Before You Travel to the Caribbean: Trinidad & Tobago Island Guide

Location: Between the Caribbean and the Atlantic, northeast of Venezuela

Size: Trinidad, 850 square miles; Tobago, 16 square miles

Capital: Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

Language: English' French, Spanish and Hindi widely spoken

Religions: Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Islam, Jewish

Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar; U.S. dollar widely accepted

Area Code: 868

Tipping: 10-15%

Weather: Rainy season June-Dec.. Average temp 82 degrees. Located outside the hurricane belt.

Port-of-Spain is a big, bustling modern city of 500,000, but get out into the country and you’ll find natural attractions and wildlife. One fascinating spot is Pitch Lake, 100 acres of soft, sticky tar that’s the source of much of the world’s asphalt. Trinidad and Tobago are known for their incredible diversity of wildlife, especially birds. You can see the national bird, the scarlet ibis, at the Caroni Bird Sanctuary. The pace is a bit slower on Tobago. Top activities here include diving to see the world’s largest brain coral, and deep-sea fishing for big-game fish.

Although Trinidad has a large number of beaches, they are not as picture-perfect as Tobago’s. Those on the north shore, including Balandra Bay, are best for swimming. Maracas Bay is popular with locals and has good facilities. On Tobago, Pigeon Point Beach is particularly charming; Great Courland Bay has crystal-clear water; and unspoiled Englishman’s Bay is somewhat wild — most likely, you’ll have all of it to yourself.

Many visitors to Trinidad come on business, so the majority of hotels on this island cater to them and are near the capital. One exception, and a recommended option for nature lovers, is the Asa Wright Nature Centre Lodge, a bird-watching facility that’s a true wilderness retreat. Tobago is more of a tourist destination and has some upscale resorts like Le Grand Courlan Resort & Spa and Hilton Tobago, as well as less expensive guesthouses and villas.

The cuisine on these islands is a happy melting pot of African, Indian, Chinese, French and Spanish influences. You’ll see rotis, a sandwich consisting of soft tortilla-like wrap and a filling; vindaloo, a spicily sauced meat and vegetable dish from India; as well as pelau from Spain, chicken in coconut milk with peas and rice. Be sure to wash it all down with a native fruit juice. On Tobago, try Kariwak Village Restaurant, which has an especially appealing Friday and Saturday buffet dinner.

The Spanish colonized the islands, but they later came under British control. Slavery was abolished in 1834, opening the door for contract laborers from India. Oil was discovered on Trinidad in 1910; the islands became independent in 1962. The ethnic mix of these islands, mainly African and West Indian, makes for an especially rich culture. This is the birthplace of calypso, limbo and steel drum. The islands also claim two Nobel prize winners for literature, V.S. Naipaul, a native Trinidadian, and Derek Walcott, who moved there from St. Lucia.

Trinidad’s Carnival, which takes place in either February or March, is a huge festival and one of best reasons to head to this island. The Tobago Heritage Festival from July to August celebrates that island’s music, food and dance.

As you’d expect of the country that gave birth to such Caribbean musical traditions as calypso, soca and steel drum, the nightlife — particularly on Trinidad in the vicinity of Port-of-Spain — offers extensive options. Bars, nightclubs, hanging out at rumshops, dancing and listening to music are some of the options. Try 51° Lounge for dancing or Trotters, an English-style pub, if you’re in the mood for a beer and sports. The nightlife on Tobago tends to center on the resorts.