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Wonders of Trinidad and Tobago

Tropical forest in Trinidad
Tropical forest in Trinidad / Jacob Haddon, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

WorldBlue  Highlights

Trinidad and Tobago is a Caribbean nation, but the nature here in many respects resembles the lush, rich nature of nearby South America. This small island country is rich with interesting natural landmarks.

The most amazing wonders of Trinidad and Tobago are:

  • Pitch lake and mud volcanoes. The largest and most spectacular pitch lake in the world is on Trinidad island. Here, often in an exotic jungle setting or near (and in!) the sea, are found also numerous active mud volcanoes.
  • Ecosystems, especially guacharo caves. Trinidad and Tobago are very rich with species and rather many local species of plants and animals are endemic – found only in a small area. Very interesting are the comparatively small caves, where live numerous species of bats, rare and unique insects – and the exotic guacharo – highly unusual bird.

Map with the described wonders

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WorldViolet Top 25 wonders of Trinidad and Tobago

Geological wonders

La Brea pitch lake

Siparia

Natural asphalt lake, the largest in the world. In some areas, one can sink into the asphalt if he stands in one place long enough. Water on the surface of asphalt may become sulfurous. Contains a unique ecosystem of microorganisms.

La Brea pitch lake, Trinidad and Tobago
La Brea pitch lake / Shriram Rajagopalan, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Turure Falls

Sangra Grande

A unique group of falls over tufa formations.

Turure Falls
Turure Falls. / anax44, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Devil’s Woodyard

Princes Town

Active, spectacular mud volcano that permanently emits warm mud. Occasionally there are violent eruptions.

Palo Seco mud volcano (Anglais Point)

Siparia

Mud volcano near the sea. The mud flows towards the sea, forming a spectacular stream of mud through the primeval forest.

Gasparee Caves

Diego Martin

Show cave with beautiful speleothems including flowstones and curtains. Contains a deep blue lake.

In Gasparee Caves, Trinidad and Tobago
In Gasparee Caves / Shriram Rajagopalan, Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Piparo Mud Volcano

Princes Town

Group of active mud volcanoes. For the most part, it is dormant but occasionally emits gases and mud fountains.

Lagon Bouffe

Rio Claro-Mayaro

One of the largest mud volcanoes in Trinidad, some 100 – 150 m wide area covered with water, with occasional vents of gas and mud in it.

Guanapo Gorge

Tunapuna-Piarco

A spectacular, narrow chasm in a primeval forest. This 400 m long chasm has up to 30 m tall cliffs in both sides. In some places, it is only 1 m wide.

Guanapo Gorge
Guanapo Gorge. / anax44, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Paria Arch (Cathedral Rock)

Tobago

A spectacular natural arch on the beach.

Paria Arch (Cathedral Rock)
Paria Arch (Cathedral Rock). / anax44, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Aripo Blue Basin Falls

Tunapuna-Piarco

A waterfall that falls over tufa terraces.

Moruga Bouffe mud volcanoes

Princes Town

Some of the most spectacular mud volcanoes, located in a primeval forest.

Avocat Waterfall (Grand Fond Falls)

Siparia

This wonderful waterfall is approximately 15 m tall.

Maracas Falls

Tunapuna-Piarco

One of the tallest waterfalls in the country, the main plunge is some 83 m tall.

London Bridge at Little Tobago

Tobago

Spectacular natural arch – an island near Little Tobago island. It continues under the sea up to 12 m depth.

Chacachacare salt pond

Diego Martin

The salinity of water in this pond several times exceeds the sea salinity. One can swim safely here – water keeps the swimmer.

Chatam offshore mud volcano

Siparia

Underwater mud volcano that occasionally rises above the water level with loud, spectacular eruptions and then is washed away again.

Biological wonders

Tobago Main Ridge Forest

Tobago

Lush tropical forest with several species of animals and plants that are found only here. The oldest protected forest in the Americas, the protected area was established already in 1776.

Rainforest on Tobago Island
Rainforest on Tobago Island. / Aivar Ruukel, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Tamana Caves

Rio Claro-Mayaro

Bat caves with some 0.5 – 1.5 million bats, including vampire bats. Infested with histoplasmosis, a dreadful place – a dark chamber filled with life.

In Tamana Caves
In Tamana Caves. / anax44, Flickr / CC BY-SA 2.0
Dunston Cave (Dunstan’s Cave, Guacharo Cave)

Tunapuna-Piarco

Not a cave, but a narrow gorge with a colony of some 130 oilbirds – guacharos (Steatornis caripensis).

Moruga Silk Cotton Tree

Princes Town

The largest known tree in Trinidad. This Ceiba pentandra tree is more than 56 m tall and at a height of 1.7 m has a circumference of 27.2 m. Circumference above the buttresses, at the height of 13 m, above the buttresses, is 10.3 m.

Cumaca Caves (Oropouche Cavern)

Sangra Grande

Approximately 215 – 225 m long cave with a colony of some 500 oilbirds – guacharos (Steatornis caripensis). Endemic beetle and near-endemic fly lives in the cave.

Archaeological wonders

Banwari Trace

Siparia

Possibly the oldest archaeological site in the Caribbean. This settlement was occupied in two periods: 5200 – 4100 BC and 4100 – 3500 BC.

Architecture wonders

National Museum and Art Gallery

Port of Spain City

Large museum in a beautiful building, established in 1892.

Tobago National Museum
Tobago National Museum / Daisy, Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
President’s House in Port of Spain

Port of Spain City

Ornate building, constructed in 1876.

The Red House, Port of Spain

Port of Spain City

Ornate parliament house, built in Greek Revival style in the 19th century and rebuilt in 1907. Beautiful ceiling in the Legislative Council Chamber.

WorldYellow Recommended books

Trinidad & Tobago – Culture Smart!


The twin Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago could hardly be more different. Trinidad is vibrant, cosmopolitan, culturally diverse, and multiethnic, with a population descended from East Indian, African, Spanish, French, Dutch, American, Chinese, Syrian, and English forebears. This potent mix finds full expression in unbridled revelry each February with the celebration of Carnival—a dazzling, open-to-all-comers, mass participation street extravaganza of steel bands, calypso, dance, and the magnificent costumed bands “playing mas” (short for masquerade). Tobago, by contrast, is much quieter, predominantly rural, and a tranquil tropical idyll.

The Rough Guide to Trinidad and Tobago


Deleted: Beautiful white-sand beaches, swaying palms, and reef-studded waters are all on display, but there’s more to Trinidad and Tobago than sun and beach life–Tobago is home to one of the densest populations of bird species in the world and the oldest protected rain forest in the western hemisphere.


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