Trinidad and Tobago

The cuisine of Trinidad and Tobago is a superb mix of African, Indian, Creole, British, Middle Eastern, Chinese and Spanish. Seafood, meat, fresh produce, peas and pulses figure prominently in many traditional meals, including flavoursome curries, hearty stews and barbecue dishes.

Crab and dumpling is an island staple where portions of crab are cooked with curry, coconut milk and seasoning, before combining with delicious dumplings. Bake and shark consists of shark fillet which has been seasoned, coated in breadcrumbs and batter, before being fried and placed between slices of fried bread. Gyros are the Trinidad and Tobago take on doner kebabs where spit-roasted spiced meat is sliced and added to a pita bread, with plenty of salad, pickles and sauces. Souse is a much-loved spicy pickle made from marinated cow tongue, pig feet or chicken feet which is combined with onions, bell peppers, cucumbers, lemons and seasoning.

 A simple, but scrumptious, crunch dessert is bene balls, which comprises roasted sesame seeds combined with a mix of molasses, sugar or honey. Coconut water and local lager are popular drinks on the islands, and you'll also discover many varieties of flavoured punch, including beet, sea moss, pawpaw and peanut.

A tropical climate means Trinidad and Tobago is hot all-year-round but a popular time to visit is between January and March, the lively carnival season when the islands are really bursting with life and energy. Sun is plentiful, rain is rare and the nights are cool and pleasant at this time of year.
The rainy season in Trinidad and Tobago begins around the end of May, with huge downpours that can last for hours. The wet season runs until November, although there is some respite in September from the rain when the islands enjoy a period of hot sunshine (averaging 30°C) and blues skies, known as petit carem. The sea in Trinidad and Tobago is warm enough for swimming throughout the year, with the water temperature ranging from 26 °C in February and March to 29 °C in September.      

Trinidad and Tobago is a fabulous choice for a Caribbean cruise, with a multitude of exciting things to see and do. Dive beneath the waves to explore underwater shipwrecks in the appropriately named Divers Dream area, zipline across the valley and beach in Macquerpipe Bay or take to a mountain bike for an exhilarating ride along the Chocolate Cake Trail. .
 Other great activities include birdwatching on Little Tobago Island, checking out the cannons and bulwarks at Fort King George and trekking in the mountains at Main Ridge Forst Reserve.  Must-see natural attractions in Tobago include the beautiful Argyle Falls, Pirate’s Bay, Pigeon Point Beach and Englishmans Bay, while awe-inspiring sights in Trinidad include Pitch Lake, Macaras Bay Beach, Gasparee Caves and Grand Riviere where more than 5,000 turtles nest. Trinidad is also renowned for its abundance of wildlife and key attractions include Asa Wright Nature Centre, the Royal Botanical Gardens, Emperor Valley Zoo and Safari, Nariva Swamp. There’s plenty going on in the main towns and cities of Scarborough, Port of Spain and San Fernando where you’ll discover a plethora of excellent restaurants, superb shops and fascinating cultural and historical attractions. The annual carnival which is held in Trinidad just before Ash Wednesday is the biggest party in the Caribbean, where more than 300,000 revellers are treated to a feast of colour, costume and rousing music. Popular outdoor pursuits in the glorious Trinidad and Tobago sunshine include snorkelling, nature trekking, waterskiing, Catamaran trips, glass-bottomed boat tours, rock-climbing, bungee jumping, buggy safaris and turtle watching.