Casa Particular / B&B Mercedes Padron Jiménez Manuel Solano (Pimpollo) #7 e/ Francisco Javier Zerquera (Rosario) y Patricio Lumumba (Canada) Trinidad Sancti Spiritus Tel. +53 (41) 99 30 68 Price: 25-30 CUC (depending of the season) Note: Few meters from Casa de Nancy in the downtown of Trinidad, Mercedes rents two rooms. Both rooms have air conditioning, fan and mini-bar. Each one has a bathroom with hot and cold water. Room No.1 has two single beds. Room No.2 has a double and a single bed. Guests may enjoy a backyard and a terrace adorned with plants, chairs and armchairs. Mercedes is an experienced hostess, very kind with a very good cuisine. Guests will always talk positive about her rich breakfast. Reservation: by phone or also by e-Mail Betty y Wilber Clemente Pereira (Cruz Verde) #93A e/ Simón Bolivar (Desengaño) y Fidel Claro (Callejón de las Angarillas) Trinidad Sancti Spiritus Handy (+53) 54 08 21 28 / (+53) 54 14 97 16 Price: 25-30 CUC (depende de la temporada) Note: Recently a very charming couple, Betty and Wilber, rent a room (in the second floor of their house) with bathroom (hot/cold water) and a terrace. This room has a single and a double bed. Big windows allow for fresh air and sunlight. There are also a silent and modern air conditioning and a fan. A small terrace in the second floor is exclusive for guests and the ideal site to take a rest after a long walk by the city of Trinidad. Everything is well cared and very clean. Added to the pleasant site there is the familiarity and charm of Betty and Wilber. Those looking for a contact with them will be welcomed in the yard where a big mango tree offers shadow and fresh mangos (in season) for your breakfast. Betty and Wilber prepare a delicious and plenty breakfast that you enjoy in the yard. A couple of charming hosts and the room with fresh air and well illuminated overtake 8-10 minutes of walk from the downtown of Trinidad. For me it is a much recommended place. Reservation: by phone or also by e-Mail Casa "El Suizo" Pablo Pis Giron (Guaurabo) No. 22 e/Pedro Zerquera y Circuito Sur Trinidad Sancti Spiritus Mobile +53 53 77 28 12 Price: 45 CUC (double room) Note: Dani (Swiss - because of this the name of the house) and his cuban wife, Yanet rent, in their modern house located about 5-8 walking-minutes away from the historic city centre totally 5 double rooms. Each of the double rooms has its own bathroom with hairdryer. They're appointed with a double bed (just one room has two single beds). If necessary another small bed may be added. All rooms have air conditioning, fan, closet and a safe. Everything is clean and well kept. Each room has its space in a terrace with hammocks and chairs. Furthermore, you can enjoy the tranquility of a wide backyard with a nice vegetation. Beside of Dani and Yanet there will be also Yanet's daughter, Andrea, and the boyfriend of Andrea, Alejandro welcome you as hosts. They will be pleased to prepare you a breakfast (5 CUC / person). If you travel by VIAZUL to Trindiad, they will you pick you up there, without additional cost - just let them know. Also they can help you arranging excursions to properly discover Trinidad and surrounding areas. Reservation: I recomend to book as soon as possible by phone or email because they're very good booked. Nancy Ortega Lopez Manuel Solano #17 e/ Francisco J. Zerquera y Patricio Lumumba Trinidad Sancti Spiritus Tel. +53 (41) 99 37 34 Price: 20-30 CUC Note: Excelent food, nice patio and located in the heart of Trinidad - perfect for a relaxing stay. Both rooms have air-condition, fan and an own bath (hot and cold water). A fridge especially for the guests is available. Nancy organizes dance and Spanish lessons (through "Cooperaciones Paradiso" o "Casa de la Cultura" - official institutions), tours, taxis etc. Reservation: by phone or also by e-Mail

Trinidad, with a well kept colonial architecture, is a place where you should go with plenty of time to enjoy for days this beautiful city and its surroundings: El Valle de los Ingenios with La Torre Iznaga, Topes de Collantes where you find the old coffee plantations and a beautiful cascade, and Playa Ancon, marvelous place, by the Caribbean coasts.
It´s a fact that Trinidad is no longer as restful as it used to be, because tourism discovered that spot of colonial architecture. However, I think that a visit to this city and its neighborhood is a must for any tourist who really wants to know Cuba. If you go there without hurry sure you´ll find more than those tourists visiting Trinidad for a couple of hours in an excursion from Varadero.

In town

• Historical downtown. The colonial part of Trinidad (free of traffic) is worth a visit for a couple of hours in different moments of a day. There are many museums, art galleries, bars and good sites to enjoy live music. In the street there are many craft markets, since Trinidad is famous for its traditional embroideries, which are very special due to the unique techniques they use, called El Trinitario. Early in the morning you will find many markets with local craft, especially embroidery and knitting. With the hour of day the city changes too. While in the daytime tourists are crowding streets, in the evenings villagers use the streets as an extension for their living rooms. At night one may hear professional bands playing music everywhere.

• Canchanchara. This probably is the most famous bar of Trinidad because a typical local drink was created here. This cocktail, Canchanchara, contains liquor, lemon juice, honey and ice, and is very flavorful indeed. Probably after two or three drinks you cannot ask for another one, because you might get drunk…Normally there is live music here but unfortunately chairs do not invite for a log stay…Address: Calle del Real e/ Boca y San José.

• Museo Municipal de Historia (Palacio Cantero). This museum is located in the house of a former sugar cane landowner. You get a clear idea of how wealthy families lived at that time. There is a tower in the museum where one can enjoy a wonderful view of Trinidad. Stairways may not be suitable for everybody but it is still worthy a view. Entry is 2 CUC per person.

• Museo de la Lucha Clandestina (Museo de la Lucha contra Bandidos). Well, honestly, you may go there just to climb the tower and enjoy a better view of Trinidad…Entry is 1 CUC per person.

• Guide for restaurants: Even though one normally eats better at home, some times it´s good to try something different when you are in Trinidad with so many options of restaurants.
  -Personally I like very much the restaurant Giroud. Its unique design is amazing. They offer an open variety of dishes. You may ask for something small or abundant. Prices are not too low or too high. The Giroud is at: Calle Rosario No. 403, esquina Media Luna, the colonial center of Trinidad. It is recommended booking beforehand through these phone numbers: Tel. (+53) (41) 99 38 18 ó (+53) 53 41 94 51.
  -Another restaurant I like much is the Obatalá. I don't know why it doesn't appears at Internet, so I tell you how to get there. From Plaza Mayor you walk to Casa de la Trova (calle Cristo) you will find the Obatlá after about 3 minutes walking on the left hand. It is nearly in the corner of Calle Cristo y Alameda (have a look at the foto on the right!). Here you will enjoy fresh and delicious foods at decent prices (not too high, not too low). This cuisine is rated as Cuban modernist cuisine. There are specialties such as meat, seafood and fish grilled. Cocktails are also very fruity here – nothing to do with the very cheap mojito in the next corner. The terrace of this restaurant is really fantastic. If you want to have your dinner here at sunset you better book in advance. You´ll normally find space here unless you arrive in rush hours.

Excursions

• El Salton (waterfall) Caburni. It is located near of Topes de Collantes. Going by taxi cost about 20 - 25 CUC (both ways with waiting). The driver will wait some hours for you then you will have enough time to walk to the waterfall and enjoy the place. From Topes de Collantes to the Salton take about one hour by foot that's way good shoes are necessary. Go only by good weather, so you have the possibility to enjoy a natural swimming pool by taking a bath and the waterfall itself. There's only one very bad report... You will have to pay between 2 and 10 CUC por person to enter this area. Cubans sometimes have to pay the same, sometimes not, and also the prices depends on the person at the entry. In March 2003 we've paid 6.5 CUC a person and received not only the entry but also a fresh orange juice... A place more where you have to pay to much!

• Salton de Javira. At the nationalpark "el Cubano", just a few kilometres from Trinidad you can walk through the tropical vegetation to a natural swimming pool. If you like to swim some meters you will enjoy a shower under the waterfall "Javira". It's easy to find the walking route, you even can walk alone, it's a safe place. It will catch about 40 minutes till the swimming pool and a little bit less to get back. You reach the nationalpark by taxi from Trinidad. Often you will find this excursion also in combination with a horseriding. In this case you will go with a horse till the national park, then you have to walk too. Afterwards you ride back by horse. This excursion will cost you about 15 CUC. If you go by your own transport to the center of the naturalpark you will have to pay an entrance fee of 6.50 CUC.
  
  
• Playa Ancon.The nice beach of Trinidad. It's not anymore so quiet, because there are now more hotels than some years ago and they're still building. There's operating a bus between the beach of Ancon and Trinidad. You have to pay1 CUC one way, the bus's leaving from 7 am to 11 pm once an hour. By privat taxi this trip costs 10 CUC (both way), not more.
  
  
• Valle de los ingenios. Valley of the sugar fabrics. You can go by taxi or by public transport (rather dificult). At Iznaga you have to visit the famous slave watching tower so you will enjoy a great view of the Valley. Afterwards you can visit the village o walk just a little bit around in the nice sugar cane growing area. There exists also the possibility to go by a special train with a steam locomotive. This tourist train leaves at 9:30 in the morning de Trinidad. It's a trip through the valley with some stops at places of interest. They will also give you some information about the sugar cane. Also you will visit the tower of Iznaga. At about 14:15 you will be back in Trinidad. The price: 10 CUC a person.

How to go to Trinidad

• VIAZUL. There are two buses daily from Habana, one from Varadero and one from Santiago de Cuba. There's also a bus from Viñales to Trinidad (but NOT from Trinidad to Viñales). Further there's a bus conecting Trinidad with Cienfuegos, Santa Clara, Remedios, Caibarién and the keys in the north: Cayo Las Brujas, Cayo Ensenachos and Cayo Santa Maria. Also there's a bus conecting Trinidad with Sancti Spiritus, Ciego de Avila, Camagüey and the beach of Santa Lucia. The buses stop at least at every province capital - but there are normally more stops. I suggest you to check the timetable.

• Camiones (trucks). There aren't many trucks operating. So I suggest to go by Astro or Via Azul or by a collectiv taxi.

• Privat Taxis / Minibus: Since some year there are also some "private taxis" or minivans circulating mainly between Trinidad and Habana but also between Trinidad and other cities. The prices are the same as the viazul prices. I don't suggest you this travel option. Actually it's an unofficial business, renting cars oder minivans for comercial purpose. Most of the drivers hardly speak any word to you, are very unfriendly and are driving too fast because they want to do the journey back also on the same day. A couple, travelling from Trinidad to Habana's Airport the driver made to leave in Habana at the highway - they had to catch from their an other taxi. They say that they will bring you to the direction in Habana you want to go, but they didn't bring anybody to their adress - always just nearby... At the private houses you're told that's a very good option to travel, this is because they never travel by them on the one hand and on the other because they receive comision for every passenger... I just suggest to travel by Viazul - it's a lot safer. If you want to share a taxi - catch an official one.