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The
Caribbean Islands - TrinidadCosmopolitan Trinidad is a lively tropical island fueled by ethnic and cultural diversity. Port of Spain, the capital, is a sophisticated commercial hub with plenty to do day and night.
However, Trinidad will surprise you with its many other facets—lush mountains, valleys, marshlands, waterfalls and wildlife, plus lovely beaches and profuse underwater life. The twin-island nation of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is home to a unique people who are the descendants of immigrants from Africa, India, Spain, China, Britain, France, Syria and other countries.
Their differences have blended together to produce a very unique population. Perhaps that’s why the island is famous for its outstanding Carnival—when someone mentions Trinidad, saucy sounds of calypso, images of dazzling costumes and the melodic beat of steel-drum bands come to mind. Port of Spain, the exuberant capital, beckons sightseers. Colonial-style brick houses line the streets, and contemporary skyscrapers tower above. You’ll discover markets, bazaars, boutiques and cinemas, along with Gothic cathedrals, Muslim mosques and Hindu temples.
The National Museum and Art Gallery is the place to learn more about Trinidad’s people and their love for music, song and dance. The displays include collections of Carnival costumes and Amerindian artifacts, as well as art exhibitions by some of the Caribbean’s most talented artists.
Queen’s Park Savannah is another highlight of the capital. On the 200-acre grounds you will find enormous trees, manicured lawns, flower beds and lily ponds, as well as a sports area that becomes a hub of Carnival activity beginning right after Christmas. The Magnificent Seven, opulent mansions built in the 19th century, dominate the western end of the Savannah and are a definite must-see. The most interesting are the Stollmeyer Castle, modeled after the medieval castles on the Rhine; the Moorish-style White Hall, once the office of the prime minister; and Queen’s Royal College, a boys’ school that has produced some of the Caribbean’s top scholars and statesmen.
Just a short distance from the Savannah are the Royal Botanic Gardens, comprising more than 70 acres of a former sugar plantation. The grounds are a virtual tropical-flower paradise, with orchids, frangipani, lotus lilies, fig trees, sausage trees and lipstick plants, among others. Another area of interest in the capital is Woodford Square, where you’ll find the Red House, home to the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament; and the Holy Trinity Cathedral, a marvelous Gothic structure with distinctive altar carvings and marble monuments, dating back to 1823.
Port of Spain once boasted four forts. Today, you can visit three fortresses: Fort George, built in 1804, which overlooks the city; Fort Picton, with its martello tower, offering a panoramic view of the Gulf of Paria; and Fort San Andres, built during the Spanish colonial era, located at the city’s entrance.
The island of Trinidad is known as a bird-watchers’ mecca. Start at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, a 200-acre wildlife sanctuary. On the property, which is part of an old cocoa/coffee plantation, sits a restored main house surrounded by a number of cabanas. Trails wind throughout the forest, where more than 75 of the island’s 400 bird species can be spotted. The center has one of the most accessible breeding colonies of oilbirds, the only nocturnal fruit-eating birds in the world. The Caroni Bird Sanctuary is another excellent spot to bird-watch. At dusk, the swamp area is dramatically transformed from green to red when the scarlet ibis descend to roost.
Beaches:
Finding your place in the sun won’t be too difficult
along the coast of Trinidad. The beaches on the northern
coast of the island are shaded by almond trees that
grow on the slopes of the Northern Range. Maracas Bay,
the most popular beach, delights visitors with its lovely
cove and quaint fishing village at one end. Farther
up the northern coast is the picturesque Las Cuevas
Bay. Here you will find a less crowded beach, where
vendors sell fresh tropical fruit. One of the most secluded
of the northern strip of beaches is Blanchisseuse, perfect
for a romantic getaway.
Activities:
Fishing—deep-sea, in-shore and inland—is
a year-round activity in Trinidad’s waters, which
are teeming with kingfish, grouper, wahoo, bonito, dolphin,
yellowfin tuna, Spanish mackerel and snapper. Scuba
divers and snorkelers will appreciate the magnificence
of the tropical fish and coral reefs in the waters surrounding
Tobago. Buccoo Reef, a marine park and land reserve,
features lagoons, shallow-water reefs and mangroves.
It’s a favorite with snorkelers as well as with
passengers on glass-bottom boats. Here you’ll spot
star coral, staghorn coral, brain coral, sea whips,
dead man’s fingers and fire coral. Playing hide-and-seek
in the dense sea foliage are multihued parrot fish,
angel fish, Caribbean red snapper, Nassau grouper, barracuda
and jewel fish.
The waters off the coast of Speyside, near Bird of Paradise Island, are also a mecca for divers. In this area—with visibility from 70 to 100 feet—scuba divers come face to face with the giant manta ray, which boasts a wingspan of up to 20 feet. This is the only place in the Western Hemisphere where you can actually interact with these huge, graceful creatures; in fact, the mantas themselves seem to enjoy the encounter and, more often than not, will invite you to “dance” with them.
This
amazing underwater haven is also home to what is reputed
to be the world’s largest brain coral. Not surprisingly,
Jacques Cousteau named this one of his favorite diving
spots. There are plenty of opportunities
to engage in sports on both Trinidad and Tobago. Tennis,
golf and hiking are popular activities, while spectator
sports include soccer, rugby, cricket, and horse and
boat racing. The 27-year-old Du Maurier Great Race Classic,
a powerboat race between Trinidad and Tobago, is one
of the most exciting racing events.
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