Activities in Central Cuba
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A
Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de la Popa
For a bird's-eye view of Trinidad, walk straight up Simón Bolívar, the street between the Iglesia Parroquial and the Museo Romántico, to the destroyed 18th-century Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de la Popa, part of a former Spanish military hospital. It's on a hill to the north of the old town, a favorite sunset-watching spot (use insect repellant).
From here it's a 30-minute hike up the hill to the radio transmitter atop 180m-high Cerro de la Vigía, which delivers broad vistas of Trinidad, Playa Ancón and the entire littoral.
reviewed
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Ranchón El Cubano
A pleasant spot 5km from Trinidad with a ranchón- style restaurant that specializes in pez gato (catfish), a fish farm, and a 2km trail to a refreshing waterfall. There are also stables here and opportunities to partake in horseback riding. If you hike to El Cubano from Trinidad, you’ll clock up a total of approximately 16km. With a stop for lunch in the ranchón, it can make an excellent day trip.
reviewed
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Finca de Recreo María Dolores
Closer to town is the Finca de Recreo María Dolores, a rustic Cubanacán hotel that runs horseback-riding trips to El Cubano (CUC$15, four hours) and boat trips down the Río Guaurabo to La Boca (CUC$5), and hosts sporadic fiestas campesinas (country fairs).
reviewed
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B
Cubatur
Cubatur, just outside the casco histórico, organizes a variety of hiking/nature trips from between CUC$23 and CUC$43 per person depending on the excursion. Also available are horseback-riding tours to Ranchón El Cubano.
reviewed
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Cerro de la Vigía
From Ermita de Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria de la Popa, it's a 30-minute hike up the hill to the radio transmitter atop 180m-high Cerro de la Vigía, which delivers broad vistas of Trinidad, Playa Ancón and the entire littoral.
reviewed
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Playa Ancón
An energetic day trip is to rent a bike to Playa Ancón where you can use the swimming pool or snorkel off the beach. The road out of town is flat and well-paved and the loop via La Boca makes an interesting detour. See for bike rental.
reviewed
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Universidad Central Marta Abreu de las Villas
Santa Clara boasts Cuba’s second most prestigious university, Universidad Central Marta Abreu de las Villas. Non-Cubans have, on occasion, been able to study Spanish here. Check the website for current details.
reviewed
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C
Mireya Medina Rodríguez
Dance lessons are available with popular local teacher Mireya Medina Rodríguez who instructs everything from chachachá to rumba in her front room.
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D
Casa Artex
Dance lessons are available with Paradiso in Casa Artex which offers salsa lessons from around 5 for 90 minutes.
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E
Paradiso
The travel agent Paradiso offers salsa lessons from CUC$5 for 90 minutes.
reviewed
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