Where to Stay

Time seems to have stopped in Trinidad, as anyone arriving here will immediately feel. This first impression may deepen if the visitor decides to stay and discover the secrets of the ancient village.

If you are looking for lodging in this city, consider the Hotel Las Cuevas, set in an elevated area where caverns abound. Ayala, the country's largest underground discotheque, operates in one of these caverns. The hotel has been a visitor favorite since it was built in the late 1950s. Its cottages have all the comforts of a three-star establishment. There are restaurants, bars, a swimming pool, a game hall, and excursions to neighboring cities such as Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus and Santa Clara. Also in Trinidad, close to Plaza de Carrillo, you'll find La Ronda, a small and pleasant hotel, preferred by travelers for years. For a fascinating experience, try a hostal particular in the historic center of the city. Your kind and obliging Trinidadian hosts will do everything to make your days special. Around Plaza Mayor, you'll find Lídice Zerquera, María Antonieta Cadalso, Mercedes Cano, Leonardo Reyes and Carlos Joaquín Zerquera, all offering accommodations in houses that are jewels of colonial architecture. Most of these retain their original features, including grates, big doors, large halls with fresh breezes, and, of course, courtyards with plants.

A few kilometers from Trinidad lie the south coast beaches along the Ancón peninsula. The Hotel Ancón sits on its namesake beach. There is also the Hotel Costasur on María Aguilar beach. These tourist centers have numerous advantages: restaurants, cafeterias, pools and water sports, and it is easy to rent bicycles and automobiles to drive from here into Trinidad.

Visitors can also find lodging in Topes de Collantes in the Sierra del Escambray. On the way to this mountainous spot, you will pass Finca Ma' Dolores, an amusement park also known as the Casa del Campesino or the Peasant's House. Here you'll feel like an authentic Cuban guajiro with the horseback rides, river excursions, cow milking, gamecock fights, music and local foods. The Kurthotel Escambray sits 800 meters above sea level. This huge complex includes a healthcare center and retreat. It offers several programs for the treatment of diseases such as stress, respiratory illness and cardiac problems. Also in Topes de Collantes, there are the Hotel Gaviota Los Helechos. These two buildings are located in a diverse natural setting where Cuba's national flower, the mariposa blanca or 'white butterfly', prevails. Along with rest, these hotels also offer excursions to nearby places where it is possible to appreciate the sierra's great variety of flora and fauna.

El Taje game preserve lies close the colonial city and offers special options, including lodging, for those who like to hunt. Trinidad is 70 kilometers from Sancti Spíritus, the capital of the province. Like Trinidad, this city is one of the original seven towns founded in Cuba. It has several colonial buildings and many interesting sites. Find lodging at Villa Los Laureles, Rancho Hatuey, Hotel Plaza downtown and Hotel Zaza, which is away from the city by the country's largest dam, an ideal place for hunting and fishing.