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TRINIDAD
Beaches – yes. Sun – yes. Palm trees – lots.
But if that’s all you expect from a tropical holiday in Trinidad, this is the wrong place.
Keston Benthum plays his mas in Brian Mac Farlane’s
Carnival band, India—The Story of Boyie.
Andrea De Silva
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Culturally, historically and ecologically rich, Trinidad is not a postcard Caribbean destination. Energy – both from oil and natural gas, and from the seemingly bottomless resources of its people – give Trinidad a country-on-the-rise vibe not usually associated with the Caribbean.
And then there’s Carnival. If you haven’t visited Trinidad for sun and sea or for bird watching, chances are the stamp in your passport is for Carnival. The season comes early in the year, often beginning just after Christmas. The non-stop partying, the calypso and steelband competitions, and the endless hours of costume construction, culminate in a two-day street masquerade that has become a model for Carnival-making around the world.
Expect good restaurants and great street food. Go shopping for everything from hand-crafted leather sandals to the top designer brands. Nightlife – uptown, downtown and everything in between – is practically inescapable, unless you’re staying out of town at a nature lodge. This is Trinidad.
Highlights
Carnival in February/March, with the run-up season starting in January. The Hindu festivals of Divali (the festival of lights) and Phagwah (the festival of spring). The Muslim festivals of Eid-ul- Fitr (the end of the Ramadan fast) and Hosay. Emancipation Day on August 1, Indian Arrival Day on May 30. more »
The country’s own music: calypso, soca, steel band, Christmas parang, Indian chutney. Jazz festivals in Tobago (April) and Trinidad (October). more »
The Asa Wright Nature Centre, Mount St Benedict, the Caroni Nature Reserve, Nariva Swamp, the Pointe-à-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust, bird-watching almost everywhere. more »
Maracas, Las Cuevas, Mayaro and Manzanilla. more »
Chaguaramas and the offshore islands. more »
Port of Spain, St James and Chaguaramas. more »
Downtown Port of Spain and the malls, Chaguanas. more »
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