TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Trinidad and Tobago

INTRODUCTION

Experience destination Trinidad and Tobago with its diversity...its antique and complex culture, dazzling contrasts and breathtaking physical beauty.... Discover why the country’s natural beauty will leaves one awe-struck, why  rich cultures and wildlife will fascinate you, why it is possible to manage to pay for luxury and shop till you drop, why it's easy to move around and why the friendly people and freedom struggle will touch one and all in so many ways.

ACCOMMODATION

There is large amount of deluxe resorts and hotels available in the islands offering you all the world class facilities and amenities that you need to make your vacation comfortable.                                                                                        Large numbers of accommodations are located either close to the beach, the mountains or in the heart of its cities. The hotels and resorts of the country offer all sorts of facilities that are planned to suit the need of the modern day travelers. You can enjoy in these hotels and resorts, world class facilities and services like swimming pool, health center including fully equipped gymnasium, spa and recreation room along with games facilities. In addition to these facilities, almost all these hotels offer business facilities that include fully equipped business centers along with all the facilities that you need to host business meeting and conferences. The rooms in these hotels are of good quality; most of the rooms in the hotels are well maintained, well appointed and individually designed with decors that will fulfill your artistic desire. Some of the luxury hotels and resorts in Trinidad and Tobago are Coco Reef Resort, Le Grand Courlan, Blue Haven, Hilton Tobago, Hilton Trinidad, Le Grand Courlan Spa Resort and Mount Irvine Bay hotel and Golf Club.

There are also cheap hotel available there which are unable to provide you with deluxe lodging and world class amenities, but then you can expect all the basic amenities and services from these hotels. Some of the cheap and budget hotels of Trinidad and Tobago are Kariak Village Holistic Haven and Hotels, Enchanted Waters, Sandy Point Beach Club, The Hummingbird, Naturalist Beach Resort, Toucan inn and Bonkers, Jimmy’s Holiday Resort and many more.

HISTORY

In 1498 Trinidad was visited by Christopher Columbus but was not colonized because of the lack of precious metals. It was raided by the Dutch raided the country in 1640 and the French in 1677 and by the British sailors. In 1797 it was captured by Britain and received formal title in 1802. Tobago had been settled by the English in 1616, but the settlers were driven out by the native Caribs. The island was ruled by the Dutch and the French before being acquired by the British in 1803. The islands were emerged politically in 1888. Finally independence came in 1962 and it became a part of the West Indies Federation for a short while after which it was pronounced a Republic in 1976.

GEOGRAPHY

Trinidad and Tobago are the two main islands of the country among their small neighboring islands. North of the Orinoco River delta in Venezuela lies Trinidad which  is largely flat or surging except for a range of low mountains in the north. Pitch Lake, in the southwest, is the world's largest basin of natural asphalt. Tobago, just NE of Trinidad, is the exposed top of a mountain ridge that is densely forested with large reserves of hardwoods. The climate of both islands is warm and humid, and rainfall is abundant in the months from June to December, particularly where the trade winds sweep in over the eastern coasts.

CULTURE, PEOPLE  AND  TRADITION

The population is mainly of South Asian or African descent with a mixed-race minority. English is the official language, but Hindi, French, Spanish, and Chinese are also spoken widely. There are many religious groups in the country including Roman Catholic, Anglican, and other Christian churches, Hindus and Muslims. Petroleum and petroleum products, natural gas, chemicals, steel products, and fertilizer are few of the most important exports of the country. Trinidad has sizable oil and gas reserves, and its richness is linked directly to the production of petroleum and petrochemicals. A rise of petroleum production in the late 1970s and the decline in worldwide petroleum prices in the 1980s caused economic problems. Nevertheless, increased exploitation of the country's natural gas reserves since the 1990s, as well as rising prices for oil, petrochemicals, and liquefied natural gas, has caused an economic boom. The islands also have an important tourist industry. Agriculture is one of the spheres that give employment to a smaller proportion of the population than industry and services; agricultural products include cocoa, rice, coffee, citrus fruit, and flowers. The United States, Jamaica, and Brazil are so of the country’s trading partners.

PLACES TO VISIT

Trinidad and Tobago Tourist Attractions are innumerable. Like most of the other Caribbean Islands, it also attracts a large number of tourists by its compelling natural beauty and wonders. There is no scarcity of scenic mountain ranges, perfect sandy beaches and dense tropical rainforests in the islands. The islands are well-known for their beaches and some of the major beach destination in Trinidad and Tobago is Windward Coast, Little Tobago Island, and Store Bay. These beaches are well-known for their exotic natural sceneries, wide array of beach sports and activities and exquisite food. The accommodation amenities in the beaches are also of good quality and some of the beach sports and activities that you can enjoy in these beaches are swimming, sailing, boating, fishing, parasailing, kayaking and many more.

Trinidad and Tobago is also renowned for its eco and wildlife tours and there are many wildlife parks in the island. The Arnos Vale Water Wheel and Nature Park, Grafton Nature Sanctuary and Tobago Rain Forest Reserve are some of the major wildlife reserves of Trinidad and Tobago. All these nature parks and wildlife reserves are home to some of the atypical species of plants and animals. Thus Trinidad and Tobago can appropriately be deemed as a paradise for the wildlife lovers.

If one is keen to know more about the culture and customs of the islands, then one can visit the cultural and historical landmarks of Trinidad and Tobago. The landmarks, museums and significant buildings in the island will help you to know more of the rich cultural and historical heritage of the island. Tobago Museum, Richmond Great House, Fort Bennett, and Kimme Museum are some of the important landmarks and monuments of the islands. There are also various religious landmarks in the island like the Hindu Temple in the Sea and the Mount St Benedict Monastery.

The official residence of the Roman Catholic Archbishop, the Archbishop’s House of Trinidad and Tobago is located opposite the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain and is one of the buildings known as "The Magnificent Seven." In the year 1903, Archbishop Dr. Patrick Flood bought the land and began construction. The building favors a Romanesque-Irish style of architecture and was completed in 1904. Its previous dweller, Archbishop Anthony Pantin, called the house home for 30 years until his death in March 2000. The house is now occupied by Trinidad and Tobago’s ninth Archbishop, Edward Gilbert.

Located north of the Queen's Park Savannah and neighboring to President's House, the Botanic Gardens cover an area of 38 hectares. It was constructed in 1818 by Governor Ralph Woodford, and is home to numerous varieties of tropical and sub-tropical trees, along with trees from India, Burma and South America. A section of the grounds has a cemetery known as "God's Acre," where the remains of some national figures are interred. The gardens pose as the background for wedding photos and family gatherings, and are a favorite spot of nature aficionados.

Tobago's Buccoo Reef is a long, awe-inspiring curve of coral reef stretching from the Pigeon Point to the Bon Accord lagoon. The reef is sheltered and one of the most interesting places to see the wonders of the underwater world. The sheltered area houses millions of coral polyps and a variety of types of coral, including Star Coral, Flower Coral and Horn Coral. Daily glass-bottomed boat tours allow non-swimmers the opportunity to enjoy the reef, and gear is provided for divers.

The Magnificent Seven is a group of extravagant and eccentrically designed mansions lining the western side of the Queen's Park Savannah, built around the turn of the century. They run from south to north and include the following: Queen's Royal College, a boys' secondary school; Hayes Court, the Anglican Bishop's residence; Salvatori House; Mille Fleurs; Roomor; the Roman Catholic Archbishop's House; Whitehall, the Prime Minister's office; and Stollmeyer's Castle, modelled on Queen Victoria's royal retreat at Balmoral in Scotland.

WILDLIFE

The forests of the country are significant habitat for the Trinidad and Tobago Wildlife. There are wide diversity of mammals, reptiles, birds and marine animals. The forests are also well-liked centers of excursions in Trinidad and Tobago. Mammals form a segment of wildlife in Trinidad and Tobago. Some popular species of mammals are Agouti, Paca, Armadillo, Opossum, Deer, Wild pig, Wild dog, Tiger cat and Ant eaters. Besides mammals, Trinidad and Tobago wildlife also consists of wide species of birds. Bird watching is a admired activity in the country. Important bird species are Amazon parrot, Flamingos, Hawks and Eagles while other species of wildlife in Trinidad and Tobago include iguanas, howler monkeys etc. There are large variety of species of frogs and toads in the rivers and marshlands. A variety of species of butterflies include Blue Emperor while there are species of fishes like cascadura. The different forests and woodlands and coasts in the country are huge centers of sightseeing in Trinidad and Tobago. Plenty of wildlife and excursion tours are accessible for travelers to these places.

CONCLUSION

As it is a popular tourist destination, there are wide options of Shopping in Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad and Tobago is an island nation in the Caribbean region and is known for its picturesque beauty and diverse culture. There are plenty of centers for Shopping in Trinidad and Tobago where local and international products are sold.