Trinidad & Tobago

Trinidad

The carnival land of Trinidad, the larger part of this twin-island nation, is one of the most racially varied countries in the world. About 40 per cent of the population is of black African descent. A further 40 per cent can trace their ancestry back to India. The remainder is European, Chinese or a combination of all four groups and the languages you’ll hear will be English, French, Spanish and Hindi. It's quite a mixture.

The island and its inhabitants move at a fast pace, especially in the capital, Port of Spain, whose 500,000 inhabitants live in the tightly-packed corridors of downtown. This is where the action is; the streets are a cacophony of bars, markets and taxis booming loud music.

The island lies close to the South American mainland to which it was once joined and with which it shares much of its wildlife. In the swamps of the south there are cayman alligators and the elegant scarlet ibis. Plant life in the rainforest, which covers the uncultivated part of the island, is lush. Trinidad’s most amazing natural feature, however, is the Pitch Lake – 100 acres (400,000 sq m) of tar soft enough to swallow you should you spend too long standing on it.

But there is rarely time to stand still in Trinidad. The home of limbo, calypso and the steel band, it has a hectic nightlife, and if you have to eat, snacking is the domestic style; there is no time to sit down, especially when it’s carnival time.

Tobago

Twenty-two miles, or 35 km, away, Trinidad’s small sister island of Tobago offers a striking contrast in landscapes and people. Tobago provides a much more relaxed introduction to the Caribbean. The pace of life here is slower and away from the established, but not crowded, resorts at the western end of the island there are plenty of secluded coves and bays in which to idle away the hours in the water and the sun in the classic Caribbean fashion.

Watersports feature strongly in its attractions: divers, windsurfers and fishing enthusiasts will love its beautiful beaches, clear waters and smart hotels. Eco-tourists will find rivers, waterfalls and a rich birdlife.

Its main towns, Scarborough and Plymouth, are really large villages where there’s always a friendly smile for visitors.

These two islands are as alike as chalk and cheese – so try both!