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Sky view of a small white sand beach of the peninsula of a tropical island

Trinidad and Tobago Travel Guide

Creators of carnival, calypso and steelpan, eco-tourism trailblazers and proud protectors of their beautiful beaches and rainforests: the Caribbean simply wouldn’t be the Caribbean if we didn’t have Trinidad and Tobago.

Consider yourself at home – visitors are seen less as money makers and more as part of the furniture over here. Mother Nature’s lovingly let be, visible in all her tropical island glory from coral reef to mountaintop.

Beaches in Trinidad and Tobago

225 miles of coastline wraps itself around Trinidad and Tobago – some bits housing hotels, beach bars and activity centres, others left in the hands of Mother Nature: charmingly rugged and protected during turtle nesting time.

Sand comes in shades from white to gold, with backdrops in the form of palm trees, rolling hills and rainforest. While the biggest beaches are easy to get to, others demand a bit of adventure with forest trails, boat trips and cliff paths to reach them.

Best Beaches in Trinidad and Tobago

Aerial view of a holiday resort on a tropical white beach
Photo credit: Tobago Tourism Agency

Pigeon Point

Tobago’s south west coast has the most popular beaches, most famously Pigeon Point with gorgeous white sands and bright turquoise water. This one has it all: quiet spots, buzzing spots, the postcard-ready jetty, beachfront bars and restaurants and a bundle of activities.

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Kids walking along a dark sand beach in a tropical destination
Photo credit: Tobago Tourism Agency

Store Bay

Store Bay is also a favourite in Tobago, near the airport with excellent facilities and a colourful craft market.

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A tropical beach with golden sand and bright blue sea
Photo credit: Tobago Tourism Agency

Mount Irvine Bay

For surfers, Mount Irvine Bay whips up consistent waves, while for adventurers, some spots take a little more effort to reach - like Pirate’s Bay and King Peter’s Bay – but have a glorious desert island feel when you get there.

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A line of tall palm trees on a tropical white beach

Maracas Bay

In Trinidad, the north coast is home to some absolute beauties. Maracas Bay takes top spot, with its palms, surrounding mountains and awesome street food.

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People relaxing on a golden sand tropical beach

Las Cuevas Bay

Las Cuevas is the only Blue Flag beach in Trinidad & Tobago, with a lifeguard and top notch facilities.

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A baby leatherback sea turtle on a beach next to the sea

Grande Rivière Bay

Further east in Trinidad, Grande Rivière’s gorgeously rugged and one of the best places to see Leatherback turtles.

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Trinidad and Tobago geography

Spread out a map of the Caribbean, find Cuba, then hop along the curve south, south and more south. Just before you reach Venezuela – separated by just seven miles of sea and looking almost like part of the mainland – are Trinidad and Tobago. These are the southernmost islands in the Lesser Antilles, and they’re spectacular.

Trinidad’s the bigger of the two by a long shot, nearly ninety miles long and forty wide. A sixteenth of the size, Tobago’s pretty tiny, at under thirty miles by seven. Driving from one end of Tobago to the other takes less than 90 minutes, while in Trinidad you’re looking at a good 3-4 hours behind the wheel. On top of these ‘Major Islands’, there are over a dozen islets – the Bocas over towards Venezuela, Little Tobago east of Speyside and others dotted here and there.

While Trinidad wins in size, it’s actually Tobago that sees more tourism. Trinidad’s first focus is industrial – oil, gas and steel being main incomes – which has resulted in big concrete plants and busy cities. That doesn’t mean you can’t have a cracking holiday here: it’s big enough to have held onto some real beauty spots including colourful coastal towns, beaches and rainforests. It’s just that Tobago, with it’s gorgeous fishing villages and protected rainforest is where the hub of big, beachside hotels have laid their foundations.

Trinidad and Tobago history

Trinidad’s history reaches back further than any other Caribbean Island. The Banwari people crossed the sea here from Venezuela over 7000 years ago, living off fishing, foraging and hunting – one of their skeletons, nicknamed Banwari Man, was found in the southwest of the island in 1969.

More tribes – the Arawaks - came over from Venezuela 4-5000 years later, bringing farming methods and creating permanent settlements. Some of their painted pottery is on display in the National Museum. Their population grew, and they spread across all the Caribbean islands.

Chris Columbus visited the island in 1498 and declared it a Spanish colony, naming it after the Holy Trinity, but the Amerindians defended their land for just under a hundred years before the Spanish could properly settle. Even when they did, once they’d realised the islands didn’t have potential for gold mining, they lost interest. Plantations arrived here a lot later than most Caribbean islands. The Arawak practices of growing tobacco and cocoa continued, but slowly declined in the 1700’s when this became one of the poorest of the Caribbean islands under Spanish rule. Though Arawaks weren’t enslaved as on other isles, they weren’t well treated and the introduction of new disease wiped out a lot of the population.

In the late 1700’s, foreigners from other islands were invited to settle here on free land in the hope they’d build profitable plantations. Bringing African slaves to work for them, plantation owners grew cotton, coffee, cocoa and more importantly sugar. By 1797 the island had 150 sugarcane plantations and nearly as many mills – most owned by French settlers who were soon more in number than the Spanish, with Africans making up most of the rest of the population. Britain took over rule of Trinidad in 1797, and the island remained a British colony for 165 years.

With money made on the plantations, more Creole and African slaves were brought in and the island became a slave colony. Port of Spain became a hub of merchants buying and selling goods to take onto Europe. The slave trade eventually ended in 1838, and in 1889 Trinidad joined Tobago as one nation ruled by the British. T&T gained independence from the UK in 1962, and became a republic in 1976.

The Ciboney Indians were the first to live on Tobago around 1000BC, followed by the Arawak and Carib tribes. When Columbus toured the West Indies in 1498, he spied the island and named it Bellaforma for its beauty. It later became known as Tobago, probably after the tobacco the American Indians grew here. There were many attempts of settlement, but none were very successful. The island passed between the hands of the Dutch, Spanish, Latvians and the Dutch again – plus a few pirates in-between. The British ruled from 1763, when there were only a few native and European islanders living there. African slaves were brought in to cultivate sugarcane and cotton. Ownership of the island went back and forth between the French and British from 1781 before the Brits finally won again in 1814. Slavery was emancipated in 1834, with many slaves leaving the island which affected the income significantly. Failing as a solo colony, Tobago paired up with Trinidad as one nation in 1888. Soon after they gained independence from Britain in the 1960’s, tourism started growing and has been the island’s main source of income ever since.

Wildlife in Trinidad and Tobago

Nature lovers, eat your hearts out. These islands are swimming in flora and fauna: 2500 plant species (including a whopping 700 types of orchids), 450 species of birds, 620 butterflies and 100 mammals.

Leatherback turtles nest on the north and north-eastern coasts between March and August, while whales, dolphins, sharks, manta rays and the world’s biggest brain corals can be spotted in the surrounding waters.

In Trinidad’s Northern Range and Tobago’s Main Ridge Forest Reserve, mountains as high as 900m come coated in thousands of acres of rainforest. Hummingbirds and anteaters roam free, rare tropical birds flit to and fro and waterfalls pour down rockface. Ecotourism is huge here, with walking and mountain biking trails carefully marked through the landscape and kayaking and paddleboarding showing visitors life among the mangroves.

Activities in Trinidad and Tobago

Though blissful beaches lull you into lazy days on the shore – and you won’t hear us complaining – there’s oodles more to do on these islands. Eco-tourism is big and getting bigger, letting you get up close and personal with the makings of mother nature: turtle nesting sites, thick rainforest, coral reefs, mangroves and more.

Tobago might be the littler of the two isles, but it’s bigger in terms of things to do. Spot birds and waterfalls in one of the world’s oldest protected rainforests, dive among manta rays and massive coral, take boats island hopping or dolphin-watching or try the dozens of activities available on the beach…

Watersports

Diving in Trinidad and Tobago

Snorkelers and scuba divers are better off being based in Tobago – while it’s definitely possible to dive and get your PADI certification in Trinidad, Tobago’s waters have much better visibility with over forty fabulous sites and 300 types of coral including some of the biggest brain coral in the world. Diving is a year-round activity here, with the water hovering around a pleasant 27°C. Sunk upright between the two islands, the Maverick Wreck is one of the most visited underwater attractions – a site for advanced divers where a spectacular artificial reef has formed over the years. Diving companies provide scuba trips to underwater wonders around Tobago, from good first-dive spots like Japanese Garden and Flying reef (awesome sightings of rays, turtles, corals and sponges) to challenging but beautiful ones like The Sisters (often visited by hammerheads) and Gardener’s Rocks (a turtle favourite). You can swim from most of Tobago’s beaches to snorkel around natural reefs, or hop on a boat to explore the Buccoo Reef marine park.

Surfing in Trinidad and Tobago

Bays with curiously calm water cement T&T’s identity as truly Caribbean, but there are also some breezier beaches that whip up an awesome swell for surfers. In Trinidad, you’ll find the best of these on the northern coast, around Blanchisseuse, Grand Rivière and the surfy village of Sans Souci where a beach break forms big, hollow left and right handers. These are some of the prettiest shorelines on the island, backed by tropical rainforest with bright blue waves against golden sand. Surfers in Tobago gravitate towards Mount Irvine, where the reef break creates quality right hand waves and the Tobago Surfcamp provide lessons and hire.

Paddleboarding gets more popular each time we return here – you can join SUP tours to Trinidad’s Nariva and Caroni Swamps, paddling past mangroves, howler monkeys, manatees, parrots and even caiman. On Tobago, a bioluminescence evening tour leads you over waters of glow-in-the-dark plankton for a sight like no other. Local companies on both islands – like Liquid Adrenalin in Trinidad’s Port of Spain and Radical Sports on Tobago’s Pigeon Point – provide hire, lessons and tours.

Windsurfing & kitesurfing in Trinidad and Tobago

Kiters and windsurfers should visit between the months of December and June for the most consistent conditions. Tobago hogs the limelight in this department, with Pigeon Point’s cross shore winds and long, sheltered shoreline making it a top spot for both disciplines. You can join lessons, hire gear and store equipment through companies like Radical Sports and Tobago Kite & Surf camp, who operate at Pigeon Point and sometimes Lowlands Beach over on the Atlantic side. A high point of the season here is the Tobago Carnival Regatta (sometimes called the Festival of the Wind), when wind and kitesurfers of all backgrounds annually compete at Pigeon Point.

Sailing in Trinidad and Tobago

Chaguaramas in Trinidad and Pigeon Point in Tobago are the hubs of the sailing scene, with mooring facilities, sailing schools and a bundle of boats – from Hobie Waves to yachts – to hire. One of our favourite times to visit is during the Tobago Carnival Regatta, with dinghy races and a super atmosphere. There’s a cracking range of companies offering sailboat cruises to join or charter, taking you dolphin and whale watching, out to nearby islets or along the coast on sunset tours.

Fishing in Trinidad and Tobago

T&T’s biggest fishing events take place in Chaguaramas – Trinidad’s north-western peninsular – including the Kingfish Tournament (usually in June), and the famous Tarpon Thunder Tournament (August), held at the Sweet Water Marina. In Tobago, the International Game Fishing Tournament takes place in Charlotteville. Local companies (like Island Yacht Charters, Just US and ddi Life in Trini, and Frankie Tours and Mollie’s Tours in Tobago) provide fishing charters, taking you to the best spots for deep sea catches like blue marlin, sailfish and blackfin tuna. Shark fishing is big in Tobago, where you can catch lemon, black tip, tiger, mako and sand sharks in the local waters. And though fly fishing isn’t the nation’s biggest pastime, Tobago has some good flats at Friendship and Plymouth Bay.

Canoeing & kayaking in Trinidad and Tobago

There’s some awesome paddling to enjoy around Trinidad and Tobago, with kayak hire available from the bigger hotels and companies like Radical Sports at Pigeon Point and The Kayak Centre in Williams Bay (where the national team train). Eco-tours are a fascinating way to see the tropical flora and fauna up close, with popular ones taking you to Tobago’s Bon Accord lagoon and Trini’s Nariva swamp – keep your eyes peeled for all kinds of bird, manatees and howler monkeys. And of course, there’s always the option to pootle along the gorgeous Caribbean coastline, setting off from pretty fishing villages and stopping for picnics on hidden bays.

Land Activities

Golf in Trinidad and Tobago

With two 18-hole golf courses on each island, there’s a good amount for golfers in Trinidad and Tobago.

In Trinidad, St. Andrew’s Golf Club (par 72, 6555 yards) can be found to the north of the capital in the Maraval hills and navigating narrow fairways, tropical trees and a river are some of the challenges for golfers here. The Millennium Lakes Golf & Country Club in Trincity was the brainchild of PGA designers Bob Hunt and Marsue Blackburn, who created a course running along the Arouca river and featuring ponds, lakes and the odd caiman.

Tobago’s offerings include the Mount Irvine Bay Golf Course (par 72, 6793 yards), which looks over the coast from the hills of the northwest. Each hole has a sea view, with water coming into play on four of them. There’s also the Tobago Plantations Golf Club (par 72, 7000 yards), where fairways take you past lakes, woodlands and mangroves.

Cycling & mountain biking in Trinidad and Tobago

These islands could’ve been made for mountain biking, with trails taking you through the rainforest, along cliffy coastal paths and past old plantations. The most famous of them all is Tobago’s Sky Loops and Chocolate Cake routes – as exciting as MTB gets with gullies, banked turns and tropical surroundings. And for serious riders, the likes of Elvis Goats on the Main Ridge Mountains feature singletrack that’ll make your knees weak. North Trinidad has some awesome terrain too, with amazing areas for singletrack including Blanchisseuse and Chaguaramas.

At a more leisurely pace, there are oodles of nature trails through the mangroves of Tobago’s Bon Accord Lagoon, where you can ride past tropical birds and plants. Companies like Easy Goers at Crown Point provide mountain, road, tandem and hybrid bike rental and tours.

When it comes to road racing, check out the Tobago International Cycling Classic which circumnavigates the island. The T&T Cycling Federation also host other track, road and mountain bike events on both islands throughout the year.

Walking & hiking in Trinidad and Tobago

The north of Trinidad is especially good for hiking, where you can walk through old cocoa plantations and hunt out waterfalls. The Island’s second tallest peak, El Tucuche is a testing climb, but rewarding with amazing views. Last time we checked they were planning a thousand kilometres of eco-trails across the mountains to the north – which started off with a terrific 9km route from Grande Rivière to Sans Souci. To the west, the Chaguaramas peninsular has some brilliant nature trails where you’ll come across gorges, waterfalls and the incredible Gasparee Caves.

Though smaller, Tobago is two-thirds forest and has dozens of footpaths taking you past tropical plants and birds. The Gilpin Trace route is a favourite, as is the more leg-testing route up Pigeon Peak. For a short but spectacular walk, take the trail to the Argyll waterfall, one of the biggest and most beautiful waterfalls on the island. You’ll also find miles of coastal paths, linking spots like Castara and Englishman’s Bay.

Temperatures are a lot lower in the rainforest than elsewhere, but you’ll still want to bring plenty of water – and a strong insect repellent to keep the biters at bay.

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