A beautifully preserved 16th-century colonial town on Cuba's south coast, with cobblestone streets, pastel-colored houses and the Plaza Mayor at its heart, like an open-air museum, surrounded by mountains and nearby dream beaches.
I visited Trinidad on a guided 2-day tour with Gaviota ($200 per person including transport, tours and meals). Cheaper, but without stopovers, is a shared taxi (colectivo) for around $35 per person and about 4 hours' drive. My tour started at 5:30am with pickup at the hotel, went via the Che Guevara Memorial in Santa Clara and a lunch stop at Restaurante Marinero in Cienfuegos before reaching Trinidad, with an overnight stay in Topes de Collantes and a guided hike on the second day.
An overnight stay in Topes de Collantes, right in the middle of nature, but unfortunately with outdated, worn facilities that didn't match the price.
It was fine for one night on a tour, if you're planning your own trip you'll find plenty of casas particulares in restored colonial houses in Trinidad's old town, often with a courtyard, which is what I'd choose next time.
About 12 kilometers from Trinidad, the nearest beach with fine, white sand and calm water, a lovely contrast to the bustle of the colonial town.
Here I tried the traditional drink of the same name, made from rum, honey and lime, atmospheric with a live band, but very touristy and, taste-wise, rather watery for my liking.
More relaxed here, ideal for a coffee or small snack any time of day.
On the way to Trinidad I had lunch here.
A walk through the narrow, colorful streets and the Plaza Mayor is a must.
With a statue, mausoleum and museum, though on my tour it was almost entirely in Spanish and with little historical context.
In the Pearl of the South, it's worth a look inside this magnificent theater on Parque José Martí.
On the second day there was a guided hike: an old Russian sedan took us to the starting point, then it went past rivers and waterfalls to the swimming spot El Venao (cold water, slippery entry, water shoes recommended) and over a rope bridge to a restaurant for lunch.
Honestly, next time I'd rather explore Trinidad and the surrounding area on my own, which would also leave time for the Valle de los Ingenios, which I missed this time.