This is the second in my roving reports from Trinidad. Last time, I checked out the street food on offer. This week, I’m taking a trip around the island visiting popular and less well known Trinidad beaches.

During the 3 weeks that I was over there, I was lucky enough to go to Chaguaramas, Maracas, Las Cuevas and Mayaro – only a tiny proportion of the beaches the country has to offer. I reached out to a bunch of old school friends and my aunt, who was visiting at the same time, for images of the rest of the coastline. The response was overwhelming so I’ve managed to assemble a fabulous collection of photos – over a hundred… it was a true group effort!

You’ll grasp the varied history of the island from the diverse names of the places that I mention. Trinidad – with its indigenous Amerindian people – was colonised by the French, Spanish and finally, the British.

I’ve put the photographs into some semblance of order, beginning at Maracas in the north and travelling clockwise around the coast. There are even a couple of short film clips to add some extra island flavour!

Maracas

Probably the most popular beach in Trinidad – especially at the weekend. There’s a huge car park, changing facilities and plenty of food and drinks places. Deckchairs can be hired and there are safety flags and lifeguards on duty.

Tyrico

A little, almost hidden away, beach between Maracas and Las Cuevas. Because of this, it’s always more chilled and less crowded. The sea water is also calmer in this spot; therefore suitable for children and less confident swimmers.

Las Cuevas

Las Cuevas (Spanish for ‘The Caves’) was a lot more developed than the last time I’d visited; granted, that was way back in the 1980s sometime. There’s now a large car park, changing rooms and lifeguards. We visited midweek – so there were few people there. We stayed about 3 hours, leaving around 2pm. One thing I remember from the 80s though, the sandflies come out in force at sundown – I doubt that’s changed – bring your insect repellent if you’re visiting later in the day.

Blanchisseuse

The name derives from the French for ‘washerwoman’. You access Blanchisseuse either via the North Coast Road or driving north from Arima via a twisting & turning road which passes the Asa Wright Nature Centre, a destination I highly recommend. Head for L’Anse Martin Bay to the West, Marianne Beach and River to the East and 3 Pools and Avocat Waterfall an inland hike from the river.

Grande Riviere

The Grande Riviere river empties out into Grande Riviere Bay. The beach is renowned for the huge leather-back turtles that return year after year to lay their eggs in the sand. Because of this spectacular natural phenomenon, the area has developed into an eco-tourism destination.

Toco

Toco is the most north-easterly place in Trinidad and the closest point to sister island, Tobago. It’s a popular spot with surfers, being the windy, rocky confluence of the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. At the end of the road stands Galera Point Lighthouse.

Manzanilla

I filmed a few seconds our journey to Mayaro through the rear windscreen of the minibus on our way to our trip to Shangri-la Vacation Home. Mile upon mile of coconut tree-lined road hugging the Atlantic shore, in parts, a few narrow (and, at times, perilous) feet away.

Manzanilla, as I said, is located along the Atlantic coast. The sea can be rough and choppy with dangerous currents – especially at high tide.

Mayaro

The coast of Manzanilla meets Mayaro at the bump that is Point Radix, the location of the spectacular 300-acre Ben Deloraine Nature Reserve. I’m not going to lie, I went all the way down to Mayaro with family but didn’t go near the beach or the sea; I stayed liming round the Shangri-La pool.

The main reason was because of the sargassum. It’s not as serious as it was last year, but it’s still piled up along the tide line and floats around in the sea. Another justification for me not embarking on the less than 5-minute walk to the beach wasn’t because I was lazy. No, it’s because I was stung by a man o’war jellyfish as a child in the sea at Mayaro; an experience I’ll never forget. But don’t let me put you off – Mayaro is a beautiful place!

Moruga

Moruga is a small fishing community with a number of claims to fame. It is said to be the spot where Christopher Columbus landed when he ‘discovered’ Trinidad. The La Ruffin Bridge at Moruga is the only suspension bridge in use in Trinidad. It was originally built to transport the cocoa from the nearby plantations to market. Its maintenance was lacking – and local fishermen used it to moor their boats – resulting, in 1993, in its collapse into the river as a van was travelling over it. Luckily, it is now on the Heritage Asset Register. The town is home to the Trinidad Moruga scorpion – the 2nd-hottest chilli in the world.

Icacos

Icacos is the most south-westerly point of Trinidad and therefore the polar opposite of Toco. It’s a calm peninsula of sandy beach bordered by a parade of coconut trees, a stone’s throw across the Gulf of Paria from Venezuela. Head for Columbus Bay where you’ll spot the Three Sisters rock formations out at sea.

Port of Spain

The sea around the capital city isn’t necessarily a place to go for a swim. Rather, it’s arguably one of the best places in the country to pull over in your car – perhaps with a bite to eat – to watch the stunning sunsets this part of the coast enjoys.

Chaguaramas

Chaguaramas is a stretch of coastline that lies just to the west of Port of Spain. This makes it a place where people go (especially Macqueripe), mid-week, for a ‘quick dip’ to unwind after a day at work. It’s very accessible; Western Main Road runs closely alongside. The area is where sailing types congregate; a number of boat yards and marinas exist such as Small Boats, Power Boats and the Sailing Association.

Down-the-Islands

Or ‘Dung-de-Ayelans’! Not a ‘beach’ as such – and only accessible by boat – Down-the-Islands is a little collection of mostly uninhabited islands in the Bocas (Spanish for ‘mouth.). They are touching distance from Venezuela. The islands include Monos (Spanish for ‘monkey’), Gaspar Grande, Huevos (Spanish for ‘eggs’) and Chacachacare (its original Amerindian name); the last being a former leper colony.

Here’s a visual depiction of where all the Trinidad beaches I’ve mentioned are located..