The Sights and Sounds of Trinidad, Cuba

If you're looking to sample a slice of rural Cuban life, then a stint in a Trinidad hotel could be just the ticket. Located in the centre of the island, the city is labelled as a UNESCO world heritage site and is a hot sleepy town filled with colonial architecture and idyllic cobbled streets. Here's everything you need to know about it, if you're considering making a holiday in Trinidad, Cuba a "must" for your next visit to the island.

The Town Itself

The main attraction of a holiday in Trinidad is undoubtedly the town itself. Photographers will have a field day, taking advantage of the charming traditional architecture and timeless feel of the place, while others will just enjoy wandering around and soaking up the atmosphere. There are no cars allowed in the centre, adding to its charm, and visitors can take in the city's 1211 buildings, which are mostly made up of wonderfully restored colonial houses, painted in a selection of bright colours, topped with terracotta tiles. The whole experience of walking through the town is a mixture of fairytale beauty, Latin-American vibrancy and peaceful tranquillity.

Mixed in with the pretty surroundings are a couple of notable buildings: a handful of idyllic churches, public squares and a number of informative museums each show-casing the architecture, archaeology and history of the old town. While nearly as attraction-packed as Havana, a stay in a Trinidad hotel has enough to hold your attention and allows you to enjoy your stay in a more relaxed and traditionally Caribbean manner.

The Beach

In addition to the days you can happily invest in strolling around the delicious town itself, Trinidad's coastal location lends itself nicely to hours (or days!) spent lounging upon its undisturbed white sands. The region has two splendid beaches - Ancon and Maria Aguilar - and both of them are local to the town and some of the best on the south coast. As for what you do there, you are largely free to pursue your interests - you can relax in the sun, go swimming or enjoy some water sports. Perhaps the best way to enjoy it though is snorkelling or scuba diving, as visitors can roam amongst the wide selection of sponges, gorgonians, sea fans, black coral and various colourful tropical fish. Those wanting a premiere dive site can find many in Cuba, whilst Trinidad's coast is a nice plus for those who want to dive as an extra, rather than as the main focus of their trip...

The Nature Reserve

Trinidad itself is set in an absolutely stunning setting, nestled between the Sierra de Escambray Mountains and gorgeous coastline. If you want to feel even more at home with nature though, the Topes de Collantes Natural Park features an impressive selection of plants and birds, set high up in the mountains. Visitors can expect to see a selection of wildlife include various colourful birds, ferns, and precious wood trees.

The Old Sugar Mills

The city of Trinidad isn't the only historical point of interest in the area to be granted UNESCO heritage status. The Valle de los Ingenios (Valley of the Sugar Mills) is a group of three valleys that were the island's centre for sugar production between the 18th and late 19th century. The whole area is approximately 100 square miles, and includes the sites of more than 70 former sugar mills. Many of them are now in a bad state of repair, but the region's inherent beauty and the history contained within the area makes it well worth a look for those staying locally in one of Trinidad's hotels.

Far from the tanned crowds of Varadero, and the (comparatively) bustling city life of Havana, a holiday in Trinidad presents a whole new example of Cuban life that many tourists miss completely. From the charming town, to the relaxed beach and the enchanting local attractions, Trinidad, Cuba, is the perfect place to stay to sample rural life on the island, and to get away from the hectic pace of life in the UK.