Looking for a free walking tour of Trinidad in Cuba? If you want to explore this central Cuban town, it’s cobblestone streets and colonial constructions, for free, then this is the post for you.
Trinidad has had a unique history and is often referred to as a snapshot of Cuban history preserved in time. This is due to the city being abandoned, twice.
While you can wander the streets of Trinidad in Cuba and take in the beauty the city has to offer, many of the unique stories will go untold. There’s nothing like being led around by a local. Pointing out what makes Trinidad the vibrant city it is today.
One of my favorite stops in my 2-week itinerary of Cuba was Trinidad.
That’s where Trinidad’s free walking tour comes in!
What is the free walking tour of Trinidad, Cuba
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Trinidad’s free walking tour is just like any other. It is a tour through Trinidad, Cuba that you explore by walking with a guide. Walking tours, just like the free tour of Havana, doesn’t cost to join.
You’re not forced to pay to join the tour that is, but you are asked to tip the guide what you think the tour is worth. If you’re like me and traveling on a budget, it can be hard to put a price on a one of a kind, super informational tour.
If you can, giving something is greatly appreciated as these guides aren’t paid outside of your tips. Sometimes, they are even required to the company, pay per person on their tour.
Who should I take the Trinidad free walking tour through?
There are a number of free walking tours in Trinidad, Cuba. Multiple companies offer their services and I’m sure there are a number of great outfits to go with, but Free Walking Tour Trinidad, with their super simple name, is who I went through and can’t recommend them enough.
What should I expect on the walking tour of Trinidad?
My guide, Ernesto, showed the small-ish group of around 15 people a side of Trinidad and Cuba itself you won’t get anywhere else. This genuine, laid back and funny guy is open about life in Cuba, and even opened up a question and answer session.
The group would ask questions they wondered about to do with Cuba and Ernesto would answer them to best of his ability along with a few jokes.
The free walking tour of Trinidad begins at 10am, in a little park opposite Trinidad’s Bell Tower. Once you get a little introduction to your guide, the free tour of Trinidad in Cuba begins.
Museo National de Lucha Contra Bandidos – Trinidad Bell Tower
The first place noted was the Trinidad Bell Tower. You can see it from where the tour begins. This Bell Tower is known as Museo National de Lucha Contra Bandidos.
Fidel Castro used this building as a fort and is now a museum displaying artifacts from Cuba’s history. This beautiful building, which is great for sunset, costs 2 CUC to enter.
La Bodeguita – Hemmingways Trinidad Watering Hole
Next stop, was Ernest Hemingway’s reportedly favorite bar in Trinidad – the guy did love a good drink! La Bodeguita is well known around the streets of Trinidad. This blue building, covered with signatures serves a great mojito if you’re looking for a drink later on.
La Canchanchara
The next stop was also a bar, La Canchanchara, it’s mentioned in the Lonely Planet Photography walking Tour as one of the final stops. Its name after one of the sweetest cocktails you can get in Cuba – a Canchanchara, made with honey and sugar cane.
As we were Walking, Ernesto loved answering questions. Anytime you had one, he was up to explain it as best as he could. He explained how the birds in cages were usually either pets or being trained to sing and then resold. Birdcages with a single bird in them litter the streets of Cuba.
Afro-Cuban Church in Trinidad
Our next stop through the colorful streets of uneven cobblestones was an Afro-Cuban Church. Known for dressing completely in white, this church was unique and ornate both inside and out.
Questions for a Cuban local
Ernesto, who loves answering questions, sat us down and answered many things the group could come up with, some interesting facts I learned about Cuba from this little session:
- Accessing the internet in Cuba isn’t hard, except for one thing. Porn. But as Ernesto pointed out, they have a “black market” for that type of stuff.
- Most buildings throughout Trinidad and Cuba have bars over the windows. These are remanence of days when the town was attacked by pirates. These bars are much harder to break through than just go the wooden windows they protect.
- As Trinidad had been abandoned twice, most of the streets have multiple names. The old and the new, according to Ernesto. Both names are listed on the street signs, one being bigger than the other to make it easier to follow.
- Trinidad was abandoned once when the gold rush ended and again when the soil became too overcome with salt for sugar cane to grow.
- Cubans are allowed to exit the country and bring up to 120kg of items back with them to resell. This means most locals fly to Panama, and by things they can resell easily in Trinidad and all over Cuba. For example, a motorbike, costing the equivalent of 1000 CUC in Panama, can be resold for around 2000 CUC in Cuba!
To finish off the talk with Ernesto, he went on to describe his hope for the future of Cuba and his life. Things in Cuba can be complicated – rations, travel, and visas are just two he mentioned.
He hopes for more freedom to travel, to be able to access visitor visas to different countries around the world easier. It is currently possible for many countries, but time-consuming and difficult.
Playa Carillo ends the walking tour of Trinidad, Cuba
We then walked through picturesque streets of Trinidad before the tour ended about 2.5 to 3 hours after it began at the small park across from the Bell Tower.
As with many tours, the sights listed down are only half the beautiful memories. The rest is gained by personal experience walking through the streets of Trinidad in Cuba with a local like Ernesto. Pointing out tiny details you would otherwise miss.
Where to have lunch in Trinidad after the free walking tour
Ernesto gave recommendations for lunch after the walking tour finished. Depending on what you want, there are a couple of options.
If you continue along Calle Jesus Maria Street, there is a small little pizza shop on your left. They have less than 1 CUC pizzas for takeaways and they are delicious. I’ll go on record to say they are the best I had in Cuba.
Directly across from the pizza shop is a little restaurant filled with locals. It’s cheap, filling and tasty.
That’s the free walking tour of Trinidad in a nutshell!
Exploring Trinidad on a free walking tour is a great way to see this well-preserved Cuban town. Tie up those walking shoes and hit the streets of Trinidad. These cobblestone streets, colonial houses of bright colors and a different vibrant classic car to stare at is just waiting for you in Trinidad, Cuba!
Have you been on a walking tour of Trinidad, free or not, I’d love to hear about your experience (along with any questions) in the comments below!
You can also take a great walking tour in Havana, a perfect way to explore the sights of the capital.
For other great tips for things to do in Trinidad, Cuba – Check out Lonely Planets Guide to Cuba – its an amazing, in-depth itinerary of what to do!
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Thanks for reading!
Happy and safe travels,
Ben – Horizon Unknown
