Drive to Trinidad (1 1/2 hours) We start our tour picking you and your party up at the cruise terminal or at your Casa Particular in our high quality vehicle. On our drive to Trinidad we will provide you with an introduction of Cienfuegos and Trinidad. We will have conversations regarding Cuba, Cuban culture, Cienfuegos, Trinidad and any topic you like. We promise talk to you about the reality of Cuba from our eyes that you will not get from state owned excursions. Near Trinidad we can have an optional 15 minutes stop at the farm house where you can sample and purchase local fruits and local honey.

Tour Trinidad (1 1/2 hours)

Arriving in center of Trinidad we can have a quick stop at the local state owned Cigar and Rum store. This is the place to buy authentic cigars and rum. Sometimes there is a cigar making demo at the store. We will then start strolling through the mostly pedestrian only cobblestone streets to the town square Plaza Mayor. On the way we can discuss the town's history and marvel at the town's beautiful colonial architecture. We may pass by local street musicians, horse drawn carriages and see well preserved buildings, local bars, restaurants, and shops which has not changed for years. Just before reaching the town center we will see the famous stairs at Casa de la Musica In the evenings this is the place where you will find locals and tourists congregate to listen and dance to live Cuban music.

At the Plaza Mayor we will walk around the square and see and discuss the significance of the buildings within the World Heritage Site: Iglesia Parroquial de la Santísima (Church of the Holy Trinity), Palacio Brunet (Brunet Palace) now housing the Museo Romántico (Romantic Museum), Convento de San Francisco (Church and Monastery of Saint Francis), Museo de Arqueología Guamuhaya (Museum of Guamuhaya Archeology), Casa de los Sánchez Iznaga (Sánchez Iznaga) which houses the Museo de Arquitectura Colonial (Museum of Colonial Architecture), Casa de Aldemán Ortiz is at the bottom of the square is the House of Mayor Ortiz. Slightly down the street from the square is the most iconic building in Trinidad: Palacio Cantero now housing the Museo Histórico Municipal. The building was a mansion that belonged to the Borrell family from 1827 to 1830. Optionally we can enter the museum and climb up the tower to the highest point of the historic center. The view of Trinidad from the top of the tower is worth the small entrance fee. We can continue from the plaza to stop at the Trinidad local crafts market near the square and/or continue to scroll through town.

Lunch / snack / beverage break (1 hour) After ~1.5 hours in the Trinidad town center it is a good time for a quick lunch or beverage break. We can stop at the famous Taberna La Canchanchara famous for its eponymous house cocktail made from rum, honey, lemon and water. Local musicians regularly perform in here to entertain visitors. Many of our guests on the TC7 7 hours tour forgo a sit down lunch, instead bring snacks and have the famous cocktail at the Taberna La Canchanchara to save time.

For clients who wants to have a light lunch in town La Bodeguita Del Medio is a good local private restaurant in Trinidad for a reasonably priced Cuban lunch. Another very popular option is to take a short 5 minutes drive to Casilda fishing village and have lunch at the local and tourist favorite restaurant La Marinera. It is a mid-price private restaurant ~10 to 20 CUD depending on entree.

Return Drive to Cienfuegos (11/2 hours) On our drive back to Cienfuegos we can continue our conversations regarding Cuba, Cuban Culture, Cienfuegos or you can just take a rest.

Cienfuegos' Punta Gorda and City Center tours (1 1/2 hours)

We will split the remaining 1 1/2 hours of our 7 hours tour touring Cienfuegos' Punta Gorda and City Center. We can do a quick pace 1/2 hour panoramic tour of Punta Gorda. We will drive down Malecón, have photo stops at Palacio Azul / Club Cienfuegos, Parque de Las Escultura, then on to the end of the Paseo del Prado (Calle 37) stop and see the "Taj Mahal" of Cienfuegos: Palacio de Valle.

From Punta Gorda, we will drive back up Paseo del Prado (Calle 37) and start our tour of Cienfuegos City Center with our remaining time. Our driver will drop us off at the Statue of Benny Moré. We will have a short a few blocks walk across Ave. 54 (San Fernando) Cienfuegos' shopping street to the city's main square Parque Jose Marti. If time permits and if you have interest we can have a quick stop at the state owned Cigar store for authentic Cigars and the House of Rum. We will then head over to see the historical sights around the square: Tomás Terry Theater, Colegio San Lorenzo, Palacio de Gobierno, Casa Del Fundador, Arch de Triumph, Ferrer Palace. If time permits we can also stop at the 29th street craft vendors and /or go up to the La Union Hotel roof terrace for a panoramic view of the city. Alternatively you wish to do less walking our driver can drop us off at Parque Jose Marti and pick us up again to return to the ship.

Tour Itinerary TC9 Trinidad + Cienfuegos