Trinidad & Tobago - Geodyssey

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Trinidad ACTIVE AND ADVENTURE The North Coast Trek The best trek on the island, the 24 mile trail from Brasso Seco to Matelot. The route follows several old Spanish ‘bench trails’ and there is a strong sense of the island’s forgotten past. Asa Wright to Brasso Seco Day 1 LD Depart from Port of Spain to be driven up into the Northern Range for a morning visit to the Asa Wright Nature Centre. You then take an easy walk down the Marianne River to where it meets the Petite Marianne with a lovely deep pool: ideal for a refreshing swim. Just a little further on there is another pool fed by a sparkling waterfall. Stay in the village of Brasso Seco–a rewarding introduction to rural village life. For the next section we can arrange porters, in the form of local village lads, if requested in advance. Brasso Seco to Paria Bay Day 2 BLD Set off on a good clear trail into the forest that winds northwards, eventually reaching the Jordan River which you will follow until it joins the Paria River. Not long before the end of the trail you reach Paria Falls– magical in the dappled sunlight of the forest. It is then a short walk to reach the sea at Paria Bay–a pristine wilderness beach backed by palms. Camp here overnight. Paria Bay to Grand Tacarib Day 3 BLD The trail rambles over a succession of small ridges and down to the sea again at Grand Tacarib. Camp here overnight. Grand Tacarib to Grande Riviere Day 4 BLD We walk good forest trails to Matelot village, from where we are driven to nearby Grand Riviere. Stay 2 nights at Mount Plaisir Estate near the edge of the rainforest. Day 5 BLD A well deserved day to relax in the sleepy fi shing village of Grand Riviere. In season leatherback turtles come here in great numbers to lay their eggs. If you are still bursting with energy you might take an optional ‘wet’ walk along the Shark River. Port of Spain Day 6 B Transfer by road back to Port of Spain or to the international airport for your return fl ight home, or onwards to Tobago or Guyana. 12 Trinidad on two wheels Exhilarating and strenuous cycling in the north followed by fl at roads through coconut plantations on the east coast. Northern Hills Day 1 LD You will be collected from you hotel in Port of Spain and transferred by road to the starting point of your cycling trip. Cycle winding forest roads through the northern hills to the high pass just below Morne Bleu and coast down the breathtaking descent to Brasso Seco village. Then take a dirt trail to visit Soho waterfall before returning to the village for a night in a very simple local homestay for a taste of rustic village life. Cycle the North Coast Day 2 BLD Cycle on to Blanchisseuse on the north coast, stopping for a river walk to another hidden waterfall and a refreshing swim in a clear pool. We spend the night at Laguna Mar set behind a splendid long sandy beach with great views along this magnifi cent stretch of coast. Day 3 BL Cycle westwards along the impressive north coast by long golden crescent beaches separated by rugged rocky headlands. Bathe at Las Cuevas Bay and sample the bake ‘n’ shark at Maracas Bay, where we dismount and are driven back over the Northern Range and down to Port of Spain. Cycle the East Coast Day 4 BLD You will be picked up from your hotel in Port of Spain and driven to the starting place for this part of the trip. Cycle along Trinidad’s east coast, past mile after mile of impressive windswept beach fringed by coconut palm. Pass the mangrove wetlands to reach our accommodation in Mayaro for 2 nights, where surf rolls ashore along a 6 mile beach. Overnight in a local guesthouse. Day 5 BLD Visit a mud volcano then walk into Bush Bush Sanctuary encircled by the Nariva wetlands a good place for wildlife and birdwatching. Country lanes Day 6 BL Cycle back northwards, through tiny villages where many aspects of the island’s traditional way of life are still practised. Rejoin your support vehicle and arrive back in Port of Spain in the late afternoon. ACTIVE AND ADVENTURE PARTY! Carnival Party Marathon! Party till you drop at the mother of all carnivals. Base yourself in a guesthouse or hotel in Port of Spain, pick a costume, and join in the fun. Friday Day 1 Arrive in Port of Spain and transfer to your chosen hotel or guesthouse which will be your base for the next 6 nights. If you are intending to take part in the parade your costume will be waiting for your in your room. Saturday Day 2 B Today you will get the opportunity to see the Children’s Carnival and in the evening you will be taken to see Panorama; the fi nals of the steelpan competition. Sunday Day 3 B Free day to recover from the night before or we can arrange an excursion. Tonight you will be taken to the Dimanche Gras Show where this year’s Calypso Monarch and Carnival King and Queen are chosen. Then in the early hours you have the option to go downtown to take part in the J’Ouvert celebrations which start at 2am and continue to dawn. Prepare to get down and dirty when the mud starts fl ying! Monday Day 4 B You will be collected from your hotel for the Parade of Costume Bands which winds through the streets with the masqueraders ‘whining’ to the sound of Soca and Reggae Dancehall, if you have elected to, you will be taking part. Shrove Tuesday Day 5 B Put your costume back on for the principal day of Carnival or, if you want to just view the fl oats and costumes, we can arrange a seat at the grandstands at Queen’s Park Savannah (the best viewing place). Calypso is a big part of Carnival and you will have lots of opportunities to hear it from the Carnival bands. Wednesday Day 6 B Today you will take a ‘recovery’ trip, like a true Trini reveller, to the beach at Maracas Bay for some RnR and a legendary Bake ‘n’ Shark lunch. Thursday Day 7 B Transfer to the airport for your international fl ight home . “Fete ovah, back to wuk!” GEODYSSEY | TRINIDAD www.geodyssey.co.uk/trinidad 020 7281 7788
Where to stay on Trinidad Luxury accommodation is limited to 5* city hotels in Port of Spain, but there is a workable selection of smaller characterful hotels and guesthouses in Port of Spain and around the northern part of the island. The examples would usually be our fi rst choices, depending on your tastes and preferences. Some are specifi cally for birdwatching. Our classifi cation into mid, upper and top range is a broad indication of relative price levels for Trinidad. Asa Wright TOP RANGE Arima Valley Surrounded by the forests of the Northern Range, Asa Wright is a world famous destination for birdwatchers. Over 170 bird species have been recorded at this former coff ee-cocoa-citrus plantation established from early work in the area by Dr William Beebe. Many species can be seen from the verandah of the main Victorian house or along numerous trails on the estate. The Lodge has 24 en suite bedrooms, mostly in cottages in the gardens near the main house. All have private verandahs. There is an oilbird colony that can be visited by guests staying for 3 nights or more. The Lodge gets very booked up in high season so you need to reserve well in advance. Acajou TOP RANGE Grande Riviere This is one of the loveliest properties on Trinidad and comes as near as you will fi nd to a boutique hotel on the island. The 6 beautifully designed cottages take their infl uence from Indonesia, Polynesia and Japan. They are all stylishly furnished, and have a private terrace with views over a lagoon to the Caribbean. One of the cottages has a sleeping loft with two single beds and can accommodate 4 people, so is perfect for a family with 2 children. It is a 2min walk to the beach at Grande Riviere, where from March to September you can see the turtles. The village itself is a friendly place and has a nice Caribbean ‘vibe’. Salybia Nature Reserve and Spa UPPER RANGE Toco This 28 roomed resort hotel is located on the north-east coast of Trinidad, It is constructed in a bold architectural style with a striking pyramid roofed reception. There is an 80ft infi nity pool overlooking the ocean with sunken pool bar and waterfall. For those looking for some pampering, there is a spa off ering a wide range of treatments. There is a mixture of rooms including standard, deluxe, and suites with Jacuzzis, a penthouse suite and a 7 room villa. This is a very comfortable hotel for those preferring a more resort type base from where to explore the island, but does not warrant the ‘nature reserve’ moniker itself. Pax Guest House MID RANGE GEODYSSEY | TRINIDAD www.geodyssey.co.uk/trinidad 020 7281 7788 Trinidad Mount Plaisir Estate MID RANGE Tunapuna Grande Riviere High on a hill, in the grounds of a Benedictine monastery, peaceful Pax A funky, easy-going hotel directly on the beach in the quiet village of Grande Guest House has the mountains of the Northern Range at its rear and long Riviere on Trinidad’s out-of-the-way northeast coast. There are 7 versatile views over the plains to the south. Predominantly a birders lodge, Pax is well rooms suitable for couples or up to as many as 6 people. The style is colourful located for day trips to most sites on the island. Nature trails lead around and rustic, decorated with local crafts. The atmosphere is very laid back with a 600 acre estate. There are 19 guest rooms, dining and sitting rooms, friendly staff and good food. The beach here is not for sunbathing. There are balconies onto the gardens and a raptor-viewing terrace. The hospitality is no loungers or waiter service. It is a wild beach and the main attraction are genuine. Pax is famed for its high teas in late afternoon and Gerard’s rum the leatherback turtles who come to lay their eggs here between March punch at sundown. Rooms are spartan, many with furniture originally made and August; the hatchlings appear May-September. For birders, the Trinidad by the monks. Only some rooms have private bathrooms, others share. Piping-guan, a rare endemic, can be found in forests behind the village. Laguna Mar MID RANGE Blanchisseuse The most established small hotel in Blanchisseuse, with its own access to the breathtaking Marianne Beach whose sands stretch for 2km, and the lagoon of the Marianne River–an alternative place to swim. The hotel has 2 guest lodges each with 6 bedrooms and a 4 bedroom self catering cottage. All rooms are equipped with private bathrooms and ceiling fans and are built to take advantage of ocean breezes, with views of the ocean, river and forest. Wide-open balconies compliment the accommodations. The dining room is a prettily converted cacao drying building, with tables inside and out. It is a 2km walk, on the beach or by a small road, to the rest of the village. Alicia’s Palace MID RANGE Port of Spain This small hotel/guesthouse is perched high on a hill top in the upmarket, leafy suburb of St Ann’s. It has 30 air conditioned but boxy rooms all with private bathroom and easy access to the swimming pool, terrace and sun deck. Breakfast is served on the verandah which off ers a magnifi cent view over Port of Spain to the Gulf of Paria. As the hotel ranges over a steep site there are a lot of steps around the property. It would be a 15 minute walk down from the Palace to Queen’s Park Savannah but happily the hotel off ers a frequent shuttle bus service to their sister property, Alicia’s House–just a 2min walk from the park. L’Orchidee UPPER RANGE Port of Spain This newish guesthouse is situated yards from the Prime Minister’s residence, in walking distance of Queen’s Park Savannah and the Botanical Garden in Port of Spain–ten minutes drive from downtown. It has 12 comfortable neatly decorated rooms all with air conditioning, en suite bath, ironing board, hair dryer, telephone and high-speed/wireless internet access. Breakfast can be taken in the air-conditioned dining room or outside on the patio. The guesthouse has its own small orchid garden. The staff are friendly and helpful and there is a no-smoking policy. A very practical base for sightseeing in Port of Spain. Worth a mention Crew’s Inn Port of Spain TOP RANGE This hotel and yachting centre has 46 air-conditioned rooms each with a private balcony with view of the swimming pool and the yachts in the cove. Monique’s Guesthouse Port of Spain MID RANGE A guesthouse with 20 air-conditioned rooms all with private bathrooms. 10 rooms are situated on a hill set apart from the main building. Chaconia Inn Port of Spain UPPER RANGE A family-owned hotel on Saddle Road in the Maraval Valley, a 10 minute bus ride from downtown. It has 28 rooms with private bathroom. Normandie Hotel Port of Spain UPPER RANGE This elegant hotel, recently refurbished, has 53 air conditioned rooms on two fl oors, forming a central courtyard with a swimming pool. Most rooms have balconies overlooking the pool. Hilton Port of Spain TOP RANGE In an enviable location right on the Queen’s Park Savannah, this 398 bedroom full service city hotel has a swimming pool, spa, gym, gift shop, 2 restaurants and 3 bars. Kapok Port of Spain TOP RANGE 10 storey city hotel with 94 bedrooms in a variety of styles. All have private bathrooms. The rooftop ‘Tiki Village’ restaurant off ers a Chinese/Polynesian menu. 13
Page 1 and 2: Trinidad & Tobago GEODYSSEY
Page 3 and 4: Welcome This brochure on Trinidad &
Page 5 and 6: Trinidad An island bursting with li
Page 7 and 8: North Coast Along this rugged coast
Page 9 and 10: Southern Trinidad Ask anyone from P
Page 11: TOURING AND WILDLIFE • MID UPPER
Page 15 and 16: Tobago Relax, relax, relax. Trinida
Page 17 and 18: the forest you will see vivid red h
Page 19 and 20: Where to stay on Tobago GEODYSSEY |
Page 21 and 22: Planning your trip Guyana combines
Page 23 and 24: mangrove specialities: Grey Pottoo,

Trinidad & Tobago - Geodyssey

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