Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Plane -- Regularly scheduled and chartered AeroCaribbean and Aerogaviota light-aircraft flights from Havana and Varadero arrive in Trinidad at the little Aeropuerto Alberto Delgado, Carretera Casilda Km 1.5 (tel. 419/6393; airport code TND), a couple of kilometers beyond the historic center of Trinidad. A taxi from the airport to Trinidad costs around CUC$5.

By Bus -- The quickest and best bus service to Trinidad is Víazul (tel. 419/4448 in Trinidad; www.viazul.com), which operates from Havana (tel. 7/881-1143), Varadero (tel. 45/61-4886), and Santiago de Cuba (tel. 22/62-8484). From Havana (CUC$27 one-way), buses depart twice daily, at 8:15am and 1pm, arriving at 1:40pm and 6:30pm, respectively. From Varadero (CUC$22 one-way), buses leave at 7:30am and arrive at 1:25pm. From Santiago de Cuba (CUC$36 one-way), buses leave at 7:30pm, arriving at 7am the following day. Return buses leave Trinidad for Havana at 7:45am and 3:15pm; for Varadero at 2:30pm; and for Santiago at 8am.

The bus terminal, or Terminal de Omnibuses (tel. 419/4448), in Trinidad is on Gustavo Izquierdo between Piro Guinart and Simón Bolívar, 2 blocks from the Plaza Mayor.

By Car -- From Havana, the fastest route is to drive along the Autopista Nacional to Santa Clara (about 4 hr.), and then drop down through Jibacoa to Trinidad along the local road south. Another option is to continue on the Autopista Nacional to Sancti Spíritus (perhaps stopping for a look if you're not planning an overnight visit there), and circle back southwest to Trinidad for a scenic drive through the Valley of the Sugar Mills. If you're driving in from Cienfuegos, there are actually two routes. We prefer the coastal road, which gives you some good sea views as you get close to Trinidad. From Santiago de Cuba, start out northwest on the unfinished Autopista Nacional and then take the Carretera Central through Bayamo, Camagüey, Ciego de Avila, and Sancti Spíritus. The journey from Santiago to Trinidad should take about 8 hours.

Getting Around

Getting around Trinidad is a simple affair. Almost everything of interest in town is clustered around the Plaza Mayor in the historic center. The streets of old Trinidad were made for exploring on foot, and you can easily get around the whole of the old city, and most of the newer parts just beyond the colonial core, very easily by foot.

By Taxi -- State-owned, registered taxis are available for travel back and forth between Playa Ancón and Trinidad, up the hill to Hotel Las Cuevas, or private hire for excursions. Call Cubataxi (tel. 419/2214), Taxi OK (tel. 419/6317), or Transtur (tel. 419/6417). Taxis charge CUC$6 to CUC$8 to Playa Ancón. Little yellow Coco Taxis, slightly slower, non-air-conditioned three-wheel vehicles, charge CUC$5.

By Car -- Though it is far easier to sign on for an organized tour to visit the surrounding area, including Topes de Collantes in the Sierra del Escambray, you might choose to rent a car to explore central Cuba or travel to more distant destinations. The drive northeast to Sancti Spíritus through the Valle de los Ingenios is particularly alluring. The major car-rental companies are Cubacar (tel. 419/6110), Havanautos (tel. 419/6301), Vía Rent a Car (tel. 419/6388), and Transtur (tel. 419/6417). Rates range from CUC$45 to CUC$75 per day for a standard four-door to CUC$80 and up per day for a 4WD vehicle.

By Bicycle -- Locals sometimes rent out bikes (usually functional cruisers for CUC$2-CUC$4 per day) that you can use to get back and forth to the beach. However, be forewarned, it's downhill, then flat on your way to the beach, but the final few kilometers coming home will be uphill. The best place to ask is at your casa particular.

Orientation

The streets of Trinidad go by both original colonial and newer, post-Revolution names. Locals usually don't know both; what one person may call Boca another calls Piro Guinart. Streets are haphazardly labeled. Many longtime residents use the old names, but most businesses and institutions adopt the newer names, which are used in this section. Be prepared to encounter some confusion if asking for an address -- though Trinidad is so small that it's nearly impossible to be lost for long.

Your best bets for information about Trinidad and nearby excursions are any of the major state-run travel agencies. Cubatur (tel. 419/6314), is at Antonio Maceo at the corner of Francisco Javier Zerquera (tel. 419/6314), as well as in the Hotel Ancón; Cubanacán is located on José Martí between Francisco Javier Zerquera and Colón (tel. 419/6302); and Havanatur is on Lino Pérez 336 between Francisco Cadenea and Antonio Maceo (tel. 419/6183), as well as in the Hotel Ancón.

Banco de Crédito y Comercio is located at José Martí 264 between Colón and Francisco Javier Sequera (tel. 419/2405). It's open Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm. A CADECA is at José Martí 166 (tel. 419/6262); its hours are Monday through Saturday from 8:30am to 6pm, Sunday from 8:30am to 12:30pm.

For medical attention, go to the 24-hour Clínica Internacional located at Lino Pérez 103, at the corner of Reforma (tel. 419/6492). There's a pharmacy on the Plaza Mayor, at Rubén Martínez 15 (tel. 419/3180).

There are a handful of cybercafes around Trinidad, including Etecsa Internet terminals at the Etecsa office on Lino Pérez (on the east side of Parque Céspedes, between José Martí and Miguel Calzada); and within the Casa del Tabaco, at Francisco Javier Zerquera (at the corner of Maceo). But perhaps the best place to use your Etecsa card is in the lobby of the Casa de la Música, at the top of the stairs off of Fernando H. Echerri, just east of the Plaza Mayor. All are open daily from 9am to 6pm; rates are CUC$6 per hour with the Etecsa card. There are also Internet terminals inside the Cafetería Las Begonias and the Mesón del Regidor.

A small branch of the post office is housed within the Infotur office Simón Bolívar at the corner of Antonio Maceo; the main post office is located at Antonio Maceo 418, between Colón and Francisco Javier Zerquera. Both are open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 6pm.