Things to Do in Trinidad And Tobago

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.

The coral reefs of Tobago, so crucial to the island’s economy and the biodiversity of the region, are under threat. But sensitive tourism needn’t harm the environment as the island’s largest such site, Buccoo Reef, demonstrates. It is one of the most spectacular reefs in the world, now under protection as a marine park, and is a magnet for scuba diving, snorkeling and sustainable fishing.

Tours in a glass-bottomed boat ensure that even the less active will be able to marvel at this undersea wonderland of colorful coral and tropical fish. The warm, shallow waters of the natural “Nylon Pool”, named by Princess Margaret for its translucent waters, make for one of the great swimming spots of the Caribbean.

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.

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.

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.