Trinidad, Cuba, Overwhelms Havana in a Number of Ways

With Cuba opening up to people all over the world, including the United States, most people immediately think of Havana, a couple of beaches and SCUBA opportunities. This mindset sees the colonial town of Trinidad, sandwiched between the Escambray mountain range and the Caribbean coast, often overlooked.

And here in lies the colonial charm that saw it designated a UNESCO heritage site in 1988, more than 450 years since the town was founded by Diego Velázquez de Cuéller and soon became a major source for Cuba’s sugar cane production.

Once you arrive in Trinidad, you’ll quickly notice how sleepy the little town is, but don’t get fooled — at night things heat up a bit, but that happens at a slow pace. While the vintage cars of Havana do exist, Trinidad has quite the scene and those that own these beautiful vehicles take pride in them.

People don’t generally travel to Cuba for the food and Trinidad is no exception. But you will certainly find paladars, or private homes that serve lunch and dinner inside a colonial home that could equally blow you away or leave you wanting, based on your luck. You meal may blow away the surroundings or vice versa, but regardless you’ll eat and experience life in Trinidad.

When you’ve finished dinner head toward Plaza Mayor, where around 10:30 p.m., the street becomes a surreal dance party of elderly men with cigars and ridiculously beautiful woman that will insist you join them in the impromptu dance of the calle.

Finish the night at Disco Ayala, where in order to get down you’ll need to literally go down into a cave that hosts the city’s best club.