Cuba day eleven - Cienfuegos and El Nicho

We've booked a private guided tour for the next couple of days, to try and fit in some of the places we really wanted to see. We were picked up in the morning and set off on the scenic route to Cienfuegos. Our guide was brilliant; very knowledgeable and friendly. We learnt about the sugar trade, all the different plantations along the route, the education system and of course Cuban politics! 

We had an hour or two to explore Cienfuegos, a bustling town with some lovely buildings. We then drove to El Nicho National Park, along some very interesting roads (I was glad we were in a 4x4!), to visit the waterfalls. It's a short walk round the waterfall trail, with plenty of stops to swim in the crystal clear pools. When I was swimming in the last pool, we were caught in the heaviest rain storm I've ever seen - swimming in pool at the bottom of a waterfall, in the rainforest, in the pouring rain, was an amazing experience! 

We then drove to Trinidad, where we spent the night. A lovely dinner at a local restaurant, then some great alfresco local music at the main square with the beer and mojitos flowing freely, ended in a bit of a late night!