Diversity is the foundation of a stay in Trinidad or Tobago, a dual island destination where you can party all night long or fall asleep to the sounds of a tropical forest.




Trinidad is best known for its Carnival celebrations, and it’s easy to see why. The largest festival in the Caribbean and third largest Carnival celebration in the world, attracts thousands of revelers every year from Europe, the United States, and even other Caribbean islands that have their own (albeit, far smaller) Carnival festivities. The months leading up to the Carnival parade are peppered with soca and calypso performances and parties, or fetes, as the locals call them. But Carnival really takes over during the week before Lent, when the island’s biggest events take place in and around the capital of Port of Spain. Musicians from all across the Caribbean compete for the titles of Soca Monarch and Calypso Monarch, as well as to win the Road March, or to have their song played most by the DJs on the parade route. J’Ouvert Morning kicks off the official beginning of Carnival, with revelers rising at 4 a.m. to flood the streets, drink, dance and cover everyone in sight with different colors of paint, mud, chocolate syrup and more. The Kiddie Carnival parade takes place the Saturday before the main event, with kids sporting costumes every bit as colorful and elaborate as those showcased on the grownups a few days later. And then, of course, there’s the Carnival Parade itself: a whirlwind of glitter, feathers and skin that totally takes over Port of Spain on Fat Tuesday. The bands in this parade don’t play instruments—they dance. And they don’t march— they “chip,” or shuffle rhythmically in their crowded groups. For the best look at the celebrations, find a judging point—that’s where the bands show off the most as judges score their costume design, organization and enthusiasm for the title of Band of the Year.


Trinidad’s sister island of Tobago is at the other end of the spectrum from Port of Spain’s Carnival celebrations. This is the classic Caribbean, with serene beaches and swaying palm trees—and plenty for eco-tourists to see and do. At the Grafton Caledonia Sanctuary, birdwatchers have access to 200 acres criss-crossed with hiking trails where they can catch a glimpse of blue crowned motmot, white fringed antwren and the national bird of Tobago, the rufous vented chachalaca. Little Tobago Island, sitting just off the coast of Tobago, is home to a large community of hummingbirds, as well as sea birds like brown boobies. And you’ll find more birds on display at the Main Ridge Rainforest Reserve, which happens to be the oldest forest reserve in the Western Hemisphere, dating back to 1765. Here, birdwatchers can spot woodpeckers, streaked flycatchers and blue backed manakin. Under the sea, divers find just as many attractions. The waters surrounding Tobago support approximately 300 species of coral, which in turn foster communities of tropical fish, sponges, sea turtles, dolphins and more. With water that’s warm throughout the year and gentle currents, Tobago offers ideal conditions for beginner divers, while the possibility of encountering rare species like whale sharks attracts the more experienced.



Tobago’s also known for “green” vacations of a different sort. The island is home to two golf courses, Mount Irvine Golf Club and Tobago Plantations Golf & Country Club. Mount Irvine’s 18-hole course is set on a former coconut plantation, with fairways lined with palms and views of the ocean from each hole. Nearby, Tobago Plantations boasts a signature hole set on a peninsula between the Atlantic Ocean and a view across the bay to the capital of Scarborough. Because of Tobago’s year-round temperate climate, it’s always golf season on the island. But if you’re hoping to catch a famous face, try visiting during the summer months. That’s when golf tournaments like the Tobago Open (June) and the Southern Caribbean Open (July) attract pro-golfers from around the world.