Trinidad and Tobago tour
| country: | Trinidad & Tobago |
| trip type: | A small group adventure. |
| departures: | 2009: 17 Jan, 31 Jan, 14 Feb, 28 Feb, 4 Apr |
| price: | From £1379 - £1419 (16 days) including flights from the UK, from £899 - £929 excluding flights. Local payment US $300 |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Trinidad and Tobago are synonymous with tropical beach holidays, but on this trip we aim to show you the aspects of these tropical islands overlooked or ignored by the vast majority of visitors.
Separated from the South American continent by a narrow stretch of water, they are home to expanses of rainforest clinging to high mountains, populated by a huge array of birdlife exceeding any other islands in the Caribbean.
The culture is a mix of African and East Indian (amongst others), a diversity is reflected in the food and music - and of course the warm waters beckon.
Port of Spain & Wildlife Wetlands: Sandwiched between the Atlantic and the Caribbean, Trinidad has soaring mountains, primary rainforest and an array of dazzling beaches. We visit Port of Spain, famous for its carnival, and with luck witness one of the steel bands at practice. We travel by boat through Caroni swamp and watch flocks of scarlet ibis and egrets return to their nests at dusk.
Caribbean Exploration and Carib Indian Homestay: Leaving the capital behind, we head to the Blanchisseuse to beach comb, hike to waterfalls or kayak in a rainforest lagoon. In the interior we overnight in a Carib Indian village to truly experience a totally different aspect of these tropical isles. Before leaving Trinidad, a stay in Grand Riviere gives us the opportunity to watch leatherback turtles lay their eggs, or walk along Shark River.
Tobago - Nature's Island: We take a ferry to the South of Tobago and have time to relax, snorkel over Bucco Reef and visit the pristine sands of Pigeon Point. We head to the northwest of the island and stay in the fishing village of Castara. From here we visit Little Tobago by boat, home to the red-billed tropic bird and one of the highlights for any nature lover.
Separated from the South American continent by a narrow stretch of water, they are home to expanses of rainforest clinging to high mountains, populated by a huge array of birdlife exceeding any other islands in the Caribbean.
The culture is a mix of African and East Indian (amongst others), a diversity is reflected in the food and music - and of course the warm waters beckon.
Port of Spain & Wildlife Wetlands: Sandwiched between the Atlantic and the Caribbean, Trinidad has soaring mountains, primary rainforest and an array of dazzling beaches. We visit Port of Spain, famous for its carnival, and with luck witness one of the steel bands at practice. We travel by boat through Caroni swamp and watch flocks of scarlet ibis and egrets return to their nests at dusk.
Caribbean Exploration and Carib Indian Homestay: Leaving the capital behind, we head to the Blanchisseuse to beach comb, hike to waterfalls or kayak in a rainforest lagoon. In the interior we overnight in a Carib Indian village to truly experience a totally different aspect of these tropical isles. Before leaving Trinidad, a stay in Grand Riviere gives us the opportunity to watch leatherback turtles lay their eggs, or walk along Shark River.
Tobago - Nature's Island: We take a ferry to the South of Tobago and have time to relax, snorkel over Bucco Reef and visit the pristine sands of Pigeon Point. We head to the northwest of the island and stay in the fishing village of Castara. From here we visit Little Tobago by boat, home to the red-billed tropic bird and one of the highlights for any nature lover.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1: | Fly London/Port of Spain. |
| Day 2-3: | In Port of Spain; city tour and visit Caroni bird sanctuary. Optional excursion to south of island. |
| Day 4: | Drive via Maracas Bay to Blanchisseuse. |
| Day 5: | Swimming and relaxing, optional kayaking and waterfall hike. |
| Day 6: | Drive Paria Springs, homestay. |
| Day 7: | Drive Grand Riviere. |
| Day 8: | In Grand Riviere, optional shark river and turtle spotting (Apr-Oct). |
| Day 9: | Drive and ferry to Crown Point (Tobago). |
| Day 10-11: | At Crown point, beachcombing, optional snorkelling. |
| Day 12: | Drive Castara. |
| Day 13-14: | In Castara village, visit Little Tobago island. |
| Day 15: | Fly via Port of Spain to London. |
| Day 16: | Arrive London. |
Small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.how this holiday makes a difference
Avoiding the large coastal resorts of Trinidad and Tobago we explore the less visited interior of these two islands. We overnight at Paria Springs in a Carib-Indian village in a home stay spending some time learning about the local culture and customs. We only work with locally owned or managed hotels and we avoid using the all-inclusive hotels, this way the group can eat out in local restaurants and buy picnic lunches from the shops on the islands.
An Italian photographer together with the local community developed one of the places that we stay in, The Mount Plaisir Guesthouse in Trinidad, into a guesthouse. This provided the locals with a means of income other than hunting the turtles nesting on the nearby beach and collecting their eggs. Now this beach is one of the most frequented nesting places for giant leatherback turtles and their ongoing survival is ensured by visitors continuing to stay at the guesthouse.
As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost.
An Italian photographer together with the local community developed one of the places that we stay in, The Mount Plaisir Guesthouse in Trinidad, into a guesthouse. This provided the locals with a means of income other than hunting the turtles nesting on the nearby beach and collecting their eggs. Now this beach is one of the most frequented nesting places for giant leatherback turtles and their ongoing survival is ensured by visitors continuing to stay at the guesthouse.
As well as the above, we support a variety of charities and projects worldwide which support vulnerable communities and habitats including Friends of Conservation, Hope Worldwide and Send A Cow. We are also actively engaged with UK travel industry bodies which promote best practice in responsible tourism, such as Tourism Concern, The Travel Foundation and AITO. Our commitment to responsible tourism is not limited to our overseas operation and we have measures to ensure our UK office operates according to our responsible tourism policy. Carbon offsets for all flights booked with us are included in the tour cost.