TRINIDAD & TOBAGO – General

Trinidad and Tobago is a nation consisting primarily of two Caribbean islands, Trinidad and Tobago, just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. The country is the most industrialised and one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean. Overall, tourism is not a major industry (Tobago has more), leaving the islands replete with natural unspoiled beauty not found in most other Caribbean countries.

Capital: Port-of-Spain
Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD)
Country Code: +1868
Visa. Requires a return ticket, proof of funds and an address in TT, such as a hotel or family/friend. Most western countries don’t require a visa.

HISTORY
The islands were first inhabited by Arawak and Carib people, who settled here from the South American mainland, and whose descendants make up a small minority of the population. Trinidad was sighted by Christopher Columbus, who claimed it for Spain. Under Spanish rule, many French settlers established cocoa plantations in Trinidad and imported slaves to work them. The British seized the island in 1798, and abolished slavery. To make up for the labour shortage the government encouraged heavy immigration from countries such as Portugal, France, Germany, China, and most importantly India. Trinidad was united with Tobago in the 1880s. Throughout the early 1900s the country welcomed thousands of mostly black immigrants from other Caribbean countries, as well as Venezuela and Colombia. Following World War II, TT was combined with various other British Caribbean countries into the West Indies Federation. However, the different groups of islands could not get along and the federation soon collapsed. TT eventually achieved complete independence on August 31, 1962. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, the country prospered thanks to large deposits of oil and natural gas, becoming the wealthiest nation in the Caribbean. However, in the late 1980s, oil prices dropped significantly, causing a major economic meltdown. Thousands of Trinidadians left the country at this time, in search of better opportunities elsewhere. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s the country recovered dramatically and the nation’s living standards continue to improve today.
The country has a cosmopolitan society inhabited by many different peoples and cultures who live together in relative peace and harmony. Ethnic Indians form a plurality of the population, while black people of African descent form the second largest group.

Economy. Trinidad is the larger, location of most of the country’s cities and activity and the country’s industrial centre (petroleum and natural gas). Tobago is known for tourism, Both islands have a share of natural beauty.
Climate. Maritime tropical climate influenced by the northeast trade winds. Annual mean temperature is 26°C. The humidity is high. rainfall 2,110 millimetres (83.1 in) in June through December. The islands lie outside the hurricane belt.
Terrain. Trinidad has three distinct mountain ranges. Northern Range is rugged hills that parallel the coast (El Cerro del Aripo, is 940m (3,084 ft); El Tucuche 936m. Central Range diagonal across the island and is a low-lying range. The Caroni Plain, extends southward, separating the Northern Range and Central Range. The Southern Range broken line of hills max of 305m (1,001 ft).
Tobago is mountainous – the Main Ridge, 29kms up to 640m. There are deep, fertile valleys running north and south of the Main Ridge. The southwestern tip of the island has a coral platform. Tobago is volcanic in origin but there are no active volcanoes.

CITIES
Port-of-Spain – Capital city
Arima – birthplace of famous calypso artiste “Lord Kitchener”
Chaguanas – fastest growing and largest municipality mostly populated by descendants of East Indian indentured labourers
Chaguaramas – a town with one of the major yachting centres, also famous for nightlife; venue of the 1999 Miss Universe Pageant.
Point Fortin – south western municipality, which lies on the outskirts of the La Brea Pitch Lake and is known for oil production
San Fernando – Southern city
Scarborough (Capital of Tobago)

OTHER DESTINATIONS
Caroni Bird Sanctuary and former sugar cane estates (very nice place to watch birds, many mosquitoes)
North coast beaches (Maracas, Las Cuevas, Tyrico, Blanchisseuse)
La Brea Pitch Lake
Lopinot Historical Site – museum built on former cocoa estate owned by French Count Charles Joseph de Lopinot
Roxborough – Northern Tobago, tropical rainforest reserve
Down the Islands – the small islands off the north-west peninsula offer a calm retreat.

GET IN
By plane. Piarco International Airport (POS) on Trinidad, 25 km south east of Port of Spain.
By boat. Trinidad is popular with yachts that anchor in the Chaguaramas area. Cruise ships dock at the Cruise Ship Complex in Port of Spain.

GET AROUND
By taxi. Taxicabs are simply normal passenger cars with no special markings but license plates start “H”. One pays for an individual seat and the taxicabs are shared.
Maxis” have a specified route, 11-25 passengers and the colour of the band indicates the area in which they travel. All taxi fares are to be paid in cash in TT dollars.
By bus. 
By ferry. Domestic ferry on Trinidad between Port-of-Spain in the north and San Fernando in the south. 45 minutes.
By car. Driving is on the left side. Reserve a car in advance. Criminals target drivers with an R plate.
If planning to go to the other side of the island (Trinidad), get an early start and allow the entire day as traffic jams are not uncommon, especially when going to Port of Spain.
Between Trinidad and Tobago: Flying twelve flights per day, 25 minutes each way. Caribbean Airlines (http://www.caribbean-airlines.com)
Fast ferry 2.75 hours. Conventional ferry 5.5 hours.

DO
Beaches. Popular beaches in Trinidad are Maracas, Tyrico, Blanchisseuse, Las Cuevas, Toco, Mayaro, Chagville, Los Iros and Quinam. Most of the beaches on the North coast are beautiful, with powdery sand and clear blue water. Los Iros and Quinam are okay, however Quinam’s water may be brown, largely due to sediment from the Orinoco River in South America. Although Maracas and Tyrico are not too far apart, you cannot walk from one to the other along the beach.
Tobago’s beaches are extremely beautiful. Popular beaches in Tobago include: Pigeon Point, Englishman’s Bay, Store Bay, MT Irvine, Bucco, Grange, Canoe Bay. Glass Bottom Boat tours are available from Pigeon Point and Store Bay.
Bucco Reef and the Nylon Pool. Buccoo Reef is a natural coral reef on the North Coast of Tobago. Nylon Pool is an area of shallow water on top of the reef. The water is crystal clear and looks like fishing line nylon, hence the name. A glass bottom boat tour will take you there and allow you to bathe.
Caroni Bird Sanctuary. Located in the 5 Caroni Swamp, this is a must for bird watchers. Several indigenous species of bird nest in the bird sanctuary, including one of the national birds – the Scarlet Ibis. Tours generally take place during dusk as the Scarlet Ibis returns to the swamp to roost. It is also a good idea to wear thick clothing (jeans and a jacket/sweater) as the mosquitoes in the bird sanctuary are especially vicious and are capable of biting through the thickest of clothing.
Divali and the Divali Nagar. The Hindu festival of lights, Divali, is celebrated in most areas in Trinidad and a few areas in Tobago. Every year during one night in October-November small oil lamps called deyas are lit on the inside and outside of homes and in public places. Additionally, there is a celebration and festival called the Divali Nagar, where Indian song, dance, plays and other cultural items are on display. The Divali Nagar takes place at the 6 Divali Nagar Site in Chaguanas, Trinidad. Many corporate sponsors set up booths and there is even an open air Indian restaurant where one can purchase Indian food including roti. Divali is a public holiday in Trinidad and Tobago.
Emperor Valley Zoo (Port of Spain) and the Botanical Gardens. Trinidad and Tobago’s only zoo, features a wide variety of tropical species including lions, tigers, monkeys, birds and fish.
Fort George (Tobago). Tobago’s colonial history and beautiful views of the ocean.
Goat races (Tobago). Goat racing in Tobago on Easter Tuesday is a tradition dating back to 1925. Amazingly, it shares many similarities to horse racing, where there are owners, stables and trainers.
TTPBA Great Race. On the second or last weekend of August, this annual power boat race from Trinidad to Tobago starts at Pier 1 in Chaguaramas, Trinidad and ends at Store Bay in Tobago. There are places to see the boats racing live (such as Maracas Bay). The boats typically travel around the North West peninsula, then along the north coast then make a bee line to Tobago. The first finishers typically finish in an hour.
La Brea Pitch Lake is the world’s largest natural reservoir of asphalt. However, commercial excavation of asphalt has slowed down considerably, since other more cost effective materials are available for road construction. The pitch lake is now primarily a tourist destination. Many go to bathe in its waters, which contain sulphur, which some say has healing properties.
Leatherback turtles on Mathura Beach. Around Easter, the turtles return to Trinidad to lay their eggs. Tours are available from conservation groups. Volunteer opportunities are also available. Since the turtles are an endangered species, it is illegal to kill the turtles or the eggs, therefore care and caution should be exercised so as not to disturb the turtles.
Tobago heritage festival. Every year during the last week in July and first week in August, the two week long show of Tobagonian dance, music, story telling, culture and food. It is a showpiece into Tobago’s long held traditions and a unique glimpse into the island’s way of life.
Trinidad’s north coast (Toco/Matelot/Grand Riviere). The north coast of Trinidad is beautiful and largely unspoilt. There are a lot of scenic beaches and undeveloped areas. At the North East tip of the island is the village of Toco. The North East trade wind blows literally 24 hours per day and lounging on the beach can be quite relaxing.

DO
Pre-Lenten Carnival. The annual festival is one of the most famous things about Trinidad and Tobago. There are many beautiful dances and a lot of celebrating around this time. Every year on the Sunday, Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent, thousands of costumed revelers parade on the streets in an annual street party dubbed “The Greatest Show On Earth.” They are accompanied by music from steel bands, with calypso and soca music played on large loudspeakers carried on large trucks. In the buildup to the two day Carnival celebration there are other activities including Calypso tents (indoor calypso concerts), the “Panorama” steelband competition, Soca monarch, Chutney Soca monarch, and open air parties called fetes. Carnival Monday and Tuesday are not official public holidays, but many businesses and all schools close for those two days anyway. Carnival derives from the French traditions which were adopted by African slaves.
Carnival is both a “See” and “Do” activity. One can just stand at the side of the road and watch the parade of the bands, or actually participate and “play mas.” Many tourists participate in Carnival bands. Booking well in advance is a must as the spaces fill up quickly. Getting in shape is also a must as many costumes are very skimpy. In fact some locals’ physical fitness goals are centered around Carnival.
Nightlife. There are quite a few nightclubs in Trinidad and Tobago, especially in the Chaguaramas area, such as Pier 1, Anchorage, Base, and MoBS2. Some very popular night clubs are Club Zen and 51 Degrees Lounge in Port of Spain and Sting nightclub in La Romaine, as well as Space la Nouba and Prive, both also in La Romaine. However, due to the crime situation, caution is advised and it is a good idea to be with a group rather than by yourself.
Golf. Several golf courses throughout Trinidad and Tobago with two popular golf courses are the St. Andrews’ Golf course  in Maraval (just outside of Port of Spain) and the Mt. Irvine Golf Course in Tobago.

Speak. English official and English Creole
Money. Credit cards are accepted at many stores. ATM work well.
Tipping. Tipping has not been a custom.
Eat. Excellent and varied with Indian roots – rotis, Indian flatbreads stuffed with channa (chickpea curry), usually some meat, and other items (including green beans, pumpkin, and mangoes). Cheap breakfasts of sada roti and ‘choka’ – vegetables. Doubles are curried chickpeas in two pieces of fried bread with condiments, a roadside snack.
Phoulourie small balls of fried ground chickpeas, roast corn, cow heel soup, aloo pies (fried potato pies) and saheena (spinach dipped in batter and fried). Callaloo soup vegetables, crab or pigtail (not the most appetizing). Bake and Shark shark deep fried, served in fried bread and sauces.
Barbecued chicken popular
Drink. Mauby – bark of the mauby tree and spices is very refreshing and cooling, but with a bitter aftertaste.
Rum. Black Label and Vat 19, Old Oak by Angostura. Puncheon rum is stronger

Sleep. Guest houses.
Safety. Increasingly high murder rate in East Port of Spain. Vibrant night life
Health. Mosquitoes and isolated dengue. Tap water is generally safe. Adult HIV/AIDS is 3.0%
Respect. Greet a stranger before asking a question.

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Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad (Port of Spain)

NOMAD MANIA Trinidad and Tobago – Trinidad (Port of Spain)

Cities of the Americas
CHAGUANAS
Religious Temples: Chaguanas Mosque

PORT OF SPAIN World Capital World City and Popular Town Sight
Sights: Magnificent Seven, Port of Spain
Airports: Port of Spain (POS)
Museums: National Museum and Art Gallery
Castles, Palaces, Forts
Archbishop’s Palace
Fort George
Queen’s Royal College
Stollmeyer’s Castle
Whitehall
Religious Temples
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Minor Basilica of the Immaculate Conception
Botanical Gardens: Royal Botanical Gardens
Markets: Green Market
Monuments: Memorial Park Monument

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Trinidad and Tobago – Tobago
NOMAD MANIA Trinidad and Tobago – Tobago
Tentative WHS: Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve (17/08/2011)
Islands: Tobago
Borders: Trinidad and Tobago (sea border/port)
Airports: Tobago (TAB)
Festivals: Tobago Heritage Festival
Experiences: Play/hear steelpan
Beaches: Pigeon Point Beach
Monuments: Plymouth: Courland Monument

SCARBOROUGH
Museums: Tobago Historical Museum
Castles, Palaces, Forts: Fort King George (Sight)
Religious Temples: St. Joseph R.C Church
Botanical Gardens: Scarborough Botanical Garden