The North
Coast road
to
Trinidad’s
most popular
beaches is a
scenic drive
winding its
way along
the cliffs,
with rocky
shores,
beaches and
headlands
below, and
thickly
forested
hillsides
above.
Maracas Bay:
A mere 35
minutes’
drive from
Port of
Spain, this
is
Trinidad’s
most famous
beach —
actually a
bay
containing
two beaches.
Amenities
include a
beach club,
parking,
lifeguards,
refreshment
stands, and
vendors
selling
shark-and-bake,
the local
favourite
almost as
well known
as the beach
itself. Be
on the
lookout for
red flags
signalling
dangerous
currents.
The beach
can be
crowded on
weekends and
holidays.
Las
Cuevas:
Just 15
minutes
beyond
Maracas is
the long,
sandy Las
Cuevas
beach. The
bathing is
excellent,
the water
usually
calm.
Facilities
include
showers,
lifeguards,
parking, and
bar.
Blanchisseuse:
In recent
years, the
once-secluded
Blanchisseuse
area has
become a
popular
weekend
getaway,
with holiday
homes and
guesthouses
springing up
in
increasing
numbers.
Small bays
and beaches
nestle at
the foot of
lush rain
forest,
including
the weekend
favourite
L’Anse Mitan
opposite a
small resort
offering
lunches and
shark-and-bake.
Marianne
Bay, where
the road
ends, is the
largest and
most popular
beach, with
a freshwater
lagoon at
its eastern
end.
Paria
Beach and
Waterfall:
A popular
hiking
route. The
trail to
this
deserted
beach and
refreshing
waterfall
begins where
the North
Coast road
ends, at the
suspension
bridge
across the
Marianne
River. The
trek can
take two to
three hours
each way.
NORTH-EAST
COAST
From
November to
April ocean
swells
approaching
from the
north-east
produce good
surf breaks.
From May to
September
the waters
are calm and
idyllic,
great for
swimming.
Still
relatively
rural, this
area has
some of
Trinidad’s
most
picturesque
villages and
seaside
spots. The
coast from
Saline Bay
to Toco is
frequently
rocky; from
Toco to
Grande
Rivière is
more easily
accessible.
Matura:
This
protected
beach is a
major
leatherback
turtle
nesting
site.
Saline
Bay: A
favourite
resting
point for
those
driving up
to Toco —
though it’s
also a good
final
destination
if you’re
looking for
a picnicking
spot and a
refreshing
dip in the
sea.
Balandra:
A narrow
stretch of
land
shelters
Balandra
Bay, making
it good for
swimming.
Good
body-surfing
as well, at
the rougher
end of the
bay.
Salybia
Bay:
Long, scenic
bay. Often
windswept
with surging
breakers.
Sans
Souci Bay:
A slightly
sloping bay
with
often-choppy
waves.
Popular with
surfers in
the winter.
Grande
Rivière:
The river
meets the
sea here, so
you can
combine sea
bathing and
river
swimming.
During
nesting
months
(March to
August),
leatherback
turtles come
ashore to
lay their
eggs. The
village is
one of
Trinidad’s
most
visitor-friendly
communities,
with a
number of
hotels,
guest houses
and cottages
for rent.
Local tour
guides are
available
for rain
forest
hikes.
EAST COAST
Facing the
Atlantic,
this
coastline is
cooled by
almost
constant
breeze, sure
to make even
the restless
sleep like
babies. Long
unbroken
stretches of
sand are
interrupted
by
occasional
headlands.
Sunshine and
holiday
homes make
this one of
Trinidad’s
most popular
vacationing
spots.
Manzanilla:
Miles of
tall coconut
palms
distinguish
this long
stretch of
beach, about
an hour and
a half’s
drive from
Port of
Spain.
Facilities
near the
beginning of
the stretch
include a
car park,
snack bar,
picnic
tables and
changing
rooms.
There’s a
wide estuary
where the
Nariva River
meets the
sea.
Mayaro:
The longest
beach in
Trinidad,
with many
accommodation
options — a
popular
weekend
getaway. The
expansive
beach has
good bathing
and is great
for long
walks — very
romantic on
moonlit
nights! —
but be on
the lookout
for
dangerous
currents.
SOUTH-WEST
COAST
Some
excellent
beaches here
for
relaxation
after a
visit to the
Pitch Lake
and La Brea.
Sediment
from the
Orinoco
River means
waters can
sometimes
appear
muddy,
discouraging
bathing.
Vessigny:
Three
kilometres
from the
Pitch Lake
with good
facilities;
popular with
locals.
Cedros:
Near the tip
of the
south-western
peninsula,
one of the
furthest
points on
the island
from Port of
Spain,
Cedros has
Trinidad’s
widest beach
at low tide.
Among the
best vantage
points for
sighting the
Venezuelan
mainland.
CHAGUARAMAS
(NORTH-WEST
PENINSULA)
Within easy
reach of the
capital,
this
well-developed
area of
coastline
offers a
variety of
activities
from
offshore
island
exploration
to
watersports.
Williams
Bay: A
wide, calm
bay, popular
for
kayaking.
The
picturesque
seafront
offers views
of
Trinidad’s
Five Islands
and is a
favourite of
recreational
walkers and
line
fishermen.
No
lifeguards.
Chagville:
20 minutes
from
downtown
Port of
Spain.
Changing and
parking
facilities
and
refreshment
stands, but
no
lifeguards.
Macqueripe:
This usually
calm,
intimate bay
is good for
swimming and
snorkelling.
One of the
closest
beaches to
town, it’s
great for a
quick
after-work
dip. Minimal
facilities.
Scotland
Bay:
Only
accessible
by boat, but
ideal for
swimming.
Chacachacare:
A 20-minute
boat ride
from the
mainland,
this
900-acre
island has
eight
beaches and
a saltwater
pond.
