Tourist Attractions & Monuments Trinidad & Tobago

Timetable

Administration offices are generally open from 8.30am to 12pm and from 1pm to 4.30pm, Monday to Friday; they are closed at weekends.

Stores are open from Monday to Saturday morning (on Saturdays often until early afternoon).

Shopping centers and supermarkets are open every day, Monday to Saturday, from 8am to 7 or 8pm, depending on the store. Some open on Sunday mornings.

Restaurants are often closed on Sundays.

In Tobago, the world moves more slowly and it's rare to find a shop open before 10am. They do, however, stay open later. But hours are not a priority in Tobago.

To be booked

All activities requiring a boat or guide must, of course, be booked in advance. It's often a good idea to book on the operators' websites to get the best price. The ferry linking Port of Spain to Scarborough is also very popular, so it's advisable to book a few days in advance.

Main events

The highlightof the year is, of course, Carnival! Every year in February, Port of Spain and other towns in the country live to the rhythm of soca and calypso. Tobago also has its own carnival, but in October...

Divali, the Hindu celebration of lights. In October or November, depending on the year, a third of the population of Trinidad & Tobago renew ties with their origins by celebrating the lights. The festival lasts 5 days.

Tobago Heritage Festival. Every July, Tobago celebrates the roots of its people, most of whose ancestors came from Africa.

Tobago Jazz Experience, in April, for fans of this music that goes so well with the national liming .

Guided tours

In Trinidad & Tobago there are many tourist guides and it can be difficult to choose. The best advice is to rely on an official agency or to ask for advice at the reception desk of the place where you are staying. On the usual tour sites, there are often certified guides waiting for visitors; they are identified by a professional card, guaranteeing their training and honesty.

Smokers

The law on tobacco is very similar to those of our countries, it is forbidden to smoke in all closed places as well as in all closed public places. (Restaurants, terraces, stores, casinos ...) Cigarettes are still sold by the unit in small local stores.

Tourist traps

Fake guides. When approaching beaches and natural sites (Argyll Falls, forest trails, Pitch Lake...), it's not uncommon to be accosted by young people who offer to act as your guide and take you to the most spectacular and unspoilt places, away from the beaten track and therefore only good for other tourists, the average tourists of which, of course, you are not one... Be very vigilant and ask your interlocutor for the card certifying his or her activity as a guide. Fake guides are often more expensive and less competent than official guides.

For Carnival, buy your tickets from an approved agency or directly from a band to avoid the surprises of tickets sold on the sly. The investment is quite substantial, and of course attracts a few small-time scalpers.

What's very local

If you have to go to a government office, especially in Port of Spain, long pants (or skirts) and long sleeves are a must, especially for men.