Best things to do in Trinidad
Find out more about those top places in Trinidad
Trinidad is the best-preserved Spanish colonial town in Cuba where little has changed since the mid-1800s. During the 19th century, the town grew fabulously wealthy through sugar plantations in the nearby Valle de los Ingenios with a host of grand colonial mansions springing up across the townscape. Bedecked with the finest European furniture and painted charming pastel colors, Trinidad’s grand mansions are a highlight of any visit to Cuba. What is more, the entire town’s historic center of baroque churches, cobbled streets and atmospheric plazas was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. Today, the town has maintained a relaxed pace of life and is one of the best places in the country to sample the melodic music of guajiros (country folk).
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Museo Histórico Municipal
Located just off the spectacular Plaza Mayor is Trinidad’s Museo Histórico Municipal. Housed in a former colonial-era mansion, the museum houses numerous exhibits detailing how the town rose to prominence through sugar plantations that generally used to slave labor. For the best experience, make sure to climb the tower that provides breathtaking views over the pastel-hued town.
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Topes de Collantes
Within easy striking distance of Trinidad is the rugged terrain of the Topes de Collantes, a protected area within the majestic Sierra del Escambray. Organized tours to this remarkable landscape run daily from Trinidad and take you to some of the area’s star attractions, including Salto del Caburní waterfall with its tranquil pools for swimming.
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Plaza de Santa Ana
Located in the northern reaches of Trinidad’s old town lies the evocative Plaza Santa Ana. For centuries the square was the site of a Spanish prison, which today has been transformed into the beating heart of the town’s cultural scene. The former cells are now home to artists’ studios, galleries and ceramic workshops.
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Plaza Mayor
Right in the center of the old town is the Plaza Mayor. Flanked by imposing colonial-era buildings, including a former baroque church that is now an architecture museum, the square is in many ways Trinidad’s living room and is the perfect place to grab a beer, unwind and people watch.
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Museo Nacional de la Lucha Contra Bandidos
One of Trinidad’s more unusual museums is the Museo Nacional de la Lucha Contra Bandidos, which details how the supporters of the right-wing dictator Fulgencio Batista took to the Sierra del Escambray and fought a vicious guerrilla war against the revolutionaries. The museum focuses on how the local people resisted their campaign of terror and has various artifacts, including weaponry and maps.