I love to travel, and I miss it a lot! but I want to be safe and not expose myself or my loved ones to unnecessary risk. Although there may be moves to open more borders and travel does seem more and more likely, I’m not entirely satisfied with the state of affairs so I’ve opted to stay closer to home, comforting myself with dreams of when next I can hear those magical words “this is your captain speaking…”
I’m not in a great hurry. If its one lesson COVID-19 has taught me its that of patience. I will venture out when I feel safe enough to do so and I imagine I’m not the only person who feels that way. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking anyone who wants to jump in, that’s 100% their right and choice. What puts it in perspective for me is my health. The risk is just too great, and the destination of my dreams is not really going anywhere, so I’m pretty certain I’ll get there one day soon.
In the meantime, to fight the cabin fever, I started looking closer to home at what there was to do locally. It took some digging, a lot of research and some tips from friends who have been doing this for a while. There are lots of options. And so I present to you a list of ten places to explore in Trinidad and Tobago, some free, others not. Bear in mind, I have not visited them all, but these have become my new bucket list.
- Café Mariposa – Lopinot. Tour packages available all with lunch. This is a cocoa immersive experience at its finest. You can just have lunch among the hummingbirds, take a tour in the gardens or opt for a full village experience inclusive of pastelle making class, river lime and dancing the cocoa. All in all, beautiful surroundings steeped in history and cocoa.
- Yrettê – Home of the Hummingbird – St Joseph. A hummingbird haven providing an up close and personal experience in their words “of the magic of the smallest of birds”. Visitors encounter hummingbirds in their hundreds, and often in their thousands. Yrettê offers up to three tours in depth on most days. Just call to book an appointment. Garden walks, breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea are also available.
- Walking chocolate tour of the city – Port of Spain. A guided chocolate tour and tasting. See Port of Spain as you have never seen it before. Through the eyes of chocolate. This is a chocolate lovers dream come true. Learn about Trinidad’s chocolate history with a stop at the National Archives and discover new flavors with a liquor pairing and taste a variety of chocolate. Definitely one I intend to check out.
- UpickTT – Chaguaramas. Farm to table at its finest. Described as the perfect way to start a weekend. Take the family to breakfast or lunch, pick your own fresh fruits and vegetables, shop at the produce market or just relax in the peaceful ambience of Tucker Valley, Chaguaramas!
- Military Museum – Chaguaramas. Located just off the Western Main Road in Chaguaramas, immediately before the Coastguard Heliport, this museum traces the military history of Trinidad, with more than 12,000 feet of indoor displays, outdoor items and memorials on a 4 acre site. It is a true labour of love and a good record of the military history of Trinidad and Tobago. It also chronicles raids and battles that took place in Trinidad, as well as Trinidadians’ involvement in wars that took place in other parts of the world, starting with the Amerindians to present day. The museum is open daily with a entrance fee of $50 for adults and $35 for children. Worth a visit.
- National Museum and art gallery – Port of Spain. Home to a large collection of works by Trinidad artists and natural artefacts, a visit to the national museum will take you on a journey through a rich, artistic and cultural history of Trinidad and Tobago. It is housed in one of the oldest buildings in Port of Spain and regularly hosts workshops, art exhibitions and cultural festivals.
- La Vega Estate – Gran Couva. La Vega Estate is a unique combination of a garden centre, plant nursery, nature park and pool facility. The garden centre stocks an extensive collection of plants grown at the nursery from both local sources and around the world. The nature park features acres of green, scenic spaces for picnicking, playing, relaxing and enjoying the refreshing outdoors. There is also pool facility with two large pools. Great for picnics, cook outs, outing with family and friends.
- Knollys Tunnel. Known as the longest tunnel in the Caribbean, Knolly’s Tunnel was named after the then acting Colonial Governor of Trinidad and Tobago, Sir Clement Courtenay Knollys who officially opened the new railway tunnel on 20 August 1898. It is considered a National Heritage site and was partially restored in 1991.
- Toco light house. What better excuse for a road trip? Breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, idyllic drive along the coast with a lot to explore and experience on the way. The Toco Light house also known as the Galera Point Lighthouse and even the Keshorn Walcott Lighthouse, named after the Olympic gold medalist who is from the area.
- Angostura Distillery tour. Sample some rum (if you are of age of course), visit the Barcant butterfly collection, see how rum is made and explore the museum all on the same day.
There you have it, ten places to explore close to home. There are so many more and half the fun is discovering them all. Happy exploring!
