Carib - Trinidad

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A December 2001 trip to Trinidad and Tobago by AAA-Simon

Path to the Crews Inn Photo - Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean

Quote: We went to Trinidad and Tobago to spend christmas in 2001. Trinidad is quite a small little island not far from Venezuela, the people are very nice, speak a special kind of the english language (very strong accent) and the countryside is just beautiful... If you consider to go and live there, just note that this climate is quite hot and work is goes at an other rythm as we normally do.

26 Photos

Carib - Trinidad

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Overview

Central Bank of Trinidad and Tobago Photo - Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean

Quote:

Maracas Beach is probably the most beautiful beach on the island, also lots of Trinis go there to relax and brown... Try a "Shark and Bake", something like a Kebap but with shark in it. Turtle Cove / Guayamara Beach is close to Toco and it's where the Turtles go and put their eggs...also a very nice beach with special impressions. You should calculate at least 2 hours to drive there from Port of Spain, there are lots of nice places to stop in between... Port of Spain (POS) is the capital city of Trinidad, it's quite nice with lots of bars/pubs... In the middle of Port of Spain, there is the Savannah, the biggest round about in the world!! Around the Savannah, trucks sel...Read More

Maracas Beach is probably the most beautiful beach on the island, also lots of Trinis go there to relax and brown...
Try a "Shark and Bake", something like a Kebap but with shark in it.

Turtle Cove / Guayamara Beach is close to Toco and it's where the Turtles go and put their eggs...also a very nice beach with special impressions. You should calculate at least 2 hours to drive there from Port of Spain, there are lots of nice places to stop in between...

Port of Spain (POS) is the capital city of Trinidad, it's quite nice with lots of bars/pubs...
In the middle of Port of Spain, there is the Savannah, the biggest round about in the world!! Around the Savannah, trucks sell coconut / coconut water and you may also want to try the famous pholourie balls (something to eat) with a hot and spicy mango sauce!

Manzanilla Beach is located to the east of the island and is probably the longest in Trinidad. The beach is full of coconut plants.

If you like to see Trinidad from the air, go to Birko Air Services at Piarco Airport (POS) and rent a Cessna 172 with Flight Instructor and you can control the plane yourself while flying over the beautiful countryside...

Quick Tips:

Be careful in Port of Spain, like in every big city, there are lots of thiefs. Be especially careful when there are lots of people side-by-side.

You don't need to have much money with you to get around, 100 Trinidad and Tobago Dollars is around 10 UK-Pounds and this is plenty enough for a one day trip.

Note: A Beer is a "CARIB" and not just a beer. "CARIB" is the local beer in Trinidad and it really tastes good!!!

More information and around 600 pictures are available on www.we2.ch

Best Way To Get Around:

There are lots of Maxitaxis and route-taxis to travel with, check out from where to where they are driving and be cautious. If you rent or buy a car, watch out for POT-HOLES, there is an exorbitant amount of them, official and unoffical ones (an official POT-Hole is one which has a white strip around it)!!! When driving yourself, keep a very good look-out, the Trinis don't!!

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Crews Inn

Restaurant

Quote:

The CREWS INN is a nice and fine dining restaurant located in Chaguaramas, to the west of Port of Spain, around 1/2 hour drive. As the name says, it's at the yacht club. They serve a variety of meals on "too" big plates. The outlook is just beautiful and Venezuela just a short swim :-)

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 14, 2002

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Maracas Beach, Blanchesseuse

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Attraction

Maracas Beach Photo - Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean

Quote:

From Port of Spain to Maracas Beach, you will cross some hills and after around 1/2 to 3/4 hour drive you will reach Maracas Beach on the north coast of Trinidad. Beautiful outlook!!! We stayed there to have a swim or two, ate a shark and bake, drunk a carib and then went further in the direction of Blanchesseuse which is also a beach on the north coast. When you drive there, you will see the untouched nature of Trinidad.

Here just a few words out of our travel diary: "The sun was shining, and the climate was hot, so we headed off to Maracas beach for a "shark and bake" and a swim. Later, we went off to Las Cuevas and Blanchisseuse and contemplated buying a car!"

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 14, 2002

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Flying over Trinidad

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Attraction

Manzanilla Beach Photo - Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean

Quote:

Out of our diary:
"Luckily Austin, Simon and Gill were able to fly. The weather was good for flying and after a slightly later start than anticipated we got into the Cessna and hurtled down the runway. We saw the east coast, the south, and then finally climbing to the north, through a little turbulence and back over the capital, Port-of-Spain, before returning to the airport. It was great to see the island from above, as with the rains, some areas are inaccessable. Our feet eventually touched the ground."

If you want to rent a plane with instructor go to Birko Air Services at Piarco International Airport.

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 14, 2002

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Turtle Cove, Salybia Beach, Guayamara Beach

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Attraction

Turtle Cove Photo - Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean

Quote:

Text out of our diary: "As Simon and Gill missed the Toco road turning on the 19/12/2001, Carol, Austin, Simon and Gill headed up to Toco to see some friends. We finally arrived at their beautiful house two hours later. A wonderful outlook and a private beach were a perfect setting for a day-trip to paradise. Simon climbed down the precipice with the aid of a rope to take a swim at the beach. After Simon built up his stamina, he was rewarded with a delicious lunch. The coconuts on the tree appealed to him so much that he tried many times to get them down, but in vain. We took him to another beach where turtles normally lay their eggs. The sun was setting as we drove back to Port-of-Spain." ...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on March 14, 2002

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Down the Islands

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Attraction

Prison Island Photo - Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean

Quote:

Out of our diary again: "Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day. Hardly a cloud in the sky and soaring temperatures. What better to do, than go 'down the islands' on Ega Beaver. We started off cruising slowly down the calm water. We saw the burning boat. We reported it and steered away from it. We headed into the boca leaving Prison Island, Gasparee and Monos in our wake. Prison Island is inhabited by the BAD guys. We relaxed in the bay at Chacachacare, next to Venezuela. After a few swims, and some left-over turkey, we went to the "other side" of the island. When heading back, the dolphins played with the boat following us a little way. The burning ship was burnt out, but still...Read More

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Arima, Asa Wright Nature Centre, Fort George

Story/Tip

ASA Wright Nature Centre Photo - Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean

Quote:

Out of our Diary:
"After a beautiful sunny start to the day, Simon and Gill drove to the Arima area to visit the Asa Wright Nature Centre. We saw the birds and the bees, the plants and the trees, lizards and agouti (a rat-type animal). After lunch on the verandah, we looked around, and explored with the car, round twisting rounds and up hills, before finally arriving at Blanchesseuse and Maracas. It was nice to see these places in better weather. Whilst Gill slept in the car, Simon continued driving back to Port-of-Spain. Gill woke up in time to divert him to a picturesque spot, at Fort George, just as the sun was getting ready to sleep."