Official Language:
English
Secondary Language:
Hindi, Creole, Spanish and Chinese
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Currency:
TT Dollar
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Population:
Approximately 1, 270,000 (Trinidad 1,220,000; Tobago 50,000) people call Trinidad & Tobago home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Trinidad & Tobago/Port of Spain: The best time to visit is January-May. Daytime temperatures average in the 80s°F (28-32°C), with night temperatures in the 60s-70s°F(15-27°C). Trade winds, keep it from feeling excessively hot. June-November is the rainy season, when rain is common and humidity high. Both islands are usually outside the path of hurricanes.
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Trinidad & Tobago are the twin islands that are densely populated. Trinidad is known for hosting the loudest, wildest and most popular Carnival in the Caribbean where as her sister island of Tobago is much more relaxed, slow-paced and largely undeveloped. Other festivals in Trinidad include the Pan Jazz Festival, held in November, Divali, which usually falls in November. The Tobago's Heritage Festival is a two week traditional-style festival that begin in late July.
Trinidad was first sighted in 1498 by Columbus. He christened it La Isla de la Trinidad, for the Holy Trinity. It took the Spanish until 1592 to establish their first settlement, Sam Josef. San Josef, is located east of the Port of Spain. Through the next two centuries unsuccessful attempts were made by Spanish colonizers to establish tobacco and cacao plantations. There were crop failures and lack of support from Spain . This resulted in the British taking over the islands from the Spanish in 1797. When slavery was abolished in the1830s this prompted the British to import thousands of indentured workers, mostly from India, to work in the cane fields and service the colony. During the 17th century, Tobago changed hands numerous times as the English, French, Dutch and even Courlanders all fought for control. In 1704 it was declared a neutral territory. The British returned to establish a colonial administration on Tobago in 1763, and within the next two decades 10,000 African slaves were imported. They established the island's sugar, cotton and indigo plantations. Tobago's plantation economy then slid into decline after the abolition of slavery, however the sugar and rum production continued up until 1884. The London firm that controlled finances for the island's plantations went bankrupt. This lead to plantation owners being unable to sell their sugar or rum. They then quickly sold or abandoned their land. This left the economy in shambles. . As a consequence of the depression of the 1930's the British granted universal suffrage in 1946 and took measures to institute self-government. Independence came in 1962. The oil boom of the 1970s brought prosperity to the islands, though the East Indian community became increasingly isolated from political power. In July of 1990, members of a minority Muslim group attempted a coup. Storming parliament and taking 45 hostages, including the prime minister ANR Robinson.
Tobago has beautiful white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters. Cruise passengers will enjoy the beaches and reefs that this undiscovered Caribbean gem has to offer. There's a coral reef at Buccoo Bay, and a concentration of dive sites around Little Tobago, Goat Island and St Giles Island. These are three uninhabited islets off Tobago's northern coast. Good snorkeling can be found at Pirate's Bay on the northern side of Charlotteville and at Angel Reef, located off Goat Island. Trinidad has several fine hiking trails, a favorite is the trail to Blue Basin Waterfall in the Northern Range. Hiking in the Tobago Forest Reserve has a number of safer trailheads that lead into the rainforest. Visitors will get the chance to see parrots, hummingbirds, motmots, coricos, woodpeckers and trogons on these hiking trails.
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Attractions |
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Carnival:
Two days before Ash Wednesday in either February or March, is when the big party takes place in Trinidad. This is the king of all Caribbean Carnivals.
The party starts with a pre-dawn procession into the heart of the city. Thousands from around the world are invited to become part of the party. Nightfall brings everyone into the streets dancing, drinking and carousing.
Port of Spain:
The islands' busy metropolitan capital, of 300,000 people. Attractions are limited to a few 19th-century colonial buildings. The heart of the city is Independence Square, consisting of two long streets bordering a narrow pedestrian strip.
Queen's Park Savannah:
Located on the northern edge of the city, this park consists of 199 acres complete with soccer, cricket, and rugby fields. At one time a sugar plantation, until it was swept by a fire in 1808.
Whitehall:
Once a private mansion, this location also served as the U.S. Army headquarters here during World War II.
Magnificent Seven:
Large mansions that stand in a row.
National Museum and Art Gallery:
Located at 117 Frederick Street, this free museum offers exhibits of Trinidad artists. An entire gallery is devoted to Jean Michel Cazabon. The museum offers collections of artifacts reviewing the island's history and culture, Amerindian archaeology, and British historical documents. There is also a small natural-history exhibition including geology, corals, and insect collections as well as a display filled with costumes dedicated to the colorful culture of Carnival.
Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception:
The Roman Catholic church was built in 1815. A neo-Gothic style that was consecrated in 1832.
Royal Botanical Gardens:
A 70 acres (28 hectares) park filled with flowering plants, shrubs, and rare and beautiful trees. There is also an orchid house. Dont miss the raw beef tree: An incision made in the bark is said to look like a bleeding roast beef. Guides are available and will explain luxuriant foliage. The President's House, is located in the gardens. It is the official residence of the president of Trinidad and Tobago.
Asa Wright Nature Center:
A former cocoa and coffee plantation, now a nature reserve. Located in the rainforest in the Northern Range, this center has attracted naturalists from around the globe. Founded in 1967, it offeres a wide variety of bird species that inhabit this area. Visitors will get the chance to see the blue-crowned motmots, chestnut woodpeckers, palm tanagers, blue-headed parrots and channel-billed toucans.
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More Information |
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Web: http://www.visittnt.com
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