Trinidad has several beaches, but it's Tobago's shores that are more renowned for their variety and beauty. Its pristine beaches line almost every side of the island and they range from crowded to desolate and festive to romantic. Trinidad's main draw is its lush flora and fauna, particularly its scarlet ibises — the blood orange flamingos that call the island's jungles home. But starting in late February, the island does a 180 when it pours on the glitter and turns up the volume for one of the best Carnival parties in all the Caribbean.

TRINIDAD

Surrounded by four bodies of water – the Caribbean (north), the Atlantic Ocean (east), the Gulf of Paria (west) and the Columbus Channel (south) – each coastline is a little different. The bustling capital of Port of Spain sits along a wide bay on the gulf, and most of the country’s better-known attractions are within an hour’s drive. In fact, you could drive from one side of the country to the other in around three hours, maybe less if you’re a pro at bumpy, winding roads. Unlike Tobago, Trinidad is not known for being a resort destination and has a limited number of accommodations, most of which are located around the capital, Port of Spain.

The explosive development of recent years has done much to make Port of Spain the absorbing place it is today, with an urban insouciance and metropolitan verve that set it apart from the average Caribbean capital. There may not be many designated ‘tourist sights’ to tick off, but there’s plenty of atmosphere in the ruler-straight downtown streets, with their market stalls and shady squares, while the outlying neighbourhoods of St James and Woodbrook harbour a host of restaurants and bars. Port of Spain is also home to Fort San Andrés, which was built in 1785 by Spanish settlers to protect the city.

Winding north from Port of Spain, Saddle Rd becomes the North Coast Rd, climbing over the jungle-slathered mountains of the Northern Range and descending to the Caribbean coastline at Maracas Bay. The road then hugs the seafront for about 15km to the small settlement of Blanchisseuse, after which it passes over a small bridge and narrows into impassability. Maxi-taxis and route taxis travel to Maracas Bay, but transport to Blanchisseuse is far less frequent; you’ll need a car to explore.

Trinidad’s east coast is wild and rural. The mix of lonely beaches with rough Atlantic waters, mangrove swamps and seaside coconut plantations creates dramatic scenery. It’s deserted most of the year, except for holidays and weekends, when people flood in to Manzanilla and Mayaro for beachside relaxation, packing coolers with food and splashing about in the gently shelving waters. You get here by way of bustling Sangre Grande (pronounced Sandy Grandy), from where minor roads head down to the Manzanilla–Mayaro Rd.

Despite the ruggedly beautiful coastline, waterfalls, hiking trails and swimmable rivers – and the leatherback turtles that lay eggs on the beaches – tourism remains low-key along the Northeast Coast. Inaccessible from Blanchisseuse, where the north-coast road ends, this quiet region is bounded by Matelot in the north and Matura in the southeast. It’s accessed via the busy little village of Valencia, a short way beyond the end of the Churchill Roosvelt highway, from where the Valencia Main Rd makes a T-junction with the Toco Main Rd, which hugs the northeast coast. Getting here is easiest by far in a taxi or with your own vehicle.

Download map waypoints for Trinidad & Tobago here: KML / GPX