Trinidad island is located in the southern Caribbean and has almost 2000 square miles, significantly larger than most of the islands in this area.
It’s believed the original name of the island was Lëre, which translates to “the land of hummingbirds”. Christopher Columbus, however, renamed it to La Isla de la Trinidad during his third voyage to the western world in 1498. Supposedly, he did so to fulfill a vow he made before beginning this journey. But Caribs and Arawaks lived here long before this. However, given its ample history, there’s a wide ethnical, cultural, and religious diversity in Trinidad.
Map of Trinidad and Tobago
Where is Trinidad and Tobago?
The 2 islands are located about 7 miles off the coast of Venezuela, being part of the South American continent geographically. Politically and economically, though, Trinidad and Tobago are part of the Caribbean, with Trinidad being the southernmost island in the Caribbean region.
Traveling to Trinidad Island
The only international airport on this island is located in the island’s capital, Port of Spain. There are plenty of international flights that arrive here on a daily basis, so traveling would not be a problem. You can also book transfer services in advance.
Accommodation on Trinidad Island
Given there are so many hotels on this island, it would be impossible to list them all. However, we do want to underline the importance of paying attention when booking an accommodation unit in Trinidad. Many of them are far away from the beach – which is fine if you want to visit the multitude of touristic attractions. However, if you also want to go to the beach on a daily basis, you should look for a beach hotel, resort, or villa. These might be more expensive, but you can’t really put a price on getting to the beach in 2 minutes.
Beaches of Trinidad Island
With a few exceptions, the whole shore of Trinidad Island is sandy with clear waters. Here are the most popular beaches:
Maracas Beach
Located in the northern part of Trinidad and relatively close to Port of Spain, this beach is the most popular and beautiful beach on this island. A deep bay protects this beach from currents and big waves, which makes it ideal for families with children or inexperienced swimmers. The drive towards Maracas Beach is an experience by itself: you’ll have to drive or walk through a mountainous area which offers an impressive scenery, with multiple lookout points on the way.
Las Cuevas Beach
If you want to stay away from the busiest beach on Trinidad Island, las Cuevas is the right choice for you. Although its water is a bit more agitated than it would be on Maracas during windy days, there are plenty more you can do on this beach apart from lounging in the sun and going for a swim. But we’ll get to that in a moment.
Of course, you can’t go wrong with choosing any other beach on Trinidad. They’ll all greet you with fine sand, lush vegetation, clear waters, and all the amenities you need like restaurants, bars, bathrooms, and souvenir shops.
Dining on Trinidad Island
Most of the highest-rated restaurants on Trinidad Island can be found in the Port of Spain capital. However, you can also find a few of them scattered across the island’s many beaches or in other places of interest. Here are some of the best restaurants on Trinidad island:
Richard’s Shark and Bake
Named after the famous shark & bake dish, Richard’s restaurant is specialized in Caribbean dishes and seafood. It’s a fast food / fast casual restaurant that’s highly rated by locals and tourists alike. If you find yourself on Maracas beach during your trip, you should definitely give it a chance.
Aioli
Aioli definitely is the highest rated restaurant on Trinidad island. Located in Boisserie Village, Maraval, this exquisite restaurant has a Mediterranean specific and awaits its guests with a relaxed, and yet elegant ambiance. Having a world-known chef as executive, it’s only natural the restaurant brings ingenious, delicious, and fresh dishes to the table. If you find your way on Trinidad island, you should definitely pay a visit to Aioli.
Chaud
Another top-rated restaurant on Trinidad island, Chaud’s fame is due to their chef’s talent and ingenuity. Many celebrities and food critics who visited chef Khalid Mohammed’s restaurant recognized his ability to combine the Caribbean cuisine with international ones in unique, unexpected, and brilliant dishes. Like many other top-rated restaurants on Trinidad island, Chaud is located right in the heart of the island’s capital.
What Else to Do on Trinidad Island
Observe the Biodiversity of Trinidad
Trinidad has an impressive natural history, with fauna originating mainly from the South-American continent. And the thing is, you don’t have to go to a natural reservation or botanical garden to see this. You can encounter exotic vegetation, birds, and animals during a hike through the dense tropical forest of Trinidad. However, if you want a guided tour which will tell the story of the island and all its inhabitants, you can choose one of the following:
Visit the Caroni Swamp and the Bird Sanctuary
If nature is your cup of tea, you definitely should visit the bird sanctuary in the Caroni swamp. Here, you’ll be able to see Trinidad and Tobago’s national bird, the Scarlet Ibis. Every day, thousands of them fly towards Venezuela in search of food, only to return to their home island before dusk.
Take a Tour of the Nature Centre
You might have noticed by now that Trinidad is a great eco-tourism destination, and the Asa Wright centre is no exception. Here, you’ll be able to admire the biodiversity of the island in this old plantation of coffee and cocoa beans. If you are into bird watching, you should definitely visit the nature centre.
Visit the Royal Botanical Gardens
Ever since 1818, this natural paradise enchanted royalty who found their way to this island. Today, it has more than 700 trees from the Caribbean and the rest of the world, and thousands of other species of plants. between 10 and 15 percent of the total number of species are native to the island. The most enchanting definitely are magnolias, cigar trees, and orchid trees.
Take a Tour of the Historical Buildings
Trinidad has an ample history which dates back further than colonial times. Therefore, there are plenty of historical ruins and buildings you can visit to get a grasp of what shaped this civilization the way it is today.
Of course, these are just some highlights of what you can do on Trinidad island. The truth is, a vacation of 7-10 days is barely enough for you to observe everything this island has to offer.
Leave a Reply