Things to Do in Trinidad

Trinidad & Tobago’s capital Port of Spain enjoys a superb natural setting at the point where the mountains dip into the Gulf of Paria. One of the pleasures of this buzzing city is realizing that it doesn’t revolve around you, or tourism in general, with tall office buildings proclaiming its importance as a financial hub.

That certainly doesn’t mean there aren’t things to see and do – far from it. Sights include the "Magnificent Seven," a group of fanciful mansions on Queen’s Park Savannah, the more modestly-sized "gingerbread houses," with their intricate woodwork, and the tropical paradise of the Botanical Gardens.

Of course this is also the setting for Trinidad’s world-famous Carnival, with bars and clubs jumping year-round to soca, which, like calypso, was born here. During the day, do as the locals do and head for Independence Square where you’ll get an authentic taste of Trinidad from food stalls serving oysters, fresh fruit, and "doubles," a delicious local delicacy made from chick peas.

In the field of eco-tourism, the Asa Wright Nature Centre was well ahead of the curve, having been a sanctuary for wildlife since 1967. It is famous the world over for the staggering variety of birds which pass through, often on their way to or from nearby continental South America. From Ornate Hawk-eagles to the nocturnal Oilbird and the psychedelic plumage of dozens of tropical species, there is enough here to make a birdwatcher of any skeptic.

The center was once a coffee and cocoa plantation, and you can still enjoy lunch or high tea on the broad shady veranda of its old colonial house. Get the most out of your visit by taking a tour; expert guides will be able to point out not just birds but also the huge range of butterflies as well as lizards and other fauna.

Every day, the scarlet ibis, Trinidad & Tobago’s national bird, flies to nearby Venezuela to feed and heads back to its island home in the late afternoon. Watching the birds in their thousands return to roost in the vivid green mangroves of Caroni Swamp, red plumage blazing against the deepening blue sky, is one of the greatest sights the Caribbean has to offer.

Take a sunset trip by boat through the serene “canals” and tidal lagoons of the swamp, with guides pointing out snakes, iguanas and other creatures as you glide past. Once anchored, sit back and enjoy the hush of dusk until the return of the ibises.

Maracas Bay lies at the end of a scenic mountain drive from Port of Spain. As you descend to the coast you get glimpses of a perfect natural bay fringed with dazzling white sands and swaying palms, all of which readily indicate why this is Trinidad's most popular beach. 

The hypnotic roll tumbling of blue-green waves make this a great place for paddling, but if you insist on more strenuous activity there is surfing, diving and walking trails in the surrounding rainforest.

The area is known particularly as the home of 'Bake and Shark' (battered shark in fried bread). "Richard’s" is the original and most famous of the vendors, but numerous huts along the beach sell this unique local delicacy.

The Trinidadian town of Sangre Grande sits due east of the Port of Spain. As the largest town in the northeast of the island, Sangre Grande is an important hub for surrounding villages, and it’s a crossroads for various attractions in the northeast of Trinidad. At Aripo Savannah, birdwatchers can spot species like red-bellied macaw and southern lapwings. The Hollis Resivoir is a man-made lake surrounded by mountains where you can find hiking trails, shady picnic spots and look for local wildlife like howler monkeys, deer and caiman. Head east from Sangre Grande to visit Matura Bay. From March to August, this sandy stretch is a protected nesting site for endangered leatherback turtles. Permits are required to visit the beach at night, and guides can make the arrangements for a once-in-a-lifetime turtle watching excursion.

While Port of Spain is Trinidad’s political capital, the city of San Fernando is the industrial capital, and the center of Trinidad’s significant oil and gas industries.  Even though San Fernando is primarily an industrial area, there are still many good reasons to visit.  The Harris Promenade, at the city center, is an urban green space where you can find open air concerts. During the pre-colonial era, the natives called this area Anaparima, which means “one hill” and that single hill remains as San Fernando Hill, where you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city. Just south of San Fernando, you’ll find one of the island’s most popular attractions, Pitch Lake, the world’s largest naturally occurring tar pit, similar to the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. You can walk on the semi-solid surface of the lake to explore the unique environment. To the east of San Fernando, you can find the strange mud volcanoes of The Devil’s Woodyard.

At the far southeastern corner of Trinidad, Mayaro Bay is a large, sand-fringed bay where you can escape from the bustle of Port of Spain and enjoy the more laid-back side of Trinidad. The beach here is the longest stretch of sand on the island, and it’s a popular spot among locals during public holidays and long weekends. Come during the afternoon, and you can watch as the local fisherman pull in their seine nets to catch a glimpse of the day’s catch. This is a secluded and rural part of the island, but the small town of Mayaro has a handful of guesthouses and restaurants available. Also nearby is the Nariva Swamp, the largest freshwater wetland in the country, where you can spot local flora and fauna among protected lowland tropical rainforest.