Holidays and events
Public holidays
There are a number of public holidays that do not have a fixed date but are based on the time of Easter. Easter falls on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the beginning of spring. Lent, which lasts 46 days, begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Holy Saturday. Pentecost is 50 days after Easter.
Date | Holiday |
January 1 | New Year |
March | Easter: Good Friday and Easter Monday |
March – first full moon | Phagwa: Holi Festival: New Year celebrations for the Indian communities |
March 30 | Shouter Baptist Liberation Day |
April – 2nd Sunday after Easter | La Divina Pastora |
30th May | Indian Arrival Day (arrival of the Indian contract workers from Calcutta 1845) |
May | Pentecost, Whit Monday (White Monday) |
May | Corpus Christi: Corpus Christi processions |
June 19 | Labor Day: Labor Day |
June | Hosay – Shiite Muslims commemorate the martyr Hussein and his brother Hassan during the Holy War |
August 1 | Emancipation Day: in memory of the release of the slaves in 1834 |
August 31 | Independence Day: on this day the independence from Great Britain (1962) is celebrated |
Last week of August | Feast of Santa Rosa de Lima: Festival in honor of the Indian ancestors in Arima |
September 24 | Republic Day: Proclamation of the Republic (1976) |
December | Eid-ul-Fitr: Muslim holiday at the end of Ramadan (the date depends on the new moon) |
December 25th and 26 | Christmas: December 25th:Christmas Day
December 26th: Boxing Day |
Source: Countryaah – Trinidad and Tobago Holidays
Cultural events
January/February – Steelband Festivals
In January the steelbands rehearse for the Panorama Festival, which takes place in Port of Spain in February. The best steel bands in the country perform at this major musical event after having qualified in various preliminary rounds in January.
February – Carnival Monday & Carnival Tuesday
The Carnival in Port of Spain is known far beyond the country’s borders and is by far the largest, most colorful and exuberant cultural event of the whole year.
March – Tuesday after Easter: Goart and Crab Races
goat and crab races; fun for young and old, lots of betting and partying until the early hours of the morning.
May – Pan Ramajay Festival
A pan and jazz competition
May – Festival of Rapso and the Oral Traditions
Mix of rap, soca melodies, calypso and African drum rhythms.
June- St. Peter’s Day
Traditional fishing festivals on the beaches of the fishing villages.
July – Charlottville Fishermen’s Fete
One of Tobago ‘s largest fishing festivals in Charlottville on the Man of War Bay.
July – Tobago Heritage Festival
These days remember the African and colonial traditions by performing ancient ceremonies and folk dances and displaying handicrafts.
August – Steelband Week
open air concerts and parades in Port of Spain.
September – Folk Fair
Traditional folk festival in Port of Spain.
October – Divali
Hindu festival of lights in honor of the goddess of light. The triumph of good over evil is celebrated. In the evening small oil lamps are lit everywhere, during the day there is a church service and in the evening there is a feast to which people of different faiths are invited.
October – Best Village Competition
Countless villages compete against each other in the battle for the title of best place: the disciplines include dance, theater and song.
November to January – Parang Festivals
Traditional Christmas music of the Trinbagonians.
November – Pan Jazz Festival
International music festival.
Sporting events
May – Angostura Yachting Week Regatta
legendary yacht regatta around Pigeon Point and Mt. Irvine Bay in Tobago.
August – Du Maurier Great Race Classic
speed boats start in Chaguaramas, destination is Store Bay. The race is so popular that it now also takes place in February, March and October.
Football
The Trinbagonians are extremely enthusiastic about football; In 2005 they managed for the first time to qualify for a World Cup (2006 in Germany). There they were eliminated in the preliminary round and did not score a goal. But they defied the Swedish national team in a draw.
Trinidad and Tobago: climate
The islands of Trinidad and Tobago have a tropical climate, which means high temperatures all year round. However, the times of day cause large fluctuations. The sun rises at six in the morning all year round. At this early hour it is relatively cool with 20-22 degrees Celsius. When the sun reaches its highest level at noon, it gets 30 – 32 °C, in the afternoon the temperatures drop quickly. Nevertheless, every traveler will still look for cooling off even at night. The trade winds that come from the east create a pleasant breeze, but the humidity is very high all year round and can quickly lead to circulatory problems when there is no wind.
There are basically only two seasons of the year in the Caribbean Islands: the dry season from January to May and the rainy season from June to December. In the rainy season it rains a lot, but these are often short and heavy tropical showers that flood the streets in a few minutes and then disappear as quickly as they came. The water then evaporates in the sun and nothing happens at first until another shower follows hours or even days later. You rarely have to reckon with days of bad weather on the Caribbean islands.
Travel times
There is actually no best time to travel to Trinidad and Tobago. During the rainy season, the islands are particularly beautiful due to the particularly lush vegetation, but rain showers and high humidity are to be expected. Other Caribbean islands are also affected by hurricanes during the summer and autumn months, but Trinidad, the northernmost of the “islands above the wind”, is spared this natural event. All year round there is a tropical climate in Trinidad & Tobago with high temperatures, high humidity and a lot of sun, so that the sun seekerswho do not have any problems with the humidity, are in good hands here at any time of the year. The main season is from December to April, during this period the prices rise by 10 – 50%. During the Carnival in February, Trinidad is almost completely booked out with visitors wanting to experience this colorful festival. You should make reservations early and take into account the disproportionately higher costs and the large number of visitors.
For people who prefer a moderate climate, Trinidad is not recommended, the temperatures are always quite high and the humidity should not be underestimated, even during the dry season.
Climate table
The following table shows climate data for Trinidad & Tobago. It should be noted that the climatic conditions in different regions of the country can differ from each other and thus also from the values shown. In addition, the monthly temperature averages have little informative value with regard to the minimum or maximum temperatures. It is possible that at average temperatures of around 20 °C maximum values of 30 °C or more occur. The table therefore only provides a general overview of the climatic conditions in Trinidad & Tobago.
Month | Average number of rainy days | Mean maximum temperatures in (°C) | Mean minimum temperatures in (°C) | Average humidity in% |
January | 07-08 | 30-32 | 20-22 | 80 |
February | 06 – 07 | 30-32 | 19-21 | 77 |
March | 05 – 06 | 31-33 | 19-21 | 74 |
April | 05 – 06 | 31 – 3 | 20-22 | 73 |
May | 07-08 | 31-33 | 21-23 | 75 |
June | 15-17 | 31-33 | 21-23 | 78 |
July | 21-23 | 30-32 | 21-23 | 80 |
August | 22-24 | 30-32 | 21-23 | 81 |
September | 18-20 | 31-33 | 21-23 | 81 |
October | 17-19 | 31-33 | 21-23 | 82 |
November | 17-19 | 31-33 | 21-23 | 84 |
December | 16-18 | 30-32 | 20-22 | 80 |
National customs
In terms of tourism, Trinidad & Tobago is different from most of the other Caribbean islands. The Trinbagonians appreciate the visitors, but are not necessarily dependent on them economically. The island state has an adequate supply of mineral resources such as oil, natural gas, iron ore, fluorspar and the world’s largest source of tar. Sugar, coffee, cocoa and tobacco can also be sold. The islanders are usually very polite and open-minded towards strangers.
In Trinidad & Tobago, sunbathing in the nude or topless is not desired and even frowned upon, so that anyone who nevertheless puts the seamless tan above the national customs should not be surprised at the sensitive reactions of the locals.
Drugs and drug trafficking of any kind are strictly forbidden in Trinidad and Tobago and are subject to heavy fines and even jail.
Women can move around alone on both islands extremely well and are not subject to any restrictions in Muslim areas either.
With regard to tips, it should first be noted that a mandatory 15% VAT is added to every invoice, around 10% additional tips are common. Tips are also expected from taxi drivers (not taxicabs), porters and hairdressers.
Trinidad and Tobago: Sightseeing
- Abbreviationfinder.org: Presents the way that TNT stands for the nation of Trinidad and Tobago as a two-letter acronym.
Cities and towns
Port of Spain
The capital of Trinidad & Tobago is Port of Spain, located in northwestern Trinidad on the Gulf of Paria. With over 350,000 residents, Port of Spain is also the largest city in the island state and the country’s economic, cultural and political center. The port gave the city its name.
In 1757 the Spanish governor Don José María Chacón moved his seat to the coast and built a large port in 1784. Port of Spain is a city with many faces: skyscrapers stand next to small wooden huts, boutiques next to bazaars and cathedrals next to Hindu temples. Port of Spain has two city centers: the historical part (Down Town) is laid out like a chessboard and has narrow streets. The center goes from Independence Square to the south and Woodford Square to the north.
The other center is the 2 km² Queen’s Park Savannah on the northeastern edge of the city. Most of the visitors come for the art monuments and other sights. But the bazaars, vegetable stands and other street vendors also determine the image of the city and give Port of Spain its charisma.
Arima
Arima lies at the foot of the “Northern Range” and is considered to be one of the earliest settlements in Trinidad. In 1780, Governor Jose Maria Chacon declared Arima to be a trading hub for the surrounding towns. From this flair of the trade of the people of all surrounding districts, Arima has retained much to this day. However, like most cities in the island state, Arima does not have many sights to offer, but is more of a transit station on the way to the east coast or the surrounding area.
San Fernando
San Fernando is the second largest city in Trinidad after Port of Spain with almost 60,000 residents. San Fernando has become prosperous thanks to its port and the oil refineries in the north of the city. The urban area extends around San Fernando Hill, the city center is Harris Promenade, where a monument to Mahatma Gandhi was erected.
Scarborough
Scarborough is the capital of Tobago. It is located on the southwest coast of the island in Rockly Bay and was founded by Scottish settlers in the mid-18th century. From 1768, when George Town was given up as the seat of government, the place developed and grew into the new capital. Today Sarborough is the most important and largest trading and port city of Tobago, but has remained rather provincial with 20,000 residents, even though the port facilities and the promenade were expanded in 1990.
Blanchisseuse
This place is the most beautiful fishing village on the north coast of Trinidad.
St. Joseph
The old capital of Trinidad
Charlotteville
A small Caribbean fishing village
Plymouth
The oldest town in Tobago
Speyside
The center of east Tobago
Squares, parks and streets
Plaza Mayor in Port of Spain
This square
Independence Square in Port of Spain
The Independence Square; once a two-lane road with a green strip in the middle. Today the square is pedestrianized and bordered by two tall skyscrapers of the financial district in the northwest and the “Cathedral of Immaculate Conception” in the southeast. Here, in the undisputed center of the city and the entire island state, the carnival parades begin. All major banks are based here.
Columbus Square in Port of Spain
The southeast extension of Independence Square. Here is a statue of the great explorer Columbus.
Woodford Square in Port of Spain
This square is often compared to Speaker’s Corner in London’s Hyde Park. The small park is considered the central square of the city. It is fenced, square and about 100 x 100 m in size. There is a bandstand, a fountain and benches. Courthouses, churches, shops and cafes surround the green square.
Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain
The largest and most beautiful park in the center of the city was once a sugar cane plantation. The Memorial Park borders Queen’s Park on the southern edge and the Botanical Gardens with the Empire Valley Zoo on the northern edge. On the west side of the park, along Maraval Road, are the seven famous historic buildings, called “The Magnificent Seven” (see buildings).
St. Clair district of Port of Spain
In the midst of beautiful gardens there are magnificent villas in this noble district and the most beautiful cricket ground in the Caribbean is also located here.
St. James district of Port of Spain
This district, which its residents say “it never sleeps”, is home to a variety of restaurants, bars and shops.
Laventille district of Port of Spain
Historic district with terraced buildings.
Hollis Avenue in Arima
There are market stalls and the Calypso statue to admire.
Santa Rosa Race Track in Arima,
south of town on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway, horse races take place several times a year.
San Fernando Hill i n San Fernando
The top of the mountain in the center of town used to be angular and rocky, but has been turned into a public park.
Harris Promenade i n San Fernando
The promenade starts at Harris Square, here is the old fire station and St. Paul’s Church.
High Street in San Fernando
The High Street is the shopping center of San Fernando. In the south, based on the model of the US shopping mall, the large shopping city Gulf City was also built.
Port and market of Scarborough
to the port and the market every visitor should only visit the atmosphere due.
Special structures
Central bus station in Port of Spain
The headquarters of the state bus company has moved into the former Victorian railway building.
Fort San Andres in Port of Spain A
facility built to protect the port. It was almost completely rebuilt by the British and is now home to the Trinidad & Tobago traffic police.
Public Library in Port of Spain
Building with a classical facade, built in the 19th century, next to the Trinity Cathedral.
City Hall in Port of Spain
City Hall built in contemporary concrete architecture; Seat of the Mayor and the City Council in Woodford Square
Hall of Justice in Port of Spain
Ministry of Justice; successful example of domestic reinforced concrete structures.
Red House in Port of Spain
The House of Parliament is without a doubt the most impressive building in Woodford Square. It was rebuilt in colonial neo-renaissance style in 1906 after citizens burned it down as part of protests against the high water tax.
The Magnificent Seven in Port of Spain
The seven stately homes along Maraval Road include:
1. Queen’s Royal College
The German architect Hahn built the house in neo-Renaissance style, the building houses the most prestigious school in the city.
2. Hayes Court
The building was built in the English country house style and was originally planned as an Anglican bishopric. Today it is in decline, although it was built in 1910 as the last of the seven magnificent buildings.
3. Roomar
The family home of the rich merchant Ambard was designed in 1904 by the most famous colonial architect in the country, George Brown, in the French Empire style.
4. Mille Fleurs
Former Prada family townhouse.
5. Archbishop’s Palace
The head of the Roman Catholic Church still resides in this neo-Romanesque marble and granite house.
6. White Hall
This is where the Prime Minister resided until he moved to the skyscrapers of the Financial Complex. A plantation owner had the house built from white coral stones in the style of Venetian palaces.
7. Stollmeyer’s Castle
The former castle of the German Stollmeyer family is reminiscent of the Scottish Balmoral Castle and was built in 1904 according to plans by the British architect Robert Giles.
President’s House, today: Prime Minister’s Residence in Port of Spain
The Victorian mansion is located in a tropical park on Queen’s Park Savannah.
I City Hall in San Fernando
A neo-classical town hall on Harris Promenade.
Tobago House of Assembly in Scarborough
The former parliament building
Lighthouse in Port of Spain
The old lighthouse behind the bus station has an incline of 5% and is therefore often compared to the Leaning Tower of Pisa.
The Arima Dial in Arima
The clock tower built in 1898 stands in the center of the main intersection of Arimas.
Gun Bridge in Scarborough
A narrow bridge with gun barrels.
Museums, monuments
National Museum and Art Gallery in Port of Spain
Museum of the country’s history in a two-story Victorian building of the Royal Victoria Institute on Frederick Street.
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial
In San Fernando on Harris Promenade a monument has been erected in honor of Mahatma Gandhi.
Marcus Garvey statue on Harris Promenade in San Fernando
Marcus Garvey criticized colonialism and racism in the 1920s.
Naparima Bowl in San Fernando
The city’s cultural center, built in 1962, hosts exhibitions and concerts.
Cleaver Woods Museum in Ajoupa House in Arima
The museum is located on Cleaver Road in the Indian, thatched Ajoupa House. The processing of plants, pottery and other Indian traditions are documented here.
Heritage Parlor in Scarborough
In Cuyler Street there is the small private museum Heritage Parlor with many objects from bygone times, the stories of which the owner tells with enthusiasm.
Fine Arts Center in Scarborough
The museum in the former military hospital exhibits paintings and sculptures by local artists.
Tobago Museum in Scarborough
The museum is located in Fort King George. Objects from the Indians and colonial rulers are exhibited, as well as African art and objects related to the island’s recent history.
Opera and theater
Queen’s Hall
Theater The theater is located on St. Anne’s Road in Port of Spain
Churches, temples, mosques and cemeteries
Cathedral of Immaculate Conception in Port of Spain
The Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception opened in 1832. It was built in the neo-Gothic style and has the shape of a Latin cross. It was built from limestone blocks.
Trinity Cathedral in Port of Spain
The Trinity Cathedral is an Anglican church built by the architect Reginald Power and opened in 1823. Two years later it collapsed in an earthquake and has since had to be rebuilt and rebuilt several times. The dark brown wooden beam ceiling and the carved choir stalls are particularly worth seeing.
Lapeyrouse Cemetery in Port of Spain
Several famous personalities of the island state are buried in this cemetery in the Woodbrook district. The tombstones are often richly decorated and reveal the various origins and beliefs of the dead.
Haji Gokool Meah Mosque in Port of Spain In
1927 this mosque was built as one of the oldest in Trinidad. It is in the St. James district and is not open to the public.
Paschimtaashi Hindu Mandir in Port of Spain
The white, modern Hindu temple is located behind Woodbrook Cemetery.
St. Francis of Asisi in Port of Spain
The beautiful, neo-Gothic church is in the Belmont district on Circular Road.
Notre Dame de Bon Secours in San Fernando
The Roman Catholic Church is on Harris Promenade.
St. Paul’s Church in San Fernando
Church of Our Lady Perpetual Help in San Fernando
The Catholic Church was consecrated in 1849.
Mount St. Benedict Abbey in Arima
The oldest monastery in the Caribbean was built in 1912 by Don Mayeul de Caigny near Arima and is now the Faculty of Theology of the University of the West Indies.
St. Andrew’s Anglican Church in Scarborough
This sacred building originally dates from 1819, was destroyed by a hurricane in 1963 and rebuilt true to the original.
Fortresses
Fort King George in Port of Spain
10 km northwest of Port of Spain is the highest and most famous fortress of Trinidad, which the French built between 1777 and 1779.
Fort Chacon in Port of Spain
The mud fort built in 1784 by Don María José Chacón is located at the southern end of Port of Spain.
Fort Picton in Port of Spain
Although this fortress is located right next to Fort Chacon, it was only built 13 years later by the governor Sir Thomas Picton. From the tower’s observation deck you have a wonderful view of Port of Spain.
Fort King George in Scarborough
On the highest point in the city, this fortress was built by the British between 1777 and 1779.
Important universities
University of the Southern Caribbean
The University of the Southern Caribbean was founded in 1927 and has its campus in Port of Spain. The university consists of 5 academic sub-units. These are:
- pedagogy
- Humanities
- economy
- science and technology
- Social sciences
- Theology and religion
University of the West Indies
Antigua and Barbuda are sponsors of the University of the West Indies. This university is a network of several universities, with different institutes spread across the West Indies. There are 3 main institutions in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados.
Participating states at the University of the West Indies are:
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Bahamas
- Barbados
- Belize
- British Virgin Islands
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- Cayman Islands
- Montserrat
- St. Kitts and Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Turks and Caicos Islands
Beautiful beaches
Las Cuevas on Trinidad
This quiet little bay is located 8 km east of Maracas Bay on the north coast of Trinidad.
Maracas Bay on Trinidad
The long yellow sandy beach with palm trees, behind which the tropical rainforest rises directly, is the beach of Port of Spain and only about an hour’s drive from the capital.
Manzanilla Bay on Trinidad
The long, white sandy beach with particularly long waves is located in front of a coconut plantation in the middle of the east coast.
Tyrico Bay on Trinidad
The waves of this lonely beach with deciduous trees next to Maracas Bay are very good for surfing.
Castara Beach on Tobago
This beach with particularly calm, clear water is located on the north coast in the bay of the same name.
King’s Bay on Tobago
Particularly high Atlantic waves reach this long, palm-fringed beach in the southeast of Tobago.
Pigeon Point on Tobago
This beach is the most beautiful and famous on the island, but it is certainly also the busiest.
Charlotteville on Tobago
This beautiful sandy beach in the northeast in front of a small fishing village is difficult to reach. In the east it goes from here to the Pirate’s Bay, in the west to the Man O’War Bay.
Turtle Beach on Tobago
There are many pelicans, palm trees and long waves here.
natural beauties
Pitch Lake in Trinidad
The largest asphalt lake in the world is truly a wonder of nature. Asphalt oozes from the earth’s interior from a 1500 meter wide crater.
Devil’s Woodyard in Trinidad
This mud volcano east of San Fernando near Princess Town is also a natural phenomenon.
Caron swamps on Trinidad
The Caroni mangrove swamps extend over an area of about 80 km² of which about 4 km² are today a nature reserve. This third largest wetland in the country should be visited by everyone just to see the red scarlet bites and many other exotic bird species.
Chaguaramas Peninsula
The peninsula in the northwest of Trinidad.
Gaspar Grande peninsula on Trinidad
There are stalactite caves on the west beach of this island, which lies in front of the Chaguaramas peninsula; you can also see from here to Port of Spain. The smaller islands of Monos, Huevos and Chacachare are uninhabited.
Blue Basin Waterfall on Trinidad
Near Port of Spain in the valley of Diego Martín lies a small lake surrounded by tropical plants; A waterfall pours into the lake from a height of 90 meters.
Cleaver Woods Natural Park in Trinidad
In this recreational bamboo forest near Arima there is a small museum with pre-Columbian exhibits.
Aripo Caves on Trinidad
Also near the city of Arima (approx. 14 km northeast) are these largest stalactite caves on the island.
Asa Wright Nature Center in Trinidad
The most beautiful and most visited nature reserve in Trinidad is located on the site of a former coffee and cocoa plantation 12 km north of Arima.
Buccoo Reef on Tobago
An offshore reef made up of large coral banks near Crown Point Airport. It extends between Pigeon Point and Bobby Point and is completely protected. In the middle of the reef, a spot in the water above a sandbar shines emerald green, it is called a nylon pool.
Green Hill Falls on Tobago
Waterfalls located near Mount St. George.
Hillsborough Dam on Tobago
At the end of Mount St. George Castara Road, this dam is used to produce drinking water and supplies more than half of the island with water.
Little Tobago & Goat Island
Small uninhabited islands off Speyside.
Many exotic birds can be seen in the following areas:
Bon Accord Lagoon on Tobago
A wetland on the coast east of Pigeon Point.
Bloody Bay Hills on Tobago
In the tropical rainforest at the mouth of the Bloody Bay River.
Goldsborough River and Waterfall on Tobago
Grafton Estate on Tobago
Hermitage Estate on Tobago
King’s Bay River on Tobago
Observatotry Road on Tobago
Merchiston Estate on Tobago
St. Giles/Little Tobago
Both islands are breeding grounds for various bird species.
Main Ridge on Tobago
An old tropical rainforest.
Coral reefs
Corals need a lot of light to live, i.e. clear water. Since the Orinoco does not flow too far from Trinidad into the sea and this is heavily mixed with suspended particles, the water around the island is not very translucent. Therefore, Trinidad is one of the few islands in the Caribbean that does not have a coral reef.
Red howler monkeys and capuchin monkeys
Since the island only separated from the mainland around 3,000 years ago, there are red howler monkeys and capuchin monkeys, among other animals, that are not found on any other Caribbean island.