Discovering Trinidad: Top 10 Must-See Attractions for Cruisers
Many people hear steel drums and calypso music and instantly think of the Caribbean, when in fact they should be thinking of one Caribbean island in particular, Trinidad. Geographically, Trinidad is part of South America, since it is only 8 miles from the continent and they only separated 10,000 years ago. But culturally speaking, Trinidad is most definitely Caribbean!!!!
One thing I found surprising is that the island that is by far the largest in the Eastern Caribbean also has the fewest places to take a vessel. In reality there are only a handful of anchorages to visit and most people sail here to escape hurricanes and have work done to their boats.
Does that mean there is nothing to see? Absolutely not and below are my top ten sites in Trinidad.
10. Chaguaramas Military Museum
The main anchorage and the location of all the boat yards is in Chaguaramas. A 30 minute walk towards Port of Spain you will come upon a great little military museum that was the passion of Lt. Cmdr. Gaylord Kelshall (ret). While the displays are a little cheesy, the information is top notch and follows military advancements from the dawn of time until today in Trinidad. Sadly Mr Kelshall passed away several years ago and the museum has suffered in his absence.
9. Gaspar Grande Island
One of the islands forming the Chaguaramas anchorage is now a quiet community of very nice homes, but the main reason to join a tour to visit this island is the underground lake. This large cavern has several holes in the ceiling to let in natural light as you swim around in crystal clear Caribbean water…but underground! Also of note is the World War 2 ear gun emplacements to protect what was once the 2nd largest US Naval base.
8. Tracking Station hike
North of the anchorage, into the hills there is a wonderful hike taking you to an abandoned Cold War era early warning missile tracking station complete with barracks, offices, and a huge dish. It now has an apocalyptic feel to it. I recommend going in the early morning so you have a chance of seeing a troupe of local howler monkeys. Also, one of the first things you will see on the hike is the Bamboo Cathedral, which is a naturally formed arched passage through the bamboo forest.
Stollmeyer’s Castle
7. Port Of Spain
The capital and heart of Trinidad might not look like a great place to visit, but there is plenty to keep you occupied for a day or two. The Magnificent Seven Houses are beautiful colonial buildings and the botanical garden is one of the oldest in the Caribbean. There is all the national museum, the zoo, Queen’s Park Savannah, and the view from Fort George on the hill overlooking the city and bay is not to be missed.
6. Swamp tours
I know swamp tours do not sound exciting, but if you love birds and nature then it is a must see. Caroni Bird Sanctuary is on the west coast and just south of Port of Spain and the best time to visit is in the later afternoon when the scarlet ibis return home from Venezuela. You will also see flamingos, herons, kingfishers, and 150 other species plus boas, caimans, raccoons, and more. Nariva Swamp is another tour to take and it is on the east coast, less visited, and much shallower, meaning smaller boats. Here I saw snakes, crabs, and monkeys. Also, just outside Nariva Swamp are watermelon farms, so you can gorge at roadside stands.
5. North ridge mountains
The northern part of Trinidad is a mountain range that continues from Venezuela and is full of adventure. A few of my favorites are Mount St. Benedict Abbey, which is a Catholic monastery established in 1912. If you visit on Sunday afternoon you might be able to join for a tea ceremony. Nearby is Maracas Waterfall, which is just one of many, many waterfalls in the area. What makes this one special is that it is the only one that continues to flow all year, including the dry season. My favorite spot in the North Range is the Asa Wright Nature Center. Here in the cool mountain air you can have lunch on the veranda and watch hummingbirds or you can take one of their guided tours into the jungle. They even have rooms to rent to extend your time in this magical place.
4. Geothermic features
Pitch Lake is the largest natural deposit of asphalt in the world and walking across it is quite an experience. You can find spots that are hard as rocks, other spots feel like you are walking on the moon, and others are so gooey you will never get it off. Pitch Lake is located in the southwest part of the island and nearby you can find a dozen or so mud volcanoes, which is another cool experience. These tend to be large holes in the ground that are filled with mud. They are not hot, but they do bubble and swimming in them is something you will talk about for years.
3. Carnival
My second trip to Trinidad was planned specifically to partake in the Carnival season. While there are tons of private parties you can try to attend, my favorite activities included a historic carnival at the university, the crowning of the queen and king costume competition, walking the streets during the J’Ouvert celebration, and of course the day long parade. Carnival in Trinidad is second on to the one in Rio in size and I had an amazing time.
2. Chacachacare Island
While I did say there were not many anchorages to visit with your boat, Chacachacare Island is the best place to take your boat. This island is an abandoned leper colony and many of the houses and buildings are still there. The highlights are the Doctor’s House, the Nunnery and the hospital. Plus the hike to the lighthouse is worth the view. This island is only about five miles from Chaguaramas, but it is secluded and I found the colony to be fascinating and spooky at the same time.
1. Taste of Trini Tour
The number one thing I did in Trinidad, and in fact the best tour I have ever taken period, was Jesse James’ Taste of Trini Tour. Jesse James is the go to contact for anything a cruiser needs on Trinidad and he can be found in Power Boats shipyard. He has put together an 8-10 hour tour showing off the unique combination of West African, Indian, European, and Arab foods found on Trinidad and the history of why they are all found on the island. The only bad part of this tour is how much my stomach hurt after stuffing SO much food into it! Another double please.
Captain Shane is in the Virgin Islands running charters while making first mate Lily excited to visit Trinidad & Tobago and other parts of the Eastern Caribbean.
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