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Fasten your seat belts. You are about to be taken on the ride of your life. Bursting with spirit and a heady mix of cultural activities, beautiful people, eco adventure and culinary delights, Trinidad and Tobago has something for everyone. Located just off the tip of Venezuela, Trinidad, the larger and livelier of the two islands, is an industrial giant boasting exciting nightlife, a robust energy sector and growing manufacturing industry.
Yet a short distance away from the glitter and bustle of Port-of-Spain—the islands’ modern capital—another world exists. A drive along the North Coast Road, shaded by the lush forested canopy of the Northern mountain range, will yield breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea; or head to Central Trinidad where the Caroni swamp—home to Scarlet Ibis and other exotic species— waits to share its secrets.
Trinidad is developing its remote area tourism, training local people to serve as guides and hosts for small-scale accommodation, and opening up access to some of the lesser-known parks and reserves for visitors with an exploratory streak |
But if Trinidad is the energetic heart of these islands, Tobago is its serene soul. Just two hours away from Port-of-Spain by fast ferry, or 15 minutes by air travel, Tobago offers the weary traveler a change of pace. Blessed with warm azure blue seas that lap against pale pink sands of secluded beaches, Tobago is the perfect place to relax in the embrace of lingering, golden sunsets. For the nature lover, Tobago is home to the oldest protected rainforest in the western hemisphere and, for those with an adventurous spirit, the waters surrounding the island hosts stunning coral reefs teeming with marine life. Over 460 resident and migrant bird species have already made T&T one of the premier birding destinations in the world.
You remember the saying about taking life's lemons and making lemonade? The people of Trinidad went one better: They took old oil drums and created a unique style of music that has become the soundtrack to tropical relaxation.
Trinidadians are resourceful, drawn to lively music and willing to use whatever's available to get a party started. In fact, it's said that the steel drum (also called a pan) was born when poor Trinidadians needed a musical instrument for Carnival, the festival of frantic revelry that is another of the island's claims to fame.
From Carnival to Christmas, Trinidad and Tobago can boast a vibrant and colourful cultural heritage. The contributions of the different ethnic groups that settled in these islands have combined to create a rich inheritance in the realms of dance, music, art and cuisine, making Trinidad and Tobago a hot spot for culture in the Caribbean.
The two-day explosion of colour, pageantry and abandon that marks Carnival, Calypso and Soca music, the indigenous musical instrument the steelpan, chutney music, East Indian classical and limbo dancing, are all products of a dynamic heritage and vibrant people.
Arrival Day, Emancipation Day and Shouter Baptist Liberation Day and several others highlight the traditions and customs of specific ethnic and religious groups of T&T.
Visitors to these warm shores should not be shy about participating in any festival or activity, in this multi-ethnic, multi-religious country, the wider community always gets involved—even if it is to just watch and admire.
So much variety makes Trinidad and Tobago a good destination for those who want to sample a lot of the Caribbean in a small space. Trinidad also has a melange of racial contributors, so much so that they consider themselves the original Rainbow Nation..
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