The streets of Trinidad go by both original colonial and newer, post-Revolution names. Locals usually don't know both; what one person may call Boca another calls Piro Guinart. Streets are haphazardly labeled. Many longtime residents use the old names, but most businesses and institutions adopt the newer names, which are used in this section. Be prepared to encounter some confusion if asking for an address, though Trinidad is so small that it's nearly impossible to be lost for long.

Your best bets for information about Trinidad and nearby excursions are any of the major state-run travel agencies. Cubatur (tel. 41/99-6314; www.cubatur.cu), is at Antonio Maceo at the corner of Francisco Javier Zerquera, as well as at Maceo at the corner of Bolívar and in the Hotel Ancón. More helpful is Cubanacán, located on José Martí between Francisco Javier Zerquera and Colón (tel. 41/99-6142), and at Cafe Las Begonias where the employees are extremely helpful. Infotur is inside the Restaurante Santa Ana, but keeps irregular hours and is too far out of the center to be of any use.

Banco de Crédito y Comercio is located at José Martí 264 between Colón and Francisco Javier Zerquera (tel. 41/99-2405). It's open Monday through Friday from 8am to 3pm and Saturday from 8am to 11am. A CADECA is at José Martí 166 (tel. 41/99-6263); its hours are Monday through Saturday from 8am to 6pm and Sunday from 8am to 1pm.

For medical attention, go to the 24-hour Clínica Internacional located at Lino Pérez 103, at the corner of Reforma (tel. 41/99-6492). There's a pharmacy in-house too. Etecsa Internet terminals are at the Etecsa office on Lino Pérez (on the east side of Parque Céspedes, between José Martí and Miguel Calzada). There are also Internet terminals inside the Cafetería Las Begonias.

The main post office is situated at Antonio Maceo 418, between Colón and Francisco Javier Zerquera. It is open Monday through Saturday from 8am to 7pm.

Know Where You're Going

Be careful. I've received reports of jineteros (husslers) meeting incoming buses and taxis with the names of tourists they've gleaned from friends inside the bus or taxi company. They then proceed to tell the tourists either that their reservation at a specific casa particular has been canceled, or that they are taking them to that casa, when in fact they are bringing them to a different casa altogether. Some locals have also resorted to putting up copied house signs and numbers to deceive people. Jineteros have also been known to enter a false key into the door of the house that tourists have booked at only to be told that the door is locked and so the casa owner is not there and they should therefore come to the jinetero's casa or jinetero's friend's casa. If you have and trust your confirmed reservation at a casa particular, make sure you know the exact address and location of the house, and distrust touts who take you elsewhere. Beware of people who wish to escort you -- especially jineteros on bicycles. However, not all folks are distrustful; many are arrendadores (owners of legal casas particulares) who have not had the good fortune to be listed in a guidebook. Don't dismiss them all; just check that they have a genuine license.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.