About Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago are two islands that together comprise the southernmost nation in the Caribbean. These islands are unique among Caribbean islands in that they were connected to the South American mainland only 10,000 years ago. The geology and rich flora and fauna are reflective of this connection.

The Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve is on record as the oldest legally protected forest reserve geared specifically towards a conservation purpose. It was established on April 13th, 1776 by an ordinance which states in part, that the reserve is "for the purpose of attracting frequent showers of rain upon which the fertility of lands in these climates doth entirely depend."  Tobago also shelters a number of reefs, one of which, Buccoo Coral Reef, is known for its marine life and is popular for scuba diving and snorkeling. In an area of only 300 square kilometers, Tobago encompasses our Conservation theme: "Rainforest to Reef"

Trinidad’s Northern (mountain) range runs along the north coast, rising to Trinidad’s highest point, El Cerro del Aripo (940 metres). There are rolling hills in the south and the flat Caroni Plain, Aripo Savannahs and wetland habitats that lie in between. Visitors are able to view large flocks of scarlet ibis at the mangrove-dominated Caroni Swamp, to the west, as well as monkeys and macaws at the Nariva Swamp in the east.

Trinidad is well supplied with rivers, some of which are home to recent groundbreaking studies in the mechanics of evolution. the Northern Range harbors many waterfalls, such as the Blue Basin Falls and the Maracas Falls, which are accessible to visitors. The Pitch Lake in the south-west is the world’s largest natural reservoir of asphalt. A string of small islands off the north-west peninsula are the remnants of the land-link with the continent. There are sandy beaches in the north and east, two of which house the densest concentrations of nesting leatherback turtles known.

Tropical, tempered by north-east trade winds, with a temperature range of 22–31°C and an average annual rainfall of 1,631 mm. The dry season is January to May and the wet season June to December.

There are many more species of birds and butterflies in Trinidad and Tobago than on any other Caribbean island, including 15 varieties of hummingbird (in all some 130 species of birds).