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Last updated on March 3, 2025
Trinidad and Tobago is the southernmost country in the Caribbean.
After the Republic of Haiti, this island-nation is also the least visited and most unsafe country in the region.
It’s a country divided into two islands: the island of Trinidad, and the island of Tobago, each one offering a completely different travel experience.
This travel guide to Trinidad and Tobago will tell you everything you need to know to visit one of the least visited countries in the Caribbean, including how to get there, budget, itinerary and more.
You may also like: a 1-week itinerary for Haiti
In this travel guide to Trinidad & Tobago you will find:
our recommended travel insurance for Trinidad and Tobago
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Introduction to traveling to Trinidad and Tobago
I liked Trinidad and Tobago, and I liked it because this isn’t your typical Caribbean destination.
On the one hand, the capital, Port of Spain, is a busy metropolis as per Caribbean standards. It’s busy, polluted and the city center features high-rise, concrete towers.
On the other hand and, as mentioned earlier, this Caribbean nation is composed of two islands that could hardly be more different.
The island of Trinidad is multiethnic, most of their population being African – descendants of former slaves – and Indian – brought to replace freed African slaves who refused to continue working on the sugar plantations.
You are likely to meet many white Trinis, as well as direct descendants from Syria and China.
This cultural diversity and the way the different ethnicities coexist and worship in their respective temples – the island is packed with Hindu temples, churches and mosques – is the highlight of visiting Trinidad.
Tobago, nevertheless, is more rural and 99% African. It’s also significantly closer to your idea of a Caribbean holiday, with the added benefit that mass tourism isn’t really a thing here. In fact, this is one of the few places in the Caribbean where you can still find unspoiled beaches that can be enjoyed just to yourself.
The thing is that Trinidad and Tobago is the leading producer of natural gas and oil in the Caribbean, so they never had the need of developing a proper tourism industry, hence making it one of the most authentic countries to explore in this part of the world.
Trinidad was first Spanish and then British
Trinidad had been a Spanish colony since their first permanent settlement in 1592 but years of negligence and leaving the island forgotten and defenceless, make the British took it over in 1797. Trinidad and Tobago got their independence from the British in 1962. Despite Trinidad being a Spanish colony for 200 years, today’s colonial heritage is purely British, not only in their language and architecture, but also that Indians – brought to replace freed African slaves who refused to continue working on the sugar plantations – are the largest ethnic group.
Is it safe to travel to Trinidad and Tobago?
Excluding Haiti, Trinidad is infamous for being the most violent country in the Caribbean and one of the worst in Latin America.
Only in 2024, the country registered 624 homicides for a population of 1.5 million people. That’s higher than Mexico and USA cities with a high level of criminality, like Chicago.
The situation was so bad that in December 2024, Trinidad and Tobago imposed a nationwide state of emergency due to the expansion of gang violence in Port of Spain.
This gang violence is explained by the country’s proximity to Venezuela and direct transportation routes to Europe, which makes Trinidad and Tobago an appealing market for inarcotic imports.
Gangs and violent street crime are a fact here, but that shouldn’t prevent travelers from visiting Trinidad and Tobago, for the following reasons:
Gang violence mostly focuses in Port of Spain
Shootings and homicides are concentrated not only in Port of Spain, but in specific areas within Port of Spain like Laventille, which you are very likely to avoid.
Violent crime here is not worse than in Bogota or Mexico City
Street crime in Port of Spain is pretty bad as per Caribbean standards, but I don’t think is that bad if we compare it to other Latin American cities frequented by tourists such as Rio de Janeiro, Bogota or Quito.
You already know how things work in these places, just apply common sense: don’t take random taxis, don’t walk alone at night and avoid empty areas after dark, such as downtown.
Tobago is pretty safe
Unlike Trinidad, Tobago is as safe as other islands in the Caribbean.
How to get a visa for Trinidad & Tobago
You don’t need a visa for visiting Trinidad & Tobago.
Upon arrival, all you’ll get is a friendly stamp valid to travel in Trinidad and Tobago for 90 days.
Travel insurance for Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago is an adventurous destination, so we recommend going there with proper travel insurance.
I recommend IATI Insurance because:
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How to get to Trinidad and Tobago
How to travel to Trinidad and Tobago by air
The International Airport of Port of Spain (POS) is the main hub in the Caribbean, connecting with several islands like Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Vincent, among many others.
You may also fly there from anywhere in the 3 Guyanas, including Georgetown, Paramaribo and Cayenne.
Just check flight schedules on Caribbean Airlines, the national airline.
If you are coming from Europe, you can find relatively cheap flights from London with British Airways and, if coming from the Americas, check flights via Miami (American Airlines) and Panama City (Copa Airlines).
I personally traveled to Port of Spain with a direct flight from London and flew out to Georgetown, Guyana.
Does Tobago have an international airport?
Tobago has a tiny international airport named ANR Robinson International Airport (TAB).
It has several daily connections with Port of Spain but very limited (and expensive) connections with the rest of the world.
However, they are currently building a larger terminal, so Tobago will be likely more connected within the next few years.
How to travel to Trinidad and Tobago by boat
As of today, there aren’t any official ferries going to Trinidad, only cruise ships.
Best time to visit Trinidad and Tobago
Choosing when to travel to Trinidad and Tobago highly depends on the amount of rain.
The dry season runs from the end of November to May so, technically, this would be the best season to visit both islands, especially if you are interested in beaches and Caribbean vibes.
The rainy and hurricane season runs from June to November. However, being the southernmost island in the Caribbean means that Trinidad and Tobago receives lesser amount of rainfall than other islands in the Caribbean, from Grenada to Haiti.
Visit Trinidad during Carnaval
Port of Spain holds what is arguably one of the best Carnaval in the world, perhaps not as large as Rio de Janeiro’s but way more authentic, that’s what they claim.
Their Carnaval is so important to them that upon my arrival in Port of Spain, the bartender from the first bar I went to, asked me: Are you here for the Carnaval? – even though Carnaval was still 6 weeks ahead.
If I ever traveled back to Trinidad, I’d certainly visit the country during Carnaval.
As you may know, Carnaval dates always vary but it’ll always be any time between the end of January and the beginning of March.
How to get around Trinidad and Tobago
Like in other West Indies islands, public transportation isn’t great and not particularly convenient to visit the different natural places across the country.
That’s why I recommend renting a car directly from the airport, either in Tobago or Trinidad. Remember, however, that in Trinidad and Tobago, they drive on the left side of the road, like in the United Kingdom.
If, for whatever reason, you can’t rent a car, you can still move around (sort of) since there are buses and minivans connecting the main towns, but you’ll be more limited.
Is there a bus from the airport to Port of Spain?
Yes, there is a bus running from Monday to Friday, and tickets can be purchased from inside the terminal.
However, the bus drops you in downtown, one of of the worst areas in Port of Spain for violent crime, so I don’t recommend getting on that bus if you arrive after dark. During day time, it should be fine.
How to get around by shared taxi
To get around Port of Spain, locals use what they call Route Taxis, which are shared with other passengers going to a similar direction. They charge TT$5 per passenger.
Please make sure their license plate starts with the letter ‘H’’. Don’t accept a ride from cars with the license plate beginning with the letter ‘’P’’ or ’T’’, just like you would not accept a ride from a random car in Mexico City, Bogota or Caracas.
How to travel between islands, from Trinidad to Tobago
Traveling from Trinidad to Tobago by air
Caribbean Airlines has loads of daily scheduled flights from Port of Spain to Tobago for around 70 USD return. It’s a 30-minute flight, making it the fastest way to travel to Tobago.
How to travel from Trinidad to Tobago by ferry
There are 2 daily ferries running between Port of Spain and Scarborough, the capital of Tobago.
Typically, one departs in the morning, and the other in the afternoon.
It takes an average of 3 hours.
You can check schedules and book tickets on this website.
Important: In my experience, rental car companies don’t allow their cars in the ferry. If you are planning to rent a car for your entire trip, you’ll have to make 2 different bookings, one in each island.
Money & budget in Trinidad and Tobago
In Trinidad and Tobago, they use the Trinidad & Tobago Dollar (TTD) and approximately:
1 USD = 6.75 TTD
Exchanging money in Trinidad and Tobago
I recommend exchanging your currency at the airport, the rate was pretty good.
Cash or card?
Many places across both islands accept card, especially hotels and relatively good restaurants, but do bring cash for the rest.
By the way, US dollars are accepted in many hotels and/or Airbnbs.
How much does it cost to go backpacking in Trinidad and Tobago?
These are the costs of the most typical things:
Private room with bathroom in Tobago: from 400 TTD
Private room in a hotel in Port of Spain: from 100 TTD
Local meal, like roti: from 40 TTD
Street food like doubles: from 10 TTD
Main meal in a restaurant: from 110 TTD
Rental car: from 60 USD a day
Beer: from 70 TTD
Short taxi ride with local app: from 100 TTD
What to do in Trinidad and Tobago in a 5-day itinerary
The following itinerary for Trinidad and Tobago is the one we followed during our 5-day visit, which worked pretty well for us.
In only 5 days, we didn’t became the ultimate experts on the country, but it gave us an idea of what’s the country like.
Try doubles
Doubles is a popular street food consisting of curry chickpeas served in two fried flatbreads. They tend to top it with mango and different kind of spices, so this Indian-influenced snack is more amazing than it sounds. You can find doubles everywhere across both islands.
Map of our Trinidad and Tobago itinerary
What to do in Trinidad and Tobago in a 5-day itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Trinidad and Tobago, staying in Piarco
The first day of our Trinidad and Tobago itinerary, we landed in Piarco International Airport around 5 pm.
We decided to spend the night in the town right next to the airport, since our flight to Tobago was scheduled on the next day early in the morning.
There’s not much to do in Piarco, so all we did was going for drinks and a meal at a bar/restaurant named Quties.
Where to stay in Piarco
Please note that accommodation in Piarco is pretty expensive for solo travelers.
If you wish something cheaper, go to Port of Spain instead.
We stayed in a place called Travelholics Getaways, a comfortable house run by a particular. It’s quite expensive but we were 3 people, so it turned out to be a good deal.
Proper hotel. There aren’t many hotels in this area and Holiday Inn Express seems one of the few choices, but $$$.
Around Piarco, there’s a cheaper option named The Layover, a small apartment with two rooms.
Day 2 – Fly to Tobago
On day 2 of our Trinidad and Tobago itinerary, we took the Caribbean Airlines flight from Port of Spain to Tobago.
We picked up our rental car (via Rental Cars) at the airport itself and chose to stay in a village named Castara.
Do I recommend staying in Castara?
Yes, I actually do. It’s a small coastal village with a pretty cool and quiet local vibe.
On Thursday night, local people from the area gather by the beach around a bonfire with music and drinks.
On that particular day, we didn’t do much other than recovering from jetlag and a small hike to Castara waterfall.
Where to stay in Castara
We stayed in Casa de Castara, a house that features single and double rooms with private bathroom. I think it was the cheapest option in town.
Day 3 – Full day around Tobago
On our third day in Trinidad and Tobago, we did a full circle around the island, stopping in the following places:
Englishman’s Bay: Probably, the best unspoiled beach in the Caribbean.
Parlatuvier: This tiny village isn’t only pretty but it’s also very local
Charloteville and Pirate’s Bay: A relatively-sized town, not touristy, from where you can walk to another unspoiled beach named Pirate’s Bay.
Argyle Falls: The highest falls in Tobago, which you can reach over an easy 20-minute hike. They charge an entry fee of around 10 USD per person.
Scarborough: The capital of Tobago. There isn’t much to do here, but it’s worth checking it out
Pigeon Point: The most similar thing in Tobago to a proper touristy Caribbean beach. I don’t really recommend it, but it’s good to see all Tobago’s faces.
In the evening, on the way back to Castara, I recommend you stop at a local bar named Village Vibes, located in the center of the island, where you will see a very authentic side of Tobago.
Look for Sue’s Doubles in Tobago. The best doubles we had in Tobago were from Sue’s Doubles, which has quite a few street stalls across the island. Look for the one in Scarborough.
Day 4 – Back to Trinidad and full day around Trinidad
On day 4 of our Trinidad and Tobago itinerary, we flew to Port of Spain early morning.
After checking in our hotel, we spend the day driving around the island of Trinidad.
Places we visited include:
Sewdass Sadhu Shiva Mandir Temple in the Sea: A Hindu temple built on the sea. There wasn’t anyone when we came here but still nice to see.
Dattatreya Mandir Temple: Another Hindu temple, larger and more active than the previous one.
Maracas Beach: The northern coastline is the prettiest in Trinidad, Maracas being the most popular places for locals.
Try chow at Maracas Lookout: Here, you’ll get pretty amazing views of the area and also, you’ll be able to buy chow, which consists of local fruits like mango or pineapple marinated in garlic, salt and coriander.
Maracas is known for serving the best Bake & Shark, a Trini fried fish sandwich, too greasy in my opinion, but it’s a typical thing to eat in the area.
We spent the evening and night in Port of Spain, in a very busy street named Ariapita, which is packed with all types of bars and restaurants.
Where to stay in Port of Spain
Port of Spain is definitely not backpacking friendly, most budget accommodation being rooms and apartments run by a particular. For that, I can recommend Alicia’s Lodge.
Budget/mid-range hotel – Culture Crossroads Inn. Probably, the cheapest proper hotel in the city.
Day 5 – Port of Spain and departure
Our flight to Georgetown (Guyana) was in late afternoon, so we spared the last day to visit Port of Spain properly.
For breakfast, I recommend going to an area by the sea, where you will find a dozen of food stalls serving all sorts of local foods, including coconut bake with smoked fish, a traditional breakfast.
For lunch, try roti at Prataj Roti Shop. Roti is another Indian-influenced street food, consisting of roti bread filled with slow cooked curry, from shrimps to potatoes.
When it comes to things to see and do in Port of Spain, we walked around Independence Square in downtown – an area to avoid when it gets dark – and also Queen’s Park Savannah and all the colonial buildings along Maraval Road.
More information
📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.
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