A stay in the picturesque city of Trinidad is unforgettable, eminently photographable, and perfectly instagrammable. Its beautifully preserved colonial centre - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - crackles with life from the vividly coloured houses to the bars thrumming to live salsa and bolero music at night. But Trinidad and Los Cayos holidays offer more than just culture. Head into the Santa Rosa Valley for wonderful horse riding trails, or up to the Sierra del Escambray mountains for gorgeous landscapes, ideal for hiking, and complete with dreamy views of winding rivers and rushing waterfalls. Beach lovers, will find stunning white sands and gin-clear waters a short hop away at Playa Ancon. Inevitably, the cayos (keys) off of Cuba’s northern coast will prove irresistible to all. Cayo Santa María offers kite surfing and water skiing along with powder white sand and coral reefs. Combine all this with a stop along the way at the charming colonial city of Cienfuegos for a holiday that ticks all the boxes.
What you can find in Trinidad and Cayos that you won’t find elsewhere
Packed with pretty, pastel-coloured buildings topped with terracotta tiled roofs, the cute colonial town of Trinidad in central Cuba is an achingly idyllic place to visit. Wander past the spectacularly coloured houses - blush-pink, sky-blue, buttery yellow - and along the picturesque cobblestoned streets of this UNESCO-listed gem and you’ll feel like you’ve travelled back in time. Despite the many visitors who travel to the town, it still enchants with a sublime sleepy splendour. Complement your Trinidad trip with a stay on the tropical island of Los Cayos for the perfect blend of culture and nature. Here, you’ll find everything from floury white-sand beaches and colourful corals, to lagoons and marshes home to a wealth of bird species. Nab yourself a room in one of the luxury resorts dotted across the island and spend the remaining time of your Trinidad and Los Cayos holidays soaking up the sun on deserted beaches, savouring refreshing dips in the sea and enjoying deep-sea fishing outings.
Who are Trinidad and Los Cayos best for?
Trips to this sublime corner of Cuba are ideal for anyone looking for the perfect blend of history, culture and nature on their holidays. Spend your days wandering through UNESCO-listed towns, and your evenings sipping cocktails by the beach, while watching a watercolour sunset sink over the horizon. Families too, will be in heaven here. With a wealth of beaches for little ones to pad around on and warm waters to splash in, you parents can sit back and relax.
The best ways to discover Trinidad and Los Cayos
Find a historic hotel in the heart of the old town of Santiago, in the southeast of Cuba, and spend your days wandering the narrow alleys and your evenings discovering hip spots to sip sundowners. From here, take a cruise to discover Cayos for a hit of white-sand beaches and mirror-clear waters.
Special things to do in Trinidad and Los Cayos
Delve into the Topes de Collantes Nature Reserve to walk among its soaring pine trees and gawk at the huge ferns that grow up to 49ft-tall. Admire the colourful orchids and parrots and bathe in natural wells and waterfalls. Enjoy an exciting horse riding excursion in Trinidad’s Park El Cubano and the surrounding region. Get a taste for the slow pace of rural life, visit a sugar plantation mill and bathe in the freshwater pools. An indication of the welcoming atmosphere here, Trinidad is one of the best places in Cuba to stay in a private house (casa particular) as the town's residents provide an 'under the radar' B&B experience.