The last stop along the chain of Caribbean islands before the South American mainland, Trinidad and Tobago is a beach paradise with a split personality.
What is it?: Trinidad and Tobago is a dual-island nation in the Caribbean, known for its diverse culture, stunning beaches, lush rainforests, and vibrant festivals. Trinidad is famous for its Carnival, while Tobago offers serene beaches and excellent diving opportunities, making it perfect for both cultural explorers and nature lovers.
Affordability: Trinidad and Tobago is relatively affordable, especially for those who choose local accommodations and food. While luxury resorts and fine dining can be expensive, there are plenty of budget-friendly options, particularly in areas like Port of Spain and smaller towns on Tobago.
Safety: Trinidad and Tobago is generally safe for tourists, though some areas, particularly parts of Port of Spain and San Fernando, have higher crime rates. Visitors should exercise caution in urban areas, avoid traveling alone at night, and stick to well-populated and well-lit areas. Tobago is generally considered very safe.
Popularity: Trinidad and Tobago is a popular destination for those interested in culture, wildlife, and vibrant festivals. The annual Carnival in Port of Spain is one of the world’s largest and most famous celebrations, drawing thousands of visitors each year. Tobago attracts visitors for its quiet beaches, diving, and eco-tourism.
Tourist Infrastructure: Excellent, with a wide range of accommodations, including luxury resorts, boutique hotels, and budget guesthouses. Port of Spain and Scarborough have good amenities, and both islands offer reliable public transport, taxis, and ferries to travel between the islands.
Weather: Tropical climate, with warm temperatures year-round. The best time to visit is from December to April, during the dry season, when the weather is most pleasant for outdoor activities, beaches, and festivals. The rainy season runs from May to November, with occasional storms and higher humidity.
Best Time to Go: December–April for the best weather, ideal for enjoying beaches, exploring nature, and experiencing festivals. The rainy season (May–November) is quieter, though it brings more rain and occasional storms, which can affect outdoor activities.
Known For: Port of Spain, Tobago, Carnival, beaches, diving, bird watching, Scarborough, Soca music, and the nation’s unique cultural blend of African, Indian, and European influences.
Top Destinations: Port of Spain • Tobago • Scarborough • Maracas Bay • Pigeon Point • Asa Wright Nature Centre • Caroni Swamp
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Nature Buffs: Trinidad and Tobago offers incredible natural beauty, from the lush rainforests of Asa Wright Nature Centre and Caroni Swamp to the coral reefs around Tobago and the stunning beaches of Maracas Bay, perfect for hiking, birdwatching, and diving.
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History Buffs: While the islands are more known for their natural beauty and festivals, they also offer historical and cultural sites such as the colonial architecture in Port of Spain, the Fort King George in Scarborough, and heritage museums showcasing the nation’s diverse history.
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Beach Bunnies: Trinidad and Tobago offer some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, from the iconic Maracas Bay and Pigeon Point in Tobago to the quieter, secluded spots on both islands, making it a top destination for beach lovers and water sports enthusiasts.
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Digital Nomads: Port of Spain and Tobago offer reliable internet, a comfortable lifestyle, and a laid-back environment, making it a growing destination for digital nomads, though the infrastructure outside of the major cities may be more limited.
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Families: Trinidad and Tobago is family-friendly, with activities like exploring the Caroni Swamp, enjoying beaches like Pigeon Point, visiting the Asa Wright Nature Centre for nature walks, and participating in the vibrant cultural festivals, making it ideal for family vacations.
Much larger Trinidad is densely populated and the main hub of the country’s tourism industry, while Tobago to the north is much quieter with a protected forest and secluded bays. Everyday culture here is vibrant, with a strong liking for the arts and everything associated with the two principal obsessions, soccer and cricket.
While it’s often overlooked on Caribbean cruises, Trinidad has a great deal of culture, golden sand and rugged mountains that are well worth visiting. It is best known for the hedonistic throes of Carnival that take to the streets early each year, but there are solid reasons for visiting in every season.
One thing is certain: the Trinidad experience is about as authentic as they come in the Caribbean. This is not a culture eroded by tourism. Instead, it’s a place where visitors are always in the minority and have no problem blending into the background, a welcome relief for the right kind of traveler.
Port of Spain is the capital city with the bulk of the island’s facilities. It sits on the southern coast, far from the remote northern mountain range. Port of Spain is where visitors do their shopping and fine dining, but it’s inevitably left behind for the chance to kayak along remote coastlines or go bird-watching in the mountains.
Wherever tourists venture on Trinidad, they’ll find themselves among great hiking, caving and cycling opportunities. Along the way are bungalows, guesthouses and mountaintop monasteries that welcome guests with the kind of hospitality expected in out-of-the-way places.
What’s Cool
Sinking a glass of rum the same time as the sun drops below the sea, extremely hot sauce, limbo dancing and calypso, beach cricket, extreme ethnic diversity and goat racing.
What’s Not
High crime in some areas, escalating HIV/AIDS infection rate, overcrowding in areas, intolerance towards homosexuality, drug problems and the recent kidnapping craze.
Highlights
Maracas and Las Cuevas: two great beaches that are very different, the former a long expanse of perfect shoreline and Las Cuevas, a series of caves, which is what the name means in Spanish.
Tobago Forest Reserve: Caribbean environmentalism at its best and the perfect excuse to get over to Tobago for beautiful walks and secluded coves.
Port of Spain: civilization Trinidad style and the best place for shopping and strolling on the island.
Asa Wright Nature Reserve: a favorite of bird watchers and a place to escape from the beach, it’s possible to hike here and take in the interior of the country.
Fort King George: Tobago’s best-preserved historical architecture, featuring cannons pointing out to the turquoise ocean.
Mathura Beach: favorite nesting place of returning leatherback turtles, a dramatic scene of nature which can be experienced courtesy of organized tours.
Argyle Falls: Tobago’s Argyle River plunges down three drops in this scenic piece of island paradise.
Beaches
Maracas Beach on the north of the island is especially popular because of its ample facilities, including lifeguards and restaurants.
A popular weekend location, Blanchicheusse boasts bungalows and a forested hiking trail that leads to a local waterfall.
Las Cuevas is the best place for swimming along the north coast. You can also step away and explore the onsite caves.
Mayaro Beach on the south coast is the longest stretch of sand on Trinidad. Nets full of fresh-caught fish are hoisted in each afternoon.
Closer to the equator than other Caribbean islands, Trinidad and Tobago enjoy a tropical climate year-round. Temperature variation throughout the year is negligible, with the weather remaining moderate to hot. Daytime temperatures are typically 84°F, while night-times are cooler at 72°F.
Festivals & Events
The people of Trinidad and Tobago like nothing better than a good Caribbean carnival and enjoy varied holidays thanks to the diverse ethnic groups that live here.
February: a carnival straight after Ash Wednesday that consumes the islands even though it isn’t a national holiday, which no one seems to care about.
July: the last two weeks of the month mark the Tobago Heritage Festival, a time of dance, song and stories of the islands’ past.
August: the first of the month is Emancipation Day when slaves threw off their shackles, a major celebration throughout the Caribbean.
October: the World Steel Band Festival is a fun reminder that you’re in the Caribbean, featuring styles from calypso to classical.
October/November: the Hindu community gets into Divali, a festival of candlelight, songs, dance and cultural shows.
Relaxing: Caribbean beaches plus a good book equal the ultimate way to escape the woes of everyday life back home.
Diving: reefs surrounding parts of the islands coupled with crystal-clear seas make Trinidad and Tobago a great diving and snorkeling destination.
Hiking: the islands’ nature reserves feature hiking trails that are not too strenuous with fantastic views of the ocean.
Go to the races: horses or goats, it doesn’t matter in Trinidad and Tobago. Both are taken seriously and enjoyed enormously by the locals.
Golf: Trinidad is gaining prominence as a golfing destination given its fine weather with both nine and 18-hole courses.
Shopping
Trinidad boasts real cosmopolitan shopping venues like multi-story shopping malls and suburban retail centers. Chaguanas is the central shopping town for locals, but tourists take a greater interest in the carvings and leatherwork sold by artisans at Independence Square in Port of Spain.
Street vendors aren’t as common as on other Caribbean islands, but visitors will still find produce markets and roadside stalls while exploring Trinidad.
Nightlife
It comes as no surprise that an island with such a strong contingency of residents boasts a formidable night scene. Bars and restaurants line the streets of central Port of Spain and are also well represented in secondary towns and cities.
Calypso music originated in Trinidad, and it leads the way in local dance clubs. When going out in Trinindad, be sure to try the local beer. The most popular is Carib, a locally-made lager that often gets mixed with ginger ale to make a refreshing shandy.
Trinidad is well-connected to large cities in North America including Washington DC, New York and Miami, along with Latin American capitals including Venezuela’s Caracas and Guyana’s Georgetown. There are also direct flights to London, the main hub for travelers arriving from Europe. Arrival by cruise ship or yacht is possible, the latter normally for those with a few million to splash around. Transport options on the island are limited to private cars, buses and taxis, along with the cheaper maxi cabs which do circuits around both islands.
HIV/AIDS is an increasing concern, but is not yet a fully blown epidemic here. The health system is adequate, but some over-the-counter medicines found in the west are not always available. Tales of rampant dengue fever are overblown, however outbreaks do occur so bring some strong repellant and cover up. Crime is a serious problem in some quarters of Trinidad so the usual rules apply, watch out late at night and keep valuables safe. Avoid badmouthing the West Indian cricket team, an offence tantamount to sacrilege with possibly grave consequences.