Travel to Trinidad with travel insurance from Essential Travel

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Information on Trinidad with single trip travel insurance from Essential Travel

Trinidad is a fascinating and compelling nation of inextricably intertwined cultures, religions and ethnic groups that have retained their distinctiveness while simultaneously blending into a harmonious whole. The largest of the Caribbean’s Windward Islands, Trinidad is a natural paradise of lush vegetation and undulating landscape with a thriving capital city; while its smaller counterpart, Tobago, is blessed with fabulous sandy beaches and inviting waters.

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad’s most significant urban centre, is one of the busiest ports in the Caribbean and is inundated with shops, resorts, nightclubs and fast-food outlets. Port-of-Spain can easily be explored on foot, and a good starting point for a city tour is Queen’s Park Savannah, a collection of sports fields and stall-holders selling food and drink. The complex includes a number of impressive examples of architecture, among them the colourful Queen’s Royal College, complete with clock tower, and Whitehall, a former manor house that now serves as government offices.

In close proximity to the Savannah, on the southern side of Memorial Park, is the National Museum and Art Gallery, with exhibits by Trinidad artists, as well as cultural, historical, archaeological and geological displays. The Central Market, on Beetham Highway, is an entirely different attraction, with a vast number of vendors selling an enormous variety of goods, including the colourful fruits and aromatic spices for which the island is famous.

In stark contrast to the urban bustle of Port-of-Spain, Trinidad’s interior is a blissful environment of scenic splendour with an incredible array of indigenous flora and fauna. The island is said to be home to some 700 species of orchids alone, and 400 varieties of birds. The Caroni Bird Sanctuary offers a boat trip through the mangrove swamps, where birdwatchers can view a multitude of different birds in all their vibrant magnificence.

The Asa Wright Nature Centre, a former coffee and cocoa plantation, is another haven for nature lovers, and is located in the lush rainforests of the Northern Range; while the Pitch Lake, the world’s largest supplier of bitumen, is yet another unique attraction.

The most popular beach on Trinidad is Maracas Bay, located an approximately 40 minutes from Port-of-Spain by car. This small fishing village has an extensive sandy beach and good waves for bodysurfing, but can be crowded at times. For a more secluded seaside destination, head to Tyrico Bay, just east of Maracas Bay, or Las Cuevas, eight kilometres east of Maracas Bay.

Alternatively, head to Tobago, Trinidad’s smaller ‘sister’, which offers a multitude of good beaches, fantastic snorkelling and diving spots, wonderful bird-watching opportunities and an extremely laid-back atmosphere. Crown Point is the centre of Tobago’s resort area and is surrounded by palm trees and sandy stretches, while the picturesque fishing villages of Speyside and Charlotteville are less commercial attractions.

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