Trinidad and Tobago Guide
Introduction to Trinidad and Tobago
Just off the coast of the South American mainland they were once part of, Trinidad and Tobago (usually shortened to "T&T") form the southernmost islands of the Lesser Antilles chain and the most influential republic in the Eastern Caribbean. Two of the most exciting, underexplored and uncontrived of the Caribbean islands, T&T are rich in indigenous culture. A cultural pacemaker best known as the home and heart of West Indian Carnival, the nation can also boast of having the most diverse and absorbing society in the region.
T&T remain relatively inexpensive. Regionally, they are the richest destinations for eco-tourism, combining the flora and fauna of the Caribbean with the wilder aspect of the South American mainland. In Trinidad you can hike through undisturbed rainforest studded with pristine waterfalls, take a boat ride through mangrove swamps and watch leatherback turtles nest on remote beaches. And with more than 430 species in an area of 4830 square kilometres, the birdwatching is among the world's best. Tobago (300sq km) has glorious beaches and stunning coral reefs. Declared the "Disneyland of diving", Tobago has one of the largest brain corals in the world and sightings of manta rays are common.
Equally absorbing are T&T's dynamic towns and cities, showcases for the architectural, religious and cultural traditions of their cosmopolitan populations. The 1.3 million inhabitants hail from India, China, Portugal and Syria as well as Africa, England, France and Spain, and though racial tensions are inevitably present, Trinbagonians (as they're collectively known) co-exist with good humour and are proud of their multiculturalism. They also enjoy the good things in life, best displayed in the local propensity for "liming" – meeting friends for a drink and a chat and have a well-deserved reputation for knowing how to party.