Port of Spain Travel & Vacation Guide

Blanchisseuse Bay is a secluded beach, ideal for adventurous travellers. This quiet beach with gentle waves perfect for swimming is over a kilometre long. It is surrounded by coconut trees that provide shade and the chance to taste freshly cut coconuts. Blanchisseuse Bay is further from the most popular beaches on the island, and it is difficult to access. If you are looking for a quiet, peaceful beach, the hike to get there is definitely worthwhile.

The Central Bank Money Museum is a newly refurbished museum closely located to the cruise port. The museum has a strong focus on the history of currency offering a range of interactive exhibits, including a replica gold bar, an infrared reader to verify banknotes, and a display featuring birds that appear on Trinidad and Tobago's currency. If you are travelling with children, there is a simulated supermarket where kids can engage in fun activities to understand food prices and how the food economy works. The museum is an air-conditioned indoor space that provides a break from the heat of downtown Port of Spain.

The Emperor Valley Zoo is the only zoo in Trinidad and Tobago and one of the main attractions in Port of Spain. Up to this day, it is the only zoo in the Caribbean to house lions, giraffes, a giant otter and a 12-foot crocodile. Visitors can also find a variety of other wild animals, including monkeys, snakes, fish, birds, llamas, flamingos, warthogs, and white Bengal tigers. The zoo is located near the Botanic Gardens. It provides a relaxing environment with its lush vegetation. It is a popular attraction for cruise passengers travelling with their families.

Built on the hills north of St James in 1804, Fort George served as a defensive measure against the Napoleonic fleet. Nowadays, this historical landmark provides a panoramic view of Port of Spain and the Gulf of Paria. It takes about an hour and half to reach the top on foot. This effort, however, is worthwhile as you will be rewarded with the gorgeous view of the city. Visitors can also see the original cannons, dungeons, and artefacts from the era while touring the well-preserved structure of Fort George.

Compared to Maracas Beach, Las Cuevas is a less popular beach with smaller crowds, which makes it ideal for beachgoers looking for a more peaceful environment. You can visit both Marcaras and Las Cuevas on the same day, as it is only a 15-minute drive from one another. If you are planning to spend the day at Las Cuevas, bare in mind that there are no food stands on the beach. You can either buy food or snacks before heading there or you can pick it up from the establishments on Maracas beach on the way. Apart from that, the beach offers chairs and umbrellas for rent, bathroom facilities, and lifeguards. If you get there by car, there is parking available, but spots are limited, so it is recommended to get there early.

Located 16 kilometres (10 miles) away from Port of Spain, Maracas Bay is Trinidad's most famous beach given its two kilometres of white sands, swaying palm trees, and turquoise waters. It is one of the busiest beaches, particularly at weekends, where locals and visitors flock to swim, surf, and indulge in the island's street food. The waves here can reach an average height of about a meter (3 feet), which makes it perfect for surfing. Last but not least, if you plan to visit Maracas Beach, make sure you try the most popular food here; Shark and Bake, a local dish prepared using fried flatbread, shark meat and additional ingredients.

Maracas Waterfall is the tallest waterfall on the island of Trinidad. This breathtaking natural beauty is easily accessible via Waterfall Road in Maracas Valley in St Joseph. If you get there by car, you can drive to the end of the road and park by the Naranjo Intake Station, then begin your walk from there. The walk to the waterfall should take no more than 25 minutes, but you might want to take the walk slowly and fully appreciate the beautiful scenery. The trail to the waterfall is well-maintained and open for hikers. The trail as a whole is truly stunning, and if you are fortunate enough during your visit, you can come across blue emperor butterflies. The best time to visit is during the rainy season, that is when the waterfall is at its best cascading off the top.

Queen’s Park Savannah, also known as "The World’s Largest Roundabout", is a public park in downtown Port of Spain. The park is located across the street from the Magnificent Seven, which are large mansions built during the colonial period. The busiest time at the park is usually in the early evening, when the intense heat has diminished. Locals gather at the park to play cricket or football. If you walk around the perimeter of the park, you will find local vendors selling coconut water, however, if you want to try some of the street foods and drink, there is an open air night market in the car park of Queen’s Park Savannah.

Bikini Cabana is a boutique specialized in fashionable swimwear such as bikinis and one-piece swimsuits from various parts of the world. It is conveniently located close to the cruise terminal for those who need to buy a new swimsuit on the way to the beach. Apart from selling swimwear items, customers can also find accessories such as sunglasses, hats, and beach bags. The boutique is geared towards women, however, they also offer swimwear and beach items for men.

Located in the centre of downtown Port of Spain, Khemlani's Souvenir is easily accessible for tourists visiting coming from the docked cruise ships and those vacationing on the mainland. This gift shop offers a wide range of items like corkscrews, refrigerator magnets and, pens and other typical souvenirs. The shop also has a variety of postcards, paintings, posters and home decor pieces showcasing the beauty of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Falls at Westmall is located on the northwest coast of Trinidad. It is a modern, air-conditioned shopping centre that has a decent variety of shops, including some well-known international brands. The shopping centre also has all the essential amenities such as wifi, an ATM machine, toilets, an indoor or outdoor dining area, a pharmacy, and a small grocery store. If you get there by car, there is a spacious car park as well. The Falls at Westmall is a good option to do your shopping or simply use their WifI connection while you escape the scorching heat of Trinidad.

Tunapuna market is a bustling market that is popular for its fresh fruit and vegetables, however, it also has other goods such as, clothing, shoes, and accessories. The market is a vibrant place and a unique Caribbean experience, as there are usually local musicians playing music to entertain you while you shop. The weekends tend to be the busiest, hence, if you want to avoid crowds, it is best to visit the market during the week. As in most crowded places in Port of Spain, it is recommended to watch your belongings at all times. Also, consider taking public transport, as parking might be a challenge.

The months of January to March are often considered the best time to visit Trinidad and Tobago. The weather is drier and cooler during this period, but it is also the busiest, particularly during Carnival. The heat starts to increase in May, and the rainy season tends to start in June. Although this is not the recommended time to visit Port of Spain, it is the best time of the year to find lower rates and less tourists. Very rarely do Trinidad and Tobago get hit by hurricanes, as the country is not on the hurricane belt.

The power plug sockets in Trinidad and Tobago are of type A and B, also standard in the USA. The standard voltage is 115 V and the frequency is 60 Hz.

Trinidad and Tobago ranked 44th in the world for fixed broadband speeds. The median download speed is 31.20 Mbps, whereas the upload speed is 10.47 Mbps.

There are many drugstores in Port of Spain. The Avenue Pharmacy and Quik Pharm are the closest to the cruise port terminal.

Piarco International Airport is one of the two international airports in Trinidad and Tobago, and it is regarded as one of the busiest airports in the Caribbean. It is located around 30 kilometres to the east of Port of Spain, in the suburban town of Piarco. The airport is the operational base for the country's national airline, Caribbean Airlines. Travellers can fly directly to destinations in the United States, Canada, Central America, South America and Europe. It is also serves as the primary connection point for many passengers travelling from Guyana.

Public buses serve Trinidad's major cities. In Port of Spain, they follow set routes, and there is not such thing as a fixed timetable. Bus tickets in Trinidad range between $2 and $12, depending on the distance.

Day or night, taxis are easy to find on most of the main roads in Port of Spain. All taxis on the island can be identified by their license plates, which begin with the letter H. Taxis in Trinidad and Tobago are not metered, so it is recommendable to agree on a price before the ride. There are several companies to hire private taxis for longer trips. If you take a hotel taxi, keep in mind that they lean more towards the expensive end. Taxi fares from the airport are set.

Country code: +1 868