QUICK GUIDE OF THINGS TO DO IN TRINIDAD, CUBA
Trinidad is a beautiful colonial town and the laneways containing its multi-coloured houses is where life takes place. Locals sit on their steps watching the world go by. Fold-out tables host high-stakes dominoes. Freshly re-conditioned motorcycle engines are lined up ready for sale.
Despite the number of tourists congregating around the more colourful streets, it’s easy to wander away from the main squares and take in a slice of real Trinidad. Here’s a quick guide of our favourite things to do in Trinidad.
DRINK
COCKTAILS & COFFEE
Quirky drinking spaces are very on-trend in Trinidad at the moment. Here are a few options from cool to old-school that provided some of the best liquid things to do in Trinidad.
CAFÉ DON PEPE
Select from over 40 different coffee drinks – both with and without alcohol – in this cool courtyard space. Wake up with their simple breakfast of bread and honey, go to bed on their Kahula Dreams. / Hours: 8:00 – 23:00 Sun-Fri; 10:00 – 23:00 Sat | Location: 363 Calle Boca
CASA DE LA TROVA
Order a beer and pull up a seat under the bright blue façade, watching the activity unfold at the busy market on the square. Munch on the only thing they have on the menu, a ham and cheese sandwich. / Location: 29 Calle Cristo
CAFE FORTUNA
Mercifully too small for package tour groups, Café Fortuna is off the quirkiness scale with bathtubs to sit in, old style TV’s and loads of foreign currency pinned to every inch of wall and ceiling space. Pop in this pint-sized bar for a fun pre-dinner drink. / Location: Calle Rosario
DRINK
COCKTAILS & COFFEE
Quirky drinking spaces are very on-trend in Trinidad at the moment. Here are a few options from cool to old-school that provided some of the best liquid things to do in Trinidad.
CAFÉ DON PEPE
Select from over 40 different coffee drinks – both with and without alcohol – in this cool courtyard space. Wake up with their simple breakfast of bread and honey, go to bed on their Kahula Dreams. / Hours: 8:00 – 23:00 Sun-Fri; 10:00 – 23:00 Sat | Location: 363 Calle Boca
CASA DE LA TROVA
Order a beer and pull up a seat under the bright blue façade, watching the activity unfold at the busy market on the square. Munch on the only thing they have on the menu, a ham and cheese sandwich. / Location: 29 Calle Cristo
CAFE FORTUNA
Mercifully too small for package tour groups, Café Fortuna is off the quirkiness scale with bathtubs to sit in, old style TV’s and loads of foreign currency pinned to every inch of wall and ceiling space. Pop in this pint-sized bar for a fun pre-dinner drink. / Location: Calle Rosario
VISIT
OUT OF TOWN
When you’ve savoured the colourful delights of Trinidad to your satisfaction, head out of town for beautiful natural parks and golden sandy beaches.
TOPES DE COLLANTES
Cool off among waterfalls lined with ferns and banana trees in the beautiful Topes de Collantes nature reserve. There are a number of different areas to explore and a few different ways to do it. Parque el Nicho was our favourite which you can read all about here.
VALLE DE LOS INGENIOS
Unearth Trinidad’s sugar boom from the 18th century with a stroll around the ruins at Valle de Los Ingenios. Climb the Manaca Iznaga Tower for views back to Trinidad. / How: pick up a taxi in town, they’ll take you to 3 stops – allow 2 – 3 hours | Taxi: 40CUC per car | Tours: 1 CUC each
PLAYA ANCÓN
Just 12 kms from Trinidad, Playa Ancón is a long stretch of soft white sand, just made for a relaxing afternoon in the sun. Have lunch at Ranchón Ancón which did a surprisingly good red snapper. / Umbrella & chairs: 2 CUC per person. | Taxi: 10 CUC each way.
VISIT
OUT OF TOWN
When you’ve savoured the colourful delights of Trinidad to your satisfaction, head out of town for beautiful natural parks and golden sandy beaches.
TOPES DE COLLANTES
Cool off among waterfalls lined with ferns and banana trees in the beautiful Topes de Collantes nature reserve. There are a number of different areas to explore and a few different ways to do it. Parque el Nicho was our favourite which you can read all about here.
VALLE DE LOS INGENIOS
Unearth Trinidad’s sugar boom from the 18th century with a stroll around the ruins at Valle de Los Ingenios. Climb the Manaca Iznaga Tower for views back to Trinidad. / How: pick up a taxi in town, they’ll take you to 3 stops – allow 2 – 3 hours | Taxi: 40CUC per car | Tours: 1 CUC each
PLAYA ANCÓN
Just 12 kms from Trinidad, Playa Ancón is a long stretch of soft white sand, just made for a relaxing afternoon in the sun. Have lunch at Ranchón Ancón which did a surprisingly good red snapper. / Umbrella & chairs: 2 CUC per person. | Taxi: 10 CUC each way.
WHERE TO STAY IN TRINIDAD
Trinidad is a popular tourist destination with plenty of accommodation options. Generally in Cuba, it’s best to stay in local casas particulares. Here are some of our picks:
BUDGET / HOSTAL CASA MIA
Good sized rooms, high-quality food, friendly service, good showers and a 12-minute walk to the main square. What’s not to like?
MID-RANGE / CASA DE LA TRINIDAD
Stylish B&B with modern amenities & colonial charm. The friendly host offers an excellent breakfast in a lovely courtyard and its only a couple of minutes walk to the centre of town.
MAP / THINGS TO DO IN TRINIDAD
All the locations in this guide are included on our map so you can hit the ground running in Trinidad. Just click on the star to save this map to your places in Google maps.
TRINIDAD PLAYLIST
Many consider Cuba the birthplace of salsa – a newer version of older, traditional Afro-Cuban rhythms. Others believe it was kick-started in New York city in the 1960’s where Cuban musicians developed the style. In any case, those energetic rhythms ooze from the cobbled lanes of Trinidad.
WHERE TO NEXT?
Firstly, if you found this guide useful, follow us on Instagram to stay up to date with our travel plans.
Secondly, if you are planning to travel around Cuba make sure you read our travel tips for Cuba post as well as our getting around Cuba post. If you are still putting your plans together you might enjoy one of these.
If you have any questions please leave them in the comments section below – we will always reply. To keep up to date with our travels, sign up to our monthly NEWSLETTER.
Sitting in a bathtub? That’s hilarious, but I’d definitely try it! I really fancy a trip to Trinidad. Just the thought of the salsa in the streets, the colourful houses and that delicious food has me reaching for my passport. Thanks for sharing on #farawayfiles
You are welcome. I find sitting in a bathtub with some booze one of the finer things in life. Reach for that passport…
I love this! The layout, the photo’s, the set list! Everything. Great post. And now I’m salsa-ing around my office! #farawayflies
Thanks a lot. We have been playing around with a few different looks. Glad you like it. Keep up the salsa!
Café Fortuna sounds great fun, particularly that is quite small.
I love the idea of the motorcycle engines lined up next to guys playing board games, it just evokes Cuban street life #farawayfiles
It’s amazing how easy it is to get out of tourist zone and onto the back streets. Just two or three hundred meters away and you see a genuine slice of Cuban life.
I’ve wanted to visit Trinidad, Cuba for so long I think it’s got a vibrancy to it from friends that have visited that is authentic and real. The salsaing will be a firm favourite with my crew they do love a good dance #farawayfiles
I also have a fondness for authentic and real. Sadly my salsa dancing days are not only over, but never really began….
My husband and I have talked about traveling to Cuba for years and years, but it looks like we may have missed our window… Hope to get there someday, and If so, I’d very much like to take a dip in that waterfall. Salsa and music in the streets reminds me of New Orleans. A lovely post, thank you for sharing on #farawayfiles
Yes, unfortunately, you may have. But you never know – our world leaders seem to change their mind often. Hope you get there soon, you’ll love the street art in Cuba.
I didn’t make it as far as Trinidad when we visited Cuba, but I can imagine it’s much more enjoyable – and authentic when you get away from the crowds. One day I’d like to go back and visit some of the sights around this area … #FarawayFiles
It’s a good part of the country to visit. The town itself is very pretty and the surrounding natural parks and beaches are well worth visiting.