Top Five Reasons Why Trinidad & Tobago is the Place to Visit This Fall/Winter

The dual-island nation is well positioned to cure wanderlust of travelers young and old

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – August 19, 2014 – With summer coming to an end, travelers are eagerly seeking the above-the-ordinary Caribbean experience for the fall and winter season. Trinidad & Tobago, home to the largest Carnival in the region and well-known for its remarkable festivals, also offers gastronomical allure from around the globe, a dynamic cultural history, the largest brain coral in the world and the Western Hemisphere's oldest protected rainforest. Here, the top five reasons why Trinidad & Tobago continues to attract travelers looking to satisfy their wanderlust.

• Nightlife

Nightlife in Trinidad & Tobago has two seasons – Carnival and getting ready for Carnival. Birthplace of soca, calypso and steel pan—the island's national instrument--Trinidad is known to have the largest, most explosive, colorful and culturally mixed Carnival celebration in the Caribbean. Although the Carnival season officially begins December 26 and hits an explosive crescendo on February 16 and 17, 2015, curious vacationers who are not up to the high-intensity of Trinidad's Carnival, but are willing to try a “low-key” revelry, can test their feting skills at nightspots located throughout the island. Ariapita Avenue, located in the capital city Port of Spain, also known as “the Ave”, is the heartbeat of the island's nightlife with clubs, lounges, restaurants and bars. For a true 'Trini' experience, a visit to a panyard is considered the best way hear and appreciate the national instrument. This energetic, even romantic, open-air setting is where members of various steel orchestras practice their repertoire. For more information, visit www.gotrinidadandtobago.com.

•   Culinary

 Trinidad & Tobago is home to flavors of the world that melt together in a multicultural pot of scents, tastes, spices and aromas. The local gastronomy is a reflection of the islands' various cultural roots, steeped in East-Indian, Chinese, Creole, African and European cuisine. From beach and street eats including bake and shark— warm, handmade rolled bread filled with fresh shark, to doubles – a flatbread delicacy filled with curried delights, to a wide selection fine dining eateries offering creative fusion dishes, visitors to the dual-island nation can                

Bake and Shark

sample and savor every cultural and ethnic element through the destination's cuisine. For more information on the variety of restaurants and savory options available, visit www.gotrinidadandtobago.com.

• Festivals

The cultural diversity on both islands leads to a sundry list of traditional celebrations. Tobago's 16th annual Blue Food Festival takes place on October 19, 2014, when local chefs and creative, indigenous cooks come together to share their cooking secrets and tasty creations with commonly-used local ingredient dasheen, the Caribbean root vegetable that turns blue when cooked. Low in sodium and gluten-free, the root crop will be the inspiration for twenty-five cooks who will create dynamic and tantalizing dishes. For more information, visit www.visittobago.gov.tt. Then, on October 23, Trinidad celebrates Divali, also called Hindu Festival of Lights, the perfect time for travelers to immerse themselves in Hindu religion and culture. Its formal event, Yagna, showcases a traditional ambiance of Indian décor, film, music and food. The highlight is Divali night when earthen lamps made of artistically designed bamboo arches and plantain trees, called deeyaas, are lit across the country. For more information, call (868) 675-7034 or visit www.gotrinidadandtobago.com.

•  Aquatic Adventure

Tobago's exceptional water conditions, warm and rich in nutrients, present underwater appeal with fascinating coral formations, including the world's largest brain coral, countless fish and marine life including barracudas, dolphins, whale sharks, turtles, porpoises, manta rays, butterfly fish, queen and French angels and parrotfish creating a one-of-a-kind diving experience. Other water-based activities include paddle boarding, kite surfing, snorkeling, fishing and the unforgettable bioluminescent tours. Tours are available through on-island partners, including Undersea Tobago, Stand Up Paddle Tobago and the 'Island Girl' catamaran.  In Trinidad, surfing is the watersport of choice with ideal areas along the island's northern coast where the waters support conditions for surfers of all skill levels.  For more information, visit www.visittobago.gov.tt.

•   Adventure on land

Offering visitors a chance to see Trinidad's national bird, the Scarlet Ibis, Caroni Bird Sanctuary, conducts daily tours through a maze of swampy channels where a vast number of wildlife inhabit the mangroves including fiddler crabs, oysters, four-eyed fish, tree boa and spectacled caiman. A trip “Down the Islands” will afford visitors a chance to see the Gasparee Caves, best known for its amazing cave formations of Stalactites, Stalagmites, Earth Pillars and the Cenote with a massive pool in the center. Individualized tours that include, hiking, rock climbing, rapelling, kayaking. provide offer an added value to the experience. Additionally, travelers to Chaguaramas can enjoy a variety of experiences including mountain biking and zip lining that are suitable to everyone from first timers to experienced pros. Thrill seekers of all ages can soar over seven zip lines and five canopy walks with ZipItt's zip lining tours, which take place seven days a week. www.gotrinidadandTobago.com for more information.

About Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad & Tobago is located in the southeastern region of the Caribbean. With its careful approach to tourism, the dual-island nation offers a distinct blend of culture, eclectic cuisine and an assortment of eco-adventure activities. Trinidad, the 'cultural capital of the Caribbean,' is home to the world famous Carnival and the birthplace of the steel pan drum, the only new acoustic instrument to be invented in the 20th century.  Tobago, sister island to Trinidad, is the quintessential Caribbean island with secluded beaches, quaint villages, private villas and award-winning eco-attractions that include the Main Ridge Rainforest, the oldest protected reserve in the western hemisphere and the six-time award winner for World's Leading Ecotourism Destination by the World Travel Awards. For more information on Trinidad & Tobago visit www.goTrinidadandTobago.com  or www.visittobago.gov.tt. 

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