Trinidad is Cuba’s museum city’ and the third of the seven towns founded by Diego Velázquez on the island (1514). The original splendour of Trinidad can clearly be seen in its magnificent residences and small, beautifully-preserved palaces, distinctly influenced by the Baroque and neo classical styles, as well as its ornately deco rated balconies, stunning main doors and tiles of an unusual red colour. Thanks to its treasures of historical heritage, Trinidad and the nearby Valle de Los Ingenios were both declared World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1988. On the outskirts of the town, which barely covers an area of 3 km, are places of major tourist, historical and cultural interest. These include Cayo Blanco, Playa Maria Aguilar, Topes de Collantes, the Valle de San Luis and the Los Ingenios, the Torre Manaca-Iznaga, and a little further away the city of Sancti Spiritus, the provincial capital.
How to get there:
The main route of access is by road through the cities of Cienfuegos (83 km), Santa Clara (88 km) and Sancti Spiritus (67 km). The city has an airport that can receive small and medium-sized aircraft. Pleasure cruisers and other vessels can dock at Casilda port.
Sun and sand:
Visitors to the Peninsula de Ancón, which is only a few minutes from the city centre and where the main hotel development in this tourist region is centred, enjoy a bathing area that stretches for over four kilometres at Ancón and Maria Aguilar beaches. Under their warm, shallow waters lies an unusual seabed with a lush world of different corals, gorgonians, sea derricks, sponges, small tropical reef fish and different species of turtle.
City:
The paved streets with their peaceful atmosphere invite visitors to wander through this vast open-air museum known as Trinidad. Any trip must begin in Plaza Mayor, the main square, where a group of buildings reveal, in their age-old splendour, a well-preserved example of the Creole- Baroque style. The small squares of Real del Jigue — where the first Catholic mass was said and which today is home to one of the town’s most symbolic venues, La Canchánchara tavern— and Segarte, as well as Plaza de Santa and Plaza de Las Tres Cruces, are all places not to be missed in this attractive city with over a hundred places of interest to tourists and a wealth of heritage.
No less exciting is a visit to the city of Sancti Spiritus, another of the first towns founded by the Spanish conquistadors on the Island (1512). Its historical centre, which was declared a National Monument, and the famous bridge over the Rio Yayabo are both worth a close look.
Culture:
The celebration of the carnival festivities (June) and the now traditional Jornada de La Cultura Trinitaria )day of Trinidad culture, held in November) are both excellent opportunities to join in the rich culture of Trinidad, featuring the traditional Trova (ballad), Trinidad songs, country folklore and Afro-Cuban shows. Trinidad also has an extensive and interesting selection of museums.
Nature:
A distance of barely 16 km separates Trinidad from Topes de Collantes, the vast nature reserve of outstanding natural beauty and major scientific value, which offers exceptional conditions for nature and adventure tourism, On the outskirts of the city, the Ma Dolores property, in the midst of cozy natural surroundings that serve as the backdrop for a magnificent show of country folklore, and EL Cubano plantation, on the banks of the river Guarabo, provide other opportunities for recreation. A little further away, Alturas de Banao is also an ideal way to enjoy contact with nature in the centre of the island.
Active tourism:
All visitors must be sure not to miss the excellent views afforded by the Valle de San Luis or the Valle de Los Ingenios which can be seen from above Manaca-Iznaga bell-tower, or the natural vantage points of Loma del Puerto and Cerro de La Vigia. At the Valle de Los Ingenios it is possible to take a trip to this heritage site in a train pulled by an old steam engine.
The more intrepid traveler may wish to tour part of the mountainous massif of Escambray; in a four-wheel drive jeep. Going on walks and bathing in natural pools and waterfalls can be as exciting as taking part in a trek, or going on a sea-safari in a catamaran to the Blanco and Machos de Afuera keys, where visitors can enjoy snorkelling and diving.
Other options available include a mad adventure at El Cubano park; following the Route of the Spanish Conquistadors going back up the river Guayabo; or spending a day hunting and fishing at Laguna del Taje or Zaza dam, In the coastal area of the Peninsula de Ancón visitors can enjoy diving, yachting and other motorized or non motorized water sports.
Health tourism:
Programmes for improving quality of life, treatments to combat stress, bal neotherapy, physical culture, ozone, traditional medicine, gym, massages and specialist medical care are on offer at the Kurhotel Escambray, situated 800 m above sea level in Topes de Collantes Nature Reserve.
Leisure and restaurants:
Trinidad offers a wide selection of restaurants quite apart from the hotels, while all of the hotels provide daytime and evening entertainment. Visitors will be sure to enjoy Casa de Artex and Casa de La Trova; the underground club run by Horizontes Las Cuevas hotel and the service complex situated in the old Royal Jail.