Calle Echerri 29; folk dances are performed at the Ruinas del Teatro Bonet - Calle Maceo 461, while the close Casa de la Musica - Calle Juan Manuel Marques - is a old roof-less house which has been converted into a very fascinating disco, with salseros playing live music.

A wonderful disco is the Ayala, better known as Las Cuevas; you will dance in a cave between stalactites and stalagmites. The entry is at the Hotel Las Cuevas, on the hill overlooking the town. The bar in the Casa de los Mauri is on atop the stairs next to the Plaza Mayor; cool coqueteles and live bands, very relaxing. The Canchachara bar - Calle Ruben Martinez - serves cocquetel to tourists, usually dancing at the sound of live bands playing nearby; the Daiquiri Bar - Calle Lino Perz 313- is a meeting point for back-packers.

 
 

 

  
  EAT OUT  
 

There is a good choice of Paladares, but also many state-run restaurants, due to the large number of tourists visiting this small town; at least one dinner should be consumed at the house where you're staying to enjoy Cuban's hospitality.

 
 

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SOL Y SON - Calle Bolivar 283 - 8/12 USD
ESTELA - Calle Bolivar 557 - 8/13 USD
LA CORUNA - Calle Martì 428 - 7/11 USD
PALADAR X - Calle Gustavo Izquierdo - 6/10 USD Ristoranti Statali
EL COLONIAL - Calle Maceo 402 - economico e di buon livello
EL JUIGUE - Calle Ruben Martinez Villana 69 - medio
MESON DEL REGIDOR - Calle Bolivar 424 - fascinoso con prezzi medi
PLAZA MAYOR - Calle Ruben Martinez Villena - medio/alto
DON ANTONIO - Calle Gustavo Izquierdo 118 - medio

  
 
 

 

  
  WHERE TO SLEEP  
 

The best way - and the most flexible and cheap - to enjoy the real Trinidad and its atmosphere is to rent a house, a Casa Particular, a fully licensed house for tourist rental - similar to Bed & Breakfast - offering night stay at very competitive prices. You can choose a house shared with the Cuban family or full privacy option. Use our search-engine or search by map-locator to find a house in Trinidad that better satisfies your needs: browse our directory of casas!