> Cuba > Trinidad
Overview
One of the most visited towns in Cuba, Trinidad maintains a charming colonial atmosphere with its uneven cobbled streets, quiet plazas and old Spanish missionary churches. Bicycles and horse-drawn carts bump along streets lined with somewhat pastel-coloured houses worn with age, while the strains of salsa music drift out from cool courtyards where the intricate steps of the dance are practised.
Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, Trinidad has largely escaped the modern tourist infrastructure and doesn't have the large hotels usually accorded to a popular destination, allowing it to retain its welcoming and tranquil atmosphere.
Surrounded by sugarcane plantations and situated between the Topes de Collantes Mountains and the Caribbean Sea, Trinidad's location also provides easy access to the beach, the mountains and the beautiful surrounding countryside.
Vestiges from the 18th and 19th centuries in the Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills) testify to a time of immense prosperity for landed Cubans, who gathered immense wealth during the sugarcane boom under slavery and colonial rule. It was after the abolishment of slavery that the boom ended and the area drifted into picturesque tranquillity.
Climate
Trinidad has a moderate subtropical climate with two seasons. The dry season runs from November to April, and the humid season lasts from May to October. The best time to visit is during the tourism high season, which takes place in the dry months between December and April, when the average high is 84F (29C). Peak hurricane season runs from May to October.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain (cm) | 64 | 69 | 46 | 53 | 99 | 183 | 107 | 99 | 145 | 180 | 89 | 58 |
| Rain (inches) | 2.5 | 2.7 | 1.8 | 2 | 3.8 | 7.2 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 5.7 | 7 | 3.5 | 2.2 |
| Average Temperature (°C) | 19 | 21 | 21.5 | 22.5 | 24,5 | 26 | 26 | 26.5 | 25.5 | 24 | 22.5 | 20.5 |
| Min Temperature (°C) | 14 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 20 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 20 | 18 | 16 |
| Max Temperature (°C) | 24 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 25 |
| Average Temperature (°F) | 68.5 | 69 | 70.5 | 73 | 76.5 | 78.5 | 78.5 | 79 | 78 | 75.5 | 72 | 69 |
| Min Temperature (°F) | 58 | 60 | 61 | 63 | 68 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 71 | 68 | 64 | 61 |
| Max Temperature (°F) | 79 | 78 | 80 | 83 | 85 | 86 | 86 | 87 | 85 | 83 | 80 | 77 |
Getting Around
Trinidad is relatively easy to negotiate on foot as most attractions are in the historic hub, centred around the Plaza Mayor. It is a charming and generally safe town for pedestrians and getting around on foot somehow suits the ponderous pace of life in Trinidad.
Playa Ancon's beaches are serviced by minibuses, usually from about 8am until dusk, running along Maceo. Taxis are available, as are car rental agencies, though streets can be somewhat labyrinthine and are known by different names, which can make driving confusing. Travellers won't struggle to hire a horse-drawn wagon either, should the urge strike them.
A novel way to explore is on the vintage steam train, whiich dates back to 1907 and travels to Valle de los Ingenios. It generally leaves Trinidad at about 9.30am and returns at 2pm. There are also popular horseback tours of the valley, and many people get around the area on bicycles. Ultimately, it's a small and friendly place and exceedingly easy to get around.
Sightseeing
Sightseeing
A holiday in Trinidad provides an enchanting taste of traditional Cuba. The centre of Trinidad is a living colonial museum where visitors can enjoy evenings of salsa performances in the central square, and where bars serve up delicious mojitos. Attractions include the largest church in Cuba, Iglesia Parroquial de la Santisima. An extraordinary white interior makes the church feel light, cool and vast. So much of Trinidad's charm is owed to its well-preserved colonial architecture. The Museo Historico Municipal, Trinidad Architecture Museum and the Museo Romantico are all stunning examples of mansions that have been turned into museums. They house collections composed largely of the private belongings and art of the wealthy and influential families that once lived in them. Both are on the Plaza Mayor, the old town square.
Trinidad is also remarkably well situated for excursions out into the countryside. It is just a few minutes' drive from one of Cuba's loveliest beaches, Ancon, and the Embalse Hanabanilla lake and waterfalls, which are immensely popular with hikers and cyclists. Also nearby is the beautiful and historically absorbing Valle de los Ingenios, while it hardly takes any time to reach the nearby city of Sancti Spiritus, a continuation of the rustic colonial glory of Trinidad.
The best time to travel to Trinidad is during the cool, dry months between December and April, which is high season for tourism in Cuba. The weather is sweltering, humid and wet for the rest of the year.