Tap into this post to read about some of our sightseeing, fun facts, travel tips and many pictures of our time in Trinidad. We encourage you to get out and see the world if you are able, and if not, we will bring it to you through our posts. We hope you enjoy!
Adopted in 1962, the flag of the island nation of Trinidad & Tobago is a simple but symbolic flag of a red background with a diagonal black stripe flanked on each side by thin white stripes. The red field symbolizes the warmth and energy of the sun, vitality of the land, and the courage and friendliness of its people. The black stripe represents the Earth, as well as the wealth of the land and the dedication and courage of its people. The thin white stripes symbolize the sea surrounding the islands, as well as equality and the purity of the island nation’s aspirations.
Our Day in Trinidad
Prior to arriving in Trinidad we had heard of its beautiful beaches so we decided to have a beach day. We had also read about the beauty of Maracas Bay so we hired a taxi who took us clear across to the north side of Trinidad to Maracas Bay. Our ship was docked in Port of Spain, the island nation’s capital, and as we were driving through the city we passed the ‘Magnificent Seven Houses’ built between 1902 and 1910 that were primarily wealthy family residences back in the day. They are an iconic row of impressive homes of an era gone by.
Along the route to Maracas Bay our driver stopped at a couple of scenic vistas shown in the pictures below. We crossed the mountains and followed the North Coast Road to Maracas Bay, about an hour’s drive from Port of Spain. When we arrived we found the beach far too crowded so our driver suggested we drive on another 10 minutes to nearby Las Cuevas Beach. It was a great recommendation! Las Cuevas Beach has full amenities up on the bluff overlooking the beach some 8-10 meters below. The amenities included a restaurant and a clean bath house with showers and toilets. Once we had changed into our swimsuits we walked down the incline to the beach, which was quite beautiful (see pics below). Since we hired our driver for the day, he patiently waited and visited with locals up on the bluff while we sunbathed and strolled along the beach. Afterwards our driver returned us safely to our ship. He was great and quite honestly he was one of the reasons we enjoyed our day in Trinidad so much!
Facts & Figures
— Geologically speaking, the island of Trinidad lies on the South American continental plate and is located only 11 km (6.8 miles) off the coast of Venezuela, however in geographical and economic references the island nation is usually listed with the Caribbean islands of North America; So, does it count as a visit to South America?–I say yes, but you decide 🙂
— Trinidad and Tobago was a British Crown colony from 1889 until 1962 when it gained independence from the United Kingdom.
— Due to its oil and natural gas industries, the nation of Trinidad and Tobago is one of the wealthiest in the Caribbean.
Travel Tips
— As Trinidad & Tobago is a former British Crown colony, driving is on the left.
— We hired a licensed driver for the day and he was fabulous (I’ll try to find his name and update the post)! Make sure you hire licensed taxis.
— The drive to Maracas Bay from Port of Spain was a bit long and winding through the mountains, but well worth the trip!
— The unit of currency for Trinidad & Tobago is the dollar (TTD) and not to be confused the East Caribbean dollar); the US Dollar is widely accepted in Trinidad & Tobago.
1 Chronicles 16:11 – New Living Translation (NLT)
11 Search for the Lord and for his strength; continually seek him.
If you are a world trekker like us and want to become more ‘worldly’, then you will want to try our books below. Thanks to the former British Empire and current Commonwealth, the English language is widely spoken across the world, however it is spoken quite differently depending on where you are traveling. We believe the books below are essential to worldly trekkers and think you will find them both fun and informative. The books include a dictionary of everyday words and phrases, traditional cuisine, some history and culture, and other handy information.
Simply click on the book covers below to find out more:
