Trinidad & Tobago
The carnival land of Trinidad, the larger part of this twin-island nation, is one of the most racially varied countries in the world. About 40 per cent of the population is of black African descent. A further 40 per cent can trace their ancestry back to India. The remainder is European, Chinese or a combination of all four groups and the languages you’ll hear will be English, French, Spanish and Hindi. It's quite a mixture.
But there is rarely time to stand still in Trinidad. The home of limbo, calypso and the steel band, it has a hectic nightlife, and if you have to eat, snacking is the domestic style; there is no time to sit down, especially when it’s carnival time.
But there is rarely time to stand still in Trinidad. The home of limbo, calypso and the steel band, it has a hectic nightlife, and if you have to eat, snacking is the domestic style; there is no time to sit down, especially when it’s carnival time.
Capital: Port of Spain, Trinidad
Population: 1.3 million
Currency: Trinidad & Tobago $; US$1=TT$6.20; US$ widely accepted
Official language: English but French, Spanish and Hindi widely spoken.
Political status: Independent nation; republic within the Commonwealth
Entry requirements: Visas are required for holders of Australian Passports
Area: Trinidad 850 square miles (4,800 sq km); Tobago 16 square miles (300 sq km)
Religion: Catholics, Protestants, Hindus, Musilms and Jews are all represented.
Business: Banks are open Monday to Thursday, 8am-2pm; Friday, 9am-12noon and 3-5pm.
Shops: open 8.30am-4pm Monday – Thursday and until 600pm Friday
Electricity: 110/220 volts
Economy: Mining, tourism, agriculture
Telephone Codes: - 1 - 868, country code
Airport Departure Tax: TT$100.00
Health Certificates: None required. Contact health authorities for latest information.
Time Zone: 14 hours behind Sydney (EST).No Daylight Saving Time is observed.
Time Zone: 14 hours behind Sydney (EST).No Daylight Saving Time is observed.
Weather: Tropical climate with average maximum temperatures of 32C, (89F). Tobago's temperatures are cooler, owing to the more constant north east trade winds. There is a dry season from January to May and a wet season from June to December. Annual rainfall is about 200 cm (40 inches) over most of the country. Trinidad and Tobago are just south of the hurricane belt and rarely affected by tropical storms.
History: In 1498, Columbus came across the island of Trinidad just 10 miles off the coast of Venezuela. In the early 1500s, Spain colonized the island to expedite the search for El Dorado on the mainland. Although the British captured Trinidad in 1797, Spain did not acknowledge the loss for five years. Following emancipation in the mid-1800s, indentured servants immigrated to the island from several nations, including large numbers of East Indians who brought their Hindu religion, customs and foods with them.
Meanwhile, on Tobago, a British settlement was founded in 1814. The island, however, changed hands more times than any other island in the Caribbean. In the late 1800s, the governments of Trinidad and Tobago merged. In 1962, Trinidad and Tobago were granted independence. In 1976, they became a republic.
The carnival land of Trinidad is the larger part of this twin-island nation, and its inhabitants move at a fast pace, especially in the capital, Port of Spain, whose 500,000 inhabitants live in the tightly-packed corridors of downtown. This is where the action is; the streets are a cacophony of bars and businesses, markets and maxi-taxis booming music. The home of limbo, calypso and the steel band, it has a hectic nightlife, and if you have to eat, the choice will overwhelm you; but there's no time to sit down, especially when it’s Carnival time.
Away from the city one finds oases of peace and calm and the beauty of Mother Nature. The island lies close to the South American mainland, to which it was once joined and with which it shares much of its wildlife. In the national swamp reservations in the west of the island there are cayman alligators and the elegant scarlet ibis. Plant life in the rain forest covering the uncultivated part of the island is lush. Trinidad’s most amazing natural feature, however, is the Pitch Lake – 100 acres (400,000 sq m) of tar soft enough to swallow you, should you spend too long standing on it.
Twenty-two miles, or 35 km, away, Trinidad’s small sister island of Tobago offers a striking contrast in landscapes and people. Tobago provides a much more relaxed introduction to the Caribbean. The pace of life here is slower; away from the established, but not crowded, resorts at the western end of the island are plenty of secluded coves and bays where you can idle away the hours in the water and the sun in classic Caribbean fashion.
Water sports feature strongly in Tobago's attractions: divers, windsurfers and fishing enthusiasts will love its coral reefs, beautiful beaches, clear waters and smart hotels. Eco-tourists will find rivers, waterfalls and natural reserves and a rich bird life, as well as underwater dives to see the mysteriously beautiful manta-rays.
Its main towns, Scarborough and Plymouth, are really large villages where there’s always a friendly smile for visitors.
The unique blend of people of African, Indian, European and Chinese descent have given this twin-island republic a diversity of cuisine, culture, sights, perspectives and traditions that bewilders the visitor. These two islands are as alike as chalk and cheese – so try both! It's quite a mixture!
