Cuba Tips for American Travelers — Part 7: Trinidad
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A trip to a foreign country is, to me, only a success if I leave the capital city and get to experience a few different cross-sections of culture, landscape, and architecture. Trinidad is about 4–5 hours by car from Havana and, if you have a couple days, I highly recommend it as a second (or third — we did Viñales as well) option. Below is a brief summary of what we did and where we ate and drank.
Activities
Trinidad is a great town for wandering. It’s small and manageable, so more than a day of that might be too much, but if you want to intersperse a couple slower paced days into your trip, it’s a lovely way to spend some time and there are no shortages of things to photograph as you meander and places to stop for a canchánchara. For some concrete activities, though, we did the following.
Beach day at Playa Ancon — you can buy a day pass at the resorts for around $30, which come with unlimited food and drink, towel service, and beach chairs, plus pool access. No brainer.
Visit a ceramics studio — see masks, vases, sculptures, and more rise off the pottery wheel before your eyes. The one we went to had a 1914 crank motor car in it for good measure.
Climb the bell tower of San Francisco de Asis — particularly beautiful at sunet
Visit the market around the plaza— buy leather sandals, white woven linens, guayabera shirts, cigar boxes, and more
Eating
Los Conspiradores — delicious pastas in a cute patio area…duck inside to see an array of art all strangely based on spunky Bialettis.
La Ceiba — food is mediocre but setting is beautiful, under a giant old tree rising up through the floor (make sure to eat outside, you likely need reservations)
Zelatto — need a break from Cuban food? Crepes and gelatto!
Drinking/Nightlife
Canchánchara — don’t miss it. Order round upon round of Cuba’s best cocktail IMHO, in its signature ceramic pot.
Casa de le Musica — don’t let the word casa fool you — this is an outdoor venue. Some nights there’s awesome salsa, some nights there’s overly touristy, audience-stooge-type spectacles. Avoid the latter. Waiters come around and serve beers in the crowd.
Palenque de Los Congos Reales — go early to get a table. Incredible live Afro-Cuban performances blending live music, traditional dance, and costumes. Two drink minimum.
