THE AUTHOR’S NOTE:
When I started this blog, I wrote a few travelogues. So, if you’re interested in those, by all means—keep reading! 😊 However, as time went on, I shifted my focus towards travel stories and witty guide-like posts to help you plan your adventures. If you wanna know more, check out my homepage!
Trinidad is a quaint, tranquil, and picturesque town that every tourist visiting Cuba should add to their itinerary.
The town is characterized by colorful single-story houses from the Spanish colonial era, complete with fabulous terraces, and its many cobbled streets.
There are several stands where you can purchase crafts and souvenirs actually made in Cuba (#madeinchina hasn’t made its way here), and the sound of vibrant Latino music fills the market square every night.
I know it sounds touristy, but trust me, Trinidad has its own unique charm.
Unlike Varadero to the north, with its 12-mile (otherwise outstanding) beach and large hotel resorts, modern bars, and sleek shops (still considered science fiction in the rest of Cuba), Trinidad has managed to maintain its allure despite the influx of tourists.
So, we took our time to wander aimlessly through the streets, explore the “artesania” (handicraft) markets, and we even visited one of the nearby waterfalls (er – in the end, it turned out to be quite a hike).
Feeling a bit too lazy to navigate taxis, we opted for a visit to Paradiso, a tour agency recommended by Lonely Planet and located in the ARTex building near Cespedes Park in Trinidad. It was a good decision—the tour was great, with an English-speaking guide, and we even signed up for a salsa class they offered.
We felt that if we didn’t try salsa here, we might never try it—so, of course, we had to give it a go!
The Paradiso in Trinidad offers salsa classes daily, from 10 am to 4 pm. If you’re a bit lucky (as we were), you might find that no one else shows up, and you get your very own private salsa lesson!
I had once tried New York-style salsa (um…it didn’t go too well), and beyond a few moves from Zumba, I was pretty much unfamiliar with the dance. Bojan, somehow, hadn’t found many opportunities to dance salsa at metal concerts either.
So, we were complete beginners with no expectations whatsoever. But to our pleasant surprise, the experience was fantastic!
The class was conducted in English, and the teacher took a professional approach, guiding us step by step. First, he demonstrated a few steps for women, which I had to mimic. Then it was Bojan’s turn to do the same. Finally, we practiced with the music on.
Only after we had mastered the steps individually were we allowed to try dancing as a pair—initially without music, then with it, continuing until we could dance without making mistakes.
By the end of the hour, we were able to perform a few dance figures that served as a solid foundation for further learning—either in class or in the evening when live music fills the main square (with the help of a few mojitos, duh).
Had we stayed in Trinidad a few more days, we would have definitely taken more classes, as we really enjoyed the experience.
So, if you’ve ever considered learning Cuban salsa, Trinidad is the perfect place to do it.
Viva la Cuba! 😊
Check out our salsa moves:
Want to read more travelogues? Then check these out:
- Havana, ooh na-na
- Our yearlong honeymoon
- Wales – a land of sheep, rain, and grandpas
- Hiking in Ushuaia – do’s and definite don’ts
