Planning a Trip

Getting There

By Plane -- Chartered AeroCaribbean light-aircraft flights from Havana, Cienfuegos, and Varadero arrive in Trinidad at the little Aeropuerto Alberto Delgado, Carretera Casilda Km 1.5 (tel. 41/99-6393; airport code TND), a couple of kilometers beyond the historic center of Trinidad. A taxi from the airport to Trinidad costs around CUC$5 (US$5.40/£2.70).

By Bus -- The quickest and best bus service to Trinidad is Víazul (tel. 41/99-4448 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, buses depart twice daily, at 8:15am and 1pm, arriving at 1:40pm and 6:30pm, respectively; the fare is CUC$25 (US$27/£14) one-way. From Varadero, buses leave at 7:30am and arrive at 1:25pm; the fare is CUC$20 (US$22/£11) one-way. From Santiago de Cuba, buses leave at 7:30pm, arriving at 7am the following day; the fare is CUC$33 (US$36/£18) one-way. Return buses leave Trinidad for Havana at 7:30am and 3pm; for Varadero at 9am and 3:30pm; and for Santiago at 8am.

The bus terminal, or Terminal de Omnibuses (tel. 41/99-4448), in Trinidad is on Gustavo Izquierdo between Piro Guinart and Simón Bolívar, close to 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 takes 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 on 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. 41/99-2214), Taxi OK (tel. 41/99-6110), or Transtur (tel. 41/99-3454). Taxis charge CUC$8 (US$8.65/£4.30) to Playa Ancón. Little yellow Coco Taxis, slightly slower, non-air-conditioned three-wheel vehicles, charge CUC$4 (US$4.30/£2.15).

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. 41/99-6110) and Vía Rent a Car (tel. 41/99-6388). Rates range from CUC$45 to CUC$80 (US$49-US$86/£24-£43) per day for a standard four-door to CUC$80 (US$86/£43) and up per day for a 4WD vehicle.

By Bicycle -- Locals sometimes rent out bikes (usually functional cruisers for CUC$2-CUC$4/US$2.15-US$4.30/£1.10-£2.15 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. Ruinas del Teatro Brunet (tel. 41/99-5547) rents out bikes for CUC$3 (US$3.25/£1.60) a day.

By Bus -- The Trinidad Bus Tour starts at the Transtur office on Lino Pérez between Maceo and Francisco Cadahía. It departs at 9am, 11am, 2pm, 4pm, and 7pm and picks up at a few stops in town, including the Cubatur office, before heading to Playa La Boca and the hotels on Playa Ancón. It returns from the beach at 10:15am, 12:15pm, 3:15pm, 5:15pm, and 8:15pm. The fare is CUC$2 (US$2.15/£1.10) per person.

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. 41/99-6314; www.cubatur.cu), is at Antonio Maceo at the corner of Francisco Javier Zerquera, as well as at Maceo at the corner of Bolívar and in the Hotel Ancón. More helpful is Cubanacán, located on José Martí between Francisco Javier Zerquera and Colón (tel. 41/99-6142), and at Cafe Las Begonias where the employees are extremely helpful. Infotur is inside the Restaurante Santa Ana, but keeps irregular hours and is too far out of the center to be of any use.

Banco de Crédito y Comercio is located at José Martí 264 between Colón and Francisco Javier Zerquera (tel. 41/99-2405). It's open Monday through Friday from 8am to 3pm and Saturday from 8am to 11am. A CADECA is at José Martí 166 (tel. 41/99-6263); its hours are Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6pm and Sunday from 8am to 1pm.

For medical attention, go to the 24-hour Clínica Internacional located at Lino Pérez 103, at the corner of Reforma (tel. 41/99-6492). There's a pharmacy in-house too. Etecsa Internet terminals are at the Etecsa office on Lino Pérez (on the east side of Parque Céspedes, between José Martí and Miguel Calzada). There are also Internet terminals inside the Cafetería Las Begonias.

The main post office is situated at Antonio Maceo 418, between Colón and Francisco Javier Zerquera. It is open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 7pm.