Port of Spain / Trinidad and Tobago

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is a pair of islands located just 11 kilometers off the northeastern coast of South America, neighboring Venezuela across the Gulf of Paria. Port of Spain is its capital city and one of the most important ports in the Caribbean. It is situated in the northeastern part of the larger island, Trinidad, and has about 40,000 inhabitants.

Port of Spain was founded in the 16th century by Spanish settlers near the former fishing village of Cumucurapo. The islands were a Spanish colony from the time Christopher Columbus arrived in 1492 until 1797, when the British took control. Port of Spain became the capital in 1757, taking over from the former capital San José de Oruna, and began to grow rapidly. Between 1958-62, Port of Spain was the temporary capital of the West Indies Federation, which was short-lived. In the 1990s and again in 2005, the city witnessed extremist Muslim actions and bombings. Today, Port of Spain is the administrative, commercial, and financial center of the country, considered one of the wealthiest in the entire Caribbean.

Port of Spain is home to some of the tallest Caribbean skyscrapers, including the 88-meter-high Nicholas Tower, built in 2003. However, you will also find older, colonial buildings here. The most magnificent are called the "Magnificent Seven" and date from the late Victorian and Edwardian eras.

The National Museum and Art Gallery were established in 1892 and host exhibitions on national festivals, Carnival, as well as life during World War II and the history of the indigenous people, along with works by local and foreign artists.

The largest open space in the entire city – and also the largest roundabout in the world with a circumference of 3.7 kilometers - is the Queen's Park Savannah, which was formerly a sugar cane plantation. To the north of the park are the Royal Botanic Gardens with the presidential residence, built in Victorian colonial style between 1873-6.

To the east of the city stretches the extensive Northern Range with mountains reaching heights of 900 meters, covered with rainforest with a variety of plant and animal species. The Caroni Swamp, the second largest swamp on the island, is located south of Port of Spain and is one of Trinidad's main tourist attractions. Bird lovers can find around 160 species here, including the national bird, the scarlet ibis.

The smaller island, Tobago, is 170 kilometers from Port of Spain and a 2.5-hour ride by fast ferry, and its beautiful beaches and stunning nature are definitely worth a visit.

Places Worth Seeing

Queen's Park Savannah – Spend a few moments strolling through the park and the world's largest roundabout, and don't miss the offerings of local street vendors.

Caroni Swamp – Visit the second largest swamp on the island and admire dozens of bird species, including the national bird, the scarlet ibis.

Maracas Bay – Enjoy a beautiful place that meets all the prerequisites of an ideal Caribbean beach, as well as the breathtaking journey through the rainforest that leads you to it.

National Museum and Art Gallery – Get acquainted with the country's history and culture at the museum, established in 1892.

Asa Wright Nature Centre – Don't miss a tour of the small nature center in the Trinidadian rainforest and admire countless native species of animals and plants.

Tobago – Discover the beautiful beaches, waterfalls, and hills covered with dense tropical forest of the volcanic island, located 2.5 hours by ferry from Trinidad.