Places to visit in Trinidad

By Michael E Robinson

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_E_Robinson

Today I want to show you great places to visit in Trinidad. Grande Riviere and a great hotel to stay. Grande Riviere is known for turtle watching.

Grande Riviere is a village on the north coast of the island of Trinidad, west of Toco and east of Matelot. Grande Riviere is one of the more remote places in Trinidad since it is connected to the rest of the island by a single road which runs along the coast to Toco and then crosses the Northern Range running parallel to the east coast. Grande Riviere is a popular with ecotourists as it provides an important nesting beach for Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and it is the only place where it is possible to see the endangered Trinidad Piping Guan or Pawi.

Mature leatherback turtles can be seen laying their eggs during the night between March and June, while hatchlings can be seen emerging from the sand between June and August. Because of the many predators of the leatherback turtles, the Grande Riviere Environmental Action Trust (GREAT) runs a program where they collect hatching turtles before they can be attacked by Black Vultures (locally known as Corbeaux), and release them into the ocean after a few days to increase their chance of survival.

There are three hotels located right on the beach one of which also fronts the river. It is possible to watch the turtles hatch or lay eggs from your veranda or cafe, or you can go with a hotel sponsored guide at night who will find turtles and answer any questions you have about them. The hotel recommended when going to places In Trinidad in Grande Riviere is Le Grande Almandier Hotel.

Le Grande Almandier Hotel

When going to places to visit in Trinidad. There are a lot of camping places. A camping holiday can be a wonderful experience for the whole family. These tips from the experts should ensure you have a camping holiday to remember, rather than one you'd like to forget.

Pitching your tent
1. Try and set up camp in daylight — you’ll avoid unpleasant surprises like ants’ nests.

2. Pick a spot protected from the wind by using a line of trees, scrub or the lee of a hill as a windbreak.

3. Level, firm ground is important but don’t select the lowest ground because water will pool there when it rains. Avoid dried mud — these are the first places to get boggy when it rains.

4. Position your tent so you sleep with your head higher than your feet. (Don’t scoff — you’d be surprised how many people make this mistake!)

5. Don’t camp under trees with large boughs, especially gums. Often called ‘widow makers’, they tend to snap in strong winds and lightning strikes.

6. Set up a sun shelter by rigging a tarp off the side of your tent. This is also a good rain shelter, provides extra cooking space and a place to leave gear

7. In rain, use a tarp as a second fly. You can also use a tarp underneath your tent as an extra moisture barrier. In heavy rain, dig a small trench on the high side of your tent to divert run-off.

8. If camping on a beach, avoid unprotected headlands or sand dunes. Find a sheltered spot out of the wind behind shrubs and trees or in a dune.

9. Pay attention to warning signs about wildlife such as crocodiles or poisonous marine life.

10. In mountains, don’t camp on ridges or saddles between peaks — they can be exposed and dangerous. Use protected sites such as rocky platforms, ledges and river terraces.

11. In deserts, the best campsites are on the edge of dry clay pans or in dunes. Don’t camp in dry creeks or river beds. A distant storm may send a flood of water when you least expect it.

What to take
12. Write a check-list and tick it off as you pack.

13. A first aid kit is a must-have for any camping trip.

14. Don’t rely on wood being available — always carry a fuel stove.

15. Take a gas or fuel lantern — it makes preparing the evening meal and getting ready for bed easier.

16. Take a door mat — it’s great for removing sand and soil before entering the tent.
Around the campfire

17. Pick a spot downwind so the breeze will blow the smoke away from your tent.

18. Build your fire on a bed of sand or dirt away from logs or stumps and vegetation. Clear away any material that could catch fire.

19. Be careful what you burn. Plastics can give off noxious fumes and aerosols and sealed containers can explode.

20. Put your fire out each night by covering it with sand or dirt or dousing it with water.

21. To save water, use moist ‘baby wipes’ or ‘wet ones’ for quick clean-ups or for washing hands.

22. Make sure your sleeping bags are warm enough. Conquering the creepy crawlies
Conquering the creepy crawlies

23. Check the ground for ants’ nests or animal burrows before pitching your tent.

24. Keep your tent zipped at all times to stop bugs getting in.

25. Don’t leave shoes or clothing outside as they may become a temporary home to spiders. Check before you put them on.

26. Always wear gloves when you’re collecting firewood.

27. Pack up food and scraps at night — they attract unwelcome guests like possums and insects.

28. Burn a citronella candle or mosquito coil to ward off mosquitoes.

29. Rub your legs in insect repellent or tea-tree oil to deter leeches.

30. Biting insects breed around water — set up your camp at least 100 metres away.
Camping with kids

31. Space and comfort are important when camping with kids. For two adults and two kids, aim for a tent that is at least 15 ft x 12 ft. Most tents this size have an external frame and are tall enough to stand in. Better still is a two-room tent, with the back-room set aside for sleeping. Make it off-limits at other times to keep it clean.

32. A second tent makes a great play room.

33. Leave any mechanical/electric/breakable toys at home. Kids can have a ball with sticks, rocks, leaves, flowers, earth, sand and water. For wet days, have at hand lots of paper, pens, kid-safe scissors, sticky tape, board games and books.

34. Kids seem to eat more on camping trips, so bring plenty of fruit, muesli/fruit bars, biscuits and sultanas.

35. Kids love water. Find a nice, safe spot and all you will have to do is watch them and re-apply sun cream.

36. Kids love wildlife. Even a bug can provide hours of entertainment. Pick a site with some animal interest. A torch can help you pick out possums and other nightlife. Now you’re cookin’

Now you’re cookin’
37. The key to camp cooking is to keep it simple. Plan your meals in advance. If heading for remote areas, take too much rather than too little.

38. A basic camp larder should include: salt/pepper, powdered milk, cooking oil (olive oil is good because it can also be used to add flavour to salads), parmesan cheese (keeps well, useful for flavouring), a jar of minced garlic (useful flavouring), jar of olives, mixed herbs, pasta, packet soups, healthy snack bars, nuts and plenty of water.

39. Minimise messy washing up with wrap-up meals. Tortillas taste great and make handy plates!

40. Try mess-free eggs on an open fire — cut an orange in half and eat the pulp. Then crack an egg into the orange skin and place it in the embers until the egg turns white.

Hope you enjoyed this great tips when going to places to camp in Trinidad. Feel free to share this with your friends

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Many of the hiking trips in Trinidad lead to waterfalls where people go for places to visit. One of them is the Paria waterfall. It is a great place to hike and enjoy nature at the same time. You may need to take along a guide or someone who's done the hike before.

Paria Waterfall is located on the North Coast near to Brasso Seco, a small village in the Northern Range. A short trail from Paria Beach leads to Paria waterfall. Below the falls, there is a clear, deep pool that is suitable for bathing. The heliconia, fringed lilies, and philodendron that border the pool in part, create the peaceful atmosphere. Here is short guide on how to get here:

There are two routes that are generally used to reach to this waterfall.




A 120 minute walk through forest from the north coast village of Blanchisseuse will take you to Paria Beach. The Paria River, which runs from the mountains of the Northern Range to the sparkling Caribbean Sea, is a favorite with hikers because of its lovely waterfall.



Past the Arima-Blanchisseuse Road at the 12 1/2 mile-post, eastwards for about four (4) miles (6.4 km), lies Brasso Seco. The Paria-Morne Bleu Road and the Sansi Trace are located along this route. A (60 degree) trail at the 4 3/4 mile-post signals the entrance to the forest.

The trail is good and clear with no turnings off, and it winds towards the north. The route takes one past the Jordan River and over a hill. The beach is an hour away. A (2) minute walk leads to a wooden bridge over the Paria River. A five (5) minute walk up the right bank of the river brings one to the spectacular waterfall.


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For some individuals outdoor recreation is simply relaxing at the beach. Trinidad has numerous beaches and outlined below are some of the beaches found around Trinidad. An excellent source of information on the beaches of Trinidad and Tobago is "A Guide to Beaches and Bays of Trinidad and Tobago" produced by the Institute of Marine Affairs.

Here is the Trinidad beach - Blanchissues:


L'Anse Martin Beach

Blanchisseuse was first settled by French immigrants to Trinidad in 1783 and is named after the french word for "washer woman". It is located on the north coast of Trinidad and is a small village on the sea coast backed by the Northern Range. There are several rivers in the area. Overall it is an area of rustic charm. It has always been and continues to be a small village with a few small hotels and guest houses along with seaside rental cottages.

The village of Blanchisseuse ends at the suspension bridge that spans the Marianne River. This river enters the sea at Blanchisseuse Bay and freshwater marsh vegetation exists along the banks of the river near the mouth while freshwater swamp forest exists further inland. Kayaking and Camping are popular activities along the Marianne River. After the suspension bridge there is a hiking trail that follows the coast to the village of Matelot. Two other popular hikes in the area are to the Avocat Waterfall and to the Three Pools. The Blanchisseuse area is a favorite of bird watchers particularly along the hiking trail and along the Arima Blanchisseuse Road.

The two most popular beaches in the Blanchisseuse area are Blanchisseuse Bay and L'Anse Martin. Blanchisseuse Bay is at the end of the North Coast Road and is approximately 1.4 kilometers in length. The popularity of this beach stems, not from the sea, which has plunging breakers and strong rip currents, but from the swimming in the mouth of the Marianne River which enters the sea at this bay. There are several entrances to this bay. The easiest and most popular entrance is at the side of the restaurant attached to the Laguna Mar Beach Hotel. At this point a concrete walkway leads from the road to the beach. This entry point is popular because it leads directly to the section of the beach where the Marianne River meets the sea. It is a picturesque walkway with a mixture of heliconia, ginger lilies and swamp vegetation lining both sides. It is also possible to access the bay at its eastern end.


L' Anse Martin is a small beach with the entrance to the beach being via a concrete footpath opposite Surfside Inn. Parking is on the side of the roadway in the immediate vicinity of the each and persons then walk down the footpath to the beach. The beach is composed of fine hite powdery sand with a backdrop of mainly almond and coconut trees. At both ends of the each there are small rock pools. For most of the year this beach has moderate surf with only a gentle westward drifting current. L' Anse Martin is sometimes used by weekend surfers as it is easily accessed, being only one hour's drive from Port of Spain. The beach does not normally have large crowds and so surfers do not generally have to contend with the problem of bathers being in their path while they are riding a wave.


Other beaches in the area are Damien Bay, Stone Steps, Yarra and opposite the police station. Damien Bay is on the western outskirts of Blanchisseuse village where you first begin to encounter seaside homes but before you get to the heart of the village with the shops, Police Station and Health Center. On the main road after passing Yarra River and immediately before the Wasa Pumping Station the road takes a left turn and on the bend there is a track on the left. This track leads to Damien Beach. The track is wide enough for vehicles to drive to the beach and cars can be parked along the edge of the track. Damien Bay has a wide flat sandy shore backed by a variety of shade trees.

In the western half of Blanchissuesse village, after you pass the intersection of the North Coast Road and the Arima-Blanchisseuesse Road, there is along series of steps that lead from the main road to the top road. Directly opposite these steps is a short dead-end street with a Ministry of Works compound on the corner. At the end of this street it is possible to walk behind the Ministry of Works compound and access some concrete steps that lead to a beach. This beach we have named Stone Steps beach. This beach has golden sand and is shaded by trees growing out of the cliff face. There is a sharp drop on entering the water and there are rocks in the water but the clarity of the water is superb. Above the beach at the end of the road there is a nice liming area with a strong sea breeze, concrete benches and table shaded by young coconut trees, perfect for a cook.

Beyond Blanchisseuse

For many individuals beach going ends at the spring bridge that spans the Marianne River. This suspension bridge is one of the two remaining bridges of this type in Trinidad, with the other located at La Ruffin in Moruga. It has become an attraction and some people visit simply to feel the undulating motion as you drive across while others come to admire the beauty of the scene.

While many believe that the beaches end at the bridge, hikers have long known that there are beautiful beaches beyond. The road after the bridge is the starting point for the hike to Paria and Matelot. After the bridge the road is composed of packed gravel and then eventually becomes hard dirt and grass. It is possible to drive for a considerable distance along this road and reach the two beaches described in this section. The drive is however best accomplished in the dry season as there are sections along the road where the passage of vehicles has created mud pools, which even 4-wheel drive vehicles have difficulty navigating, and there are two sections where the road surface is smooth clay on an incline.

If one begins at the suspension bridge, after 0.4 kilometers you encounter the first major mud pool opposite a new housing development. The majority of individuals choose to park their car at this point and continue on foot. Along this leg of the trail there are a few beach/country houses set on either side. After approximately 20 minutes you encounter a cream house set slightly above the trace. The trail bends right, then goes straight and then bends left. On the left bend there is a track on the left, opposite a metal gate and marked by two metal poles. This track leads downhill to Ti Delma beach.

Ti Delma is set within a small cove and because of its location is usually empty and when occupied it generally at most has two or three young people. The beach has evidence of sand flies but they are only a problem in the rainy season during the early mornings and late afternoons. Ti Delma is used for camping and there is room for at least three small groups.

As you continue along the trail after Ti Delma, a variety of birds are heard and seen. Particularly eye catching are the silver-beaked tanagers with their velvety red almost maroon feathers and silver-white beaks. Among the various clumps of heliconia, hummingbirds hover drawing their daily supply of nectar.

After a thirty minute walk you encounter Laspor beach. There two large rocks stand like center pieces on a tableau of the roiling sea. A small grove of almond and coconut trees at the entrance, combined with the sea breeze provides a refreshing cool spot after the walk. This is a beach that exists exactly as nature made it. There are no facilities and everything that you require must be brought with you (and taken back when you leave). The sea at Laspor can be very rough, especially when the tide is rising, and so the beach is best suited for relaxing and developing a harmony with nature.

For those who do not want to endure the full rigors of a hike to Paria but still want to enjoy the gifts of our North Coast, a hike to these two beaches is a perfect introduction.

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