Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is a small state, compactly located on several islands, comfortably located in the Caribbean Sea. The republic got its name in honor of the two main islands.

The country has a developed oil and gas industry, chemical industry and agriculture. In recent years, the tourism sector has been actively developing — an appropriate infrastructure is being created, hotels are being built, beaches are being ennobled.

By the way! Finding Trinidad and Tobago on the world map is easy! The archipelago is located off the coast of Venezuela, in the upper right corner of the South American continent.

The mild climate, beautiful nature and many natural beaches contribute to the development of the tourist destination.

History and modern realities

The state of Trinidad and Tobago is a contented young state that gained its independence only in 1962. Prior to that, the country was under the jurisdiction of the British Crown, being a full-fledged colony of Great Britain. After gaining independence, the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago became one of the members of the Commonwealth of Nations.

Remarkably, the islands were discovered by the legendary Columbus in 1498 and for a long time the Spaniards dominated there. In 1797, the British flotilla surrounded Trinidad and resubjugated the lands to itself, although the islands officially became a British colony only five years later.

The influence of the British still affects today, more than half a century after the island republic gained independence. So, the majority of the population speaks English, which is the state language. Also in some regions of the republic are common:

• Spanish;
• Creole;
• the dialect of the native Indian population.

The population of Trinidad and Tobago is diverse. More than half come from India and Africa, whose ancestors were brought here as slaves. Another 20% are Creoles, as well as people from Europe, Asia and Arab countries.

If we talk about faith, then the country of Trinidad and Tobago is inhabited by believers of different faiths:

• Catholics;
• Hindus;
• Baptists;
• Muslims;
• Pentecostals, etc.

It is worth adding that for a long time the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was an industrial country focused on oil production and its processing, which also allowed the development of the chemical industry. Much attention is paid to agriculture, because the favorable climate makes it possible to grow citrus fruits and coconuts. The state is still one of the world’s largest suppliers of sugar cane.

However, recently green tourism has been actively developing here, becoming more and more in demand all over the world. Fortunately, the islands are ideal for this type of holiday.

In addition, there are many unique cultural events that attract tourists from all over the world. So, many are interested in carnivals in Trinidad and Tobago, bright and colorful festivals.

Note. The coat of arms of Trinidad and Tobago was created taking into account all the features of the republic. So, in the lower part there is a trio of ships on which the European discoverers sailed here. The uniqueness of the fauna and flora is emphasized by two hummingbirds. And the main elements are two other birds. The most beautiful, unique red ibis symbolizes Trinidad. And another bird — the red-tailed chachalaka — is a symbol of Tobago.

Climate

The islands have a warm, pleasant climate, suggesting a good rest at any time of the year. Although, of course, the weather in Trinidad and Tobago depends on the specific month. Temperature indicators are as follows:

• average annual +26 degrees;
• the hottest period is observed from the beginning of the year and lasts until the end of May — thermometers on average rise to +31 degrees during the day and do not fall below +22 degrees at night.

There is also a rainy season here — it lasts from the end of June to the end of September, although in some years it can stretch until the beginning of winter. During this period, more than 250 millimeters of precipitation can fall in just one month.

By the way. Despite the fact that the archipelago is located in the Caribbean Sea, it is practically not affected by the elements — hurricanes bypass the islands.

Main cities

Now that you know exactly where Trinidad and Tobago is located, let’s talk about the main cities of the republic. Naturally, we will talk not only about the largest, but about iconic settlements.

The capital of Trinidad and Tobago is the large city of Port of Spain, which is home to more than 50,000 Trinidadians. Naturally, as the capital, Port of Spain is the center of:

• political;
• public;
• cultural life.

For example, authorities, financial and other administrative institutions are located here. The city attracts tourists with a large number of cultural institutions, especially museums, in which:

• you can learn not only the history of the republic, but also the surrounding countries, as well as learn a lot of new and interesting things from the history of Spain and Great Britain — after all, these countries owned the archipelago for a long time;
• get acquainted with the peculiarities of the life of the indigenous population;
• learn the history of money circulation;
• get acquainted with magnificent paintings and other works of art.

The architecture of the capital will also please with its diversity, in which various directions are harmoniously combined, which have absorbed the most characteristic features of the three religious directions — Islam, Christianity, Hinduism.

Another city of the state of Trinidad and Tobago, San Juan, deserves mention, in which even more people live than directly in the capital. It is located near the sea coast, and there are good hotels in the village itself.

But the city of St. James in Trinidad and Tobago is perhaps the most popular among tourists, since it has ideal conditions for a good rest. This is where most tours are sold!

Other cities in the country include:

Each of them can rightfully be considered a true attraction of the islands — there are a lot of interesting, unusual and memorable in the settlements. These are both historical places and architectural beauties. Not to mention the beaches, parks and gardens!

Today, holidays in Trinidad and Tobago are in demand by tourists from many parts of the globe. After all, there are a lot of amazing sights, unique nature, including birds and, of course, beaches, although not many kilometers long, but cozy and surrounded by forests and mountains.

Sights of the island republic

So, walking around the capital, you should definitely visit Queen Savannah Park — this is a park that has no analogues in the Caribbean, with an area of ​​​​more than 1 square kilometer. Here are excellent conditions for a good rest for residents of the city and tourists. And around the park are located:

• zoological park;
• Botanical Garden;
• and even the residence of the President of the country.

Once upon a time, horse races were held here, and now the preserved tribune is filled with spectators during various cultural events.

The hallmark of this park area is the Magnificent Seven — unsurpassed, beautiful buildings, the architectural style of which is close to Victorian.

In the capital, it is also recommended to visit the Museum of Money — in it you can find out which coins of Trinidad and Tobago were entered several decades ago, get acquainted with the peculiarities of the development of the monetary system not only in this country.

Little Tobago Island will delight fans of fauna and flora as it hosts the largest nature reserve.

Describing the sights of Trinidad and Tobago, it is impossible not to mention Maracas Bay. This area is in demand among tourists, located on the seashore and has the shape of a crescent. The arc of the bay is almost 2 kilometers long. The special attraction of the beach, filled with the finest sand, lies in its surroundings:

• palm groves;
• colorful fishing villages;
• comfortable hotels and other facilities created specifically to attract tourists.

The only drawback of the bay lies precisely in its popularity among tourists — it is always too crowded here, and given certain facilities for a fun youth holiday, it is not suitable for tourists with children. But they should not lose heart — they can settle a little further, on the shore of a quieter and more peaceful Tairiko Bay, and come here during the day to admire Maracas Bay.

A must visit is Pitch Lake filled with… asphalt! Under it are oil deposits, which, under the influence of the high temperatures of the ancient volcano and high pressure, turn into high-quality asphalt. This natural plant operates year-round and provides raw materials for road pavement not only on the islands of the republic. So, it was used to equip the area around Buckingham Palace.

Country currency

Naturally, going on any trip, you should stock up on the money of the country where you are going to rest. The currency of Trinidad and Tobago is the local dollar. US dollars are also freely accepted.

The current exchange rate today: for 11 Russian rubles you can buy 1 Trinidad dollar. Currency exchange is organized in banks operating from Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 17:00, and on Fridays from 9 am to 12 noon, as well as from 15:00 to 17:00. In the vast majority of financial institutions on Saturday and Sunday days off.

Also, currency exchange can be done at currency exchange offices that operate not only on the streets of the city, but also in hotels. Their work schedule actually coincides with the work schedule of banks. But on weekends and holidays, currency exchange is organized at the airport and various tourist establishments — the same restaurants and retail outlets.

Bank cards of all known payment systems are accepted for payment in hotels, restaurants, large tourist establishments.

Note. Most stores charge a commission for card payments — 5% of the purchase amount.

If you decide to withdraw money from the card in Trinidad and Tobago, then use ATMs marked TIDCO for this.

Timezone

Time in Trinidad and Tobago differs from Russian time — in particular, the difference is 7 hours. If in Moscow it is 12:00 noon, then in Trinidad and Tobago it is only 5:00 in the morning.

The entire country is in the UTC -04:00 time zone, while there is no clock movement in autumn and winter.

Where to stay?

In every city of the republic, and especially in settlements intended for tourist recreation, there are modern hotels. If you are interested in hotels in Trinidad and Tobago, please note that the price depends not only on the distance from the sea, but to a greater extent on the level of service and the quality of the rooms.

For example, a night in one of the most prestigious hotels in the country, the Hilton Trinidad and Conference Center, will cost about 10,000 rubles. There are both more expensive and cheaper hotels — on average, one night’s stay in the hotels of the capital will cost tourists from 6 to 12 thousand rubles.

However, accommodation in tourist centers will be even more expensive — in some establishments the cost of a day is about 18 thousand rubles. We are talking about the hotel Turtle Beach (Scarborough).

Souvenirs

Do you want to please your family and friends with Caribbean souvenirs and unusual gifts? Whatever you bring, be sure of the sincere joy of the recipients.

Naturally, Trinidad and Tobago is famous for its rum — real, delicious and prepared according to old pirate recipes, but always in accordance with all modern standards.

Fruits and vegetables are often brought from the islands:

• papaya
• passion fruit.

And if you are not in the season of their ripening, then get at least a jar of canned fruits of these fruits. Believe me, they are radically different from those presented in our supermarkets, because they are prepared according to unique Caribbean recipes! Seafood is also a good choice.

Local craftsmen make colorful, authentic souvenirs, among which it is easy to choose items for virtually every taste — these are brooches, pendants, magnets, and even pirate ships, on which all the details are amazingly accurately carved!

How to get there?

There is only one option — by plane. The flight will take more than 17 hours and will require a transfer. A visa to Trinidad and Tobago for Russians is not required if you are going on vacation, the period of which does not exceed 90 days. However, you will additionally need to obtain a UK visa, since the flight is carried out with a transfer in London, where you will need to leave one airport and move to another.

For those who want to stay in the archipelagos for more than three months, you will have to apply for a full-fledged visa — for this you need to contact the British consulate.

There are several airports of international importance in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, so when choosing tickets, take this into account and focus on the one that is closest to your vacation spot!