Trinidad and Tobago
Entertainment

add to Travel Bag (NEW)  

The islands of Trinidad and Tobago offer many very interesting and intriguing ways to entertain oneself. In addition to vibrant nightlife and local festivals, plenty of outdoor adventures can be had.

Visitors might find themselves amidst tropical swamps, in the lush surroundings of mountainous rain forests and across rugged hiking trails or dancing the night away. Whether your interest is eco-tourism, local culture, aqua marine life, or just having good old-fashioned fun, the twin isles have everything on offer to add to your Caribbean experience.

Nightlife centres on the capital city, Port of Spain, where a few scattered nightclubs and many bars cluster. Eating and drinking is part of the local culture, particularly local cuisines inspired by Creole, Chinese and Indian traditions. Additionally, many of the larger resorts on Trinidad, and especially Tobago, offer entertainment, including live music.

Trinidad is the birthplace of Calypso and also boasts other distinct music traditions including soca (which blends soul and calypso), ragga soca (which blends of reggae beat and soca rhythms) and chutney soca (which is a mix of Caribbean Indian music with tassa drums, sitar and calypso). Live performances occur nightly on both islands.

Festivals

Because Trinidad and Tobago blend a number of different cultures, a vital tradition of festivals exists on the island, the most popular being Carnival, when the whole island comes alive with joy and celebration as brightly costumed revelers parade through the streets. Visitors should note that accommodations are scarce during Carnival, and it is best to book way in advance.

Additionally, the local festival of Hosay, the Hindu festivals of Divali and Phagwa have become an intrinsic part of the local culture. Secular events which celebrate the local history and music, respectively, include the Tobago Heritage Festival and the Parang Festival.

Diving

Tobago is the place for underwater adventure; you can dive, snorkel, see, touch and experience the untold treasures of the blue waters. Every known species of coral, including the world's largest brain coral, which is 12 feet high and 16 feet across, lies at the bottom of the Tobago Ocean floor. Popular underwater tours are to the Angel Reef, Japanese Gardens, Blackjack Hole and The Sisters, all of which can be found off the coast of Tobago near Speyside.

Bird Watching and Eco Tourism

For avid bird lovers, there are extensive tours to showcase over 400 species in Trinidad and 210 in Tobago. The species of birds include the Tufted Coquette, Toucan, Yellow Headed Parrot, Red-billed Macaw, Osprey and of course the Scarlet Ibis which is the national bird. Some of the recommended tours in Trinidad are the Pax Guest House, Mount St Benedict, which offers birding packages and accommodations on their 600-acre tropical rain forest in North Trinidad. Similarly, the Asa Wright Nature Centre and Lodge, near the Eastern Borough of Arima, offers the most accessible colony of oilbirds on their 200-acre conservation in North Trinidad. The centre offers buffet-lunch, 2 hour guided tours and visitors are encouraged to bathe in its waterfall and pool. The Point-A-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust in South Trinidad offers daily tours around their resource and learning centre, that protects endangered waterfowl.

Those wanting to take an adventure by boat to a smaller island off the coast of Tobago can enjoy an exclusive wildlife sanctuary on an island called Little Tobago. All of the nature reserves are equipped with knowledgeable guides, nature trails and maps.

The adventure does not stop here, as there is the flora and fauna for the nature lovers who enjoy ecological wonders, tropical flowers, magnificent trees and rich plant life. In April and May the hills are alive with the flamboyant pink and yellow colors of the Poui tree. Both islands offer botanical gardens that are free to the public and have accessible information about the plant life, without the use of guides. There are several trails to explore, with tour guides to take you through the lush, green tropical forest.

Other tours of interest include one to the famous Pitch Lake, located in La Brea, South Trinidad. As the name suggests, the lake is an endlessly replenished supply of pitch or natural asphalt that is used to cover roadways. Tours can be arranged from major hotels and through local operators.

Another delight of the twin isles is that the East Coast beaches. Here you will find protected beaches that play host to Leatherback Turtle Egg Nesting, which takes place from March to August every year. Access to the protected beaches is only made available through guided tours. Visitors can get close to the leatherback turtles as they lay their eggs.

Waterfall hikes are very popular with tour groups. The Paria Waterfall in Trinidad offers one of the most scenic hikes on the northern coastline. Other options are the Maracas Falls, Maracas; Salybia Waterfall, Arima and the Rincon Waterfall in Las Cuevas. In Tobago there is the Argyle Waterfall in Roxborough.