2020 NOTE:
When starting this blog, I wrote a couple of travelogues – so, if you’re interested in them, by all means – keep reading! 😉 But later I focused on badass travel tips to help you plan your adventures and travel stories. Check out our homepage if you wanna know more!
Trinidad is a small, quiet, sleepy picturesque town, which every tourist visiting Cuba should see.
The colorful single-story houses dating to the times of the Spanish colonial period, adorned by fabulous terraces, the countless cobbled streets, several stands, where one can buy crafts and souvenirs actually produced in Cuba (#madeinchina didn’t make it here) and vivid Latino music playing on the market square every night.
I know, sounds touristy, but trust me, the town of Trinidad has its charm. Unlike Varadero to the north (our last stop in Cuba) with its 12-mile beach (which is outstanding otherwise) and filled with giant hotel resorts, modern bars, and sleek fashionable shops (which are still considered science fiction anywhere else in Cuba), Trinidad somehow managed to uphold its charms. Even with the countless flocks of tourists.
So we took our time to just wander aimlessly around the streets and explore the “artesania” (handicraft) markets and we also went to see one of the waterfalls that are scattered nearby (er – in the end, it turned out to be quite a hike).
Since we felt a little lazy to deal with taxis, we stopped by in the agency that is also recommended by Lonely Planet – Paradiso (located in the ARTex building, near the park Cespedes). Great decision in the end – the tour was great, with English speaking guide (good for Bojan) and additionally we agreed upon salsa class that they offer as well.
We felt that if we don’t try salsa here, we will never try it – so of course, we had to give it a go!
The Paradiso in Trinidad holds salsa classes every day, between 10 am and 4 pm and if you are a bit lucky (as we were), nobody else shows up and you get to have your own private salsa lesson!
I’ve tried once before New York-style salsa (um…it didn’t go too well) and besides a few moves from Zumba I was pretty much unfamiliar with the dance itself and Bojan somehow didn’t dance salsa on metal concerts as well.
So, we were total newbies and had no expectations whatsoever. But we were pleasantly surprised!
The class was in English and the teacher had a professional approach – we proceeded step by step. Firstly, he showed a few steps for women and I had to repeat then Bojan had to do the same, and finally, we repeated with the music on.
Only after we mastered steps by ourselves, we were allowed to try in pair – again without music at first and then with it, until we managed to dance without mistakes.
At the end of the hour, we were already able to perform few dance figures which present a good basis for further learning – either in class or in the evening when live music is played at the main square (and with the help of a few mojitos, duh).
If we’d stay in Trinidad a few days more we would take some more classes for sure since we really loved it.
So, if you ever considered dancing Cuban salsa, the Trinidad is a place for it!
Viva la Cuba! 😊
Check out our salsa moves:
Want to read more travelogues? Then check these out:
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Havana, ooh na-na
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Our yearlong honeymoon
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Wales – a land of sheep, rain, and grandpas
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Hiking in Ushuaia – do’s and definite don’ts
