Have a Bake and Shark At Maracas Beach

The most popular beach in Trinidad, Maracas Bay is home to great tans, exciting surf and the wildly popular Bake and Shark.

Maracas Bay is Trinidad’s most popular beach. The wide, white-sand shore, dotted with palm trees contrasting against the backdrop of verdant mountains, remains an irresistible lure for both locals and travelers. On any given Sunday, Maracas Bay is never empty. Its beauty attracts beach lovers to this crescent coast line which stretches for 2 km (1. 25 miles). Call it a pilgrimage if you will. Making Port of Spain the departure point from the west side, the drive is about 16 km (10 miles) from the capital. From the east traveling through San Juan and via Santa Cruz, the trip may take just under an hour. From either direction stone pillars are the landmarks that welcome you to the North Coast Road. The tumbling waves, with an average height of 1 meter (3 feet), make it an ideal place for body or board surfing. The expanse of beach is enough to accommodate the sunbather who likes his/her space or the nature lover who welcomes the sea blast as they set up camp.

Maracas Bay has also garnered the reputation for being the lunch spot with an idyllic view. Known as the home of bake and shark, this destination is host to a variety of vendors who prepare the tasty offering. The secret, they say, is in the sauce. Really, the sauce!!

A bake and shark at Maracas Bay is truly an experience for both tourists and locals alike. In the list of things to do while visiting Trinidad “Having a Bake and Shark at Maracas Bay” should be high up on the list!

So what is Bake n Shark? Well it is basically fried dough and highly seasoned fried fish. That probably does not sound all that amazing or innovative but it really is all in the execution, and of course the sauces! The condiment bar is often as large as the fish stand and contains everything from cilantro sauces to garlic sauce, tamarind sauce, chopped vegetables and of course pepper sauce.

The taste is truly exquisite especially with all the sauces…Me, being the gree…ur!  hungry person that I am, I must have all the sauces and sides which are available.  So, on my rounds I must have my garlic sauce, chadon beni chutney, some hot pepper sauce, lettuce, cole slaw, ketchup, mango chutney, tomatoes, cucumber……somebody bring me a napkin, I’m dribbling here lol!!!

This is the real deal!! Bake and Shark was featured in an episode of "Bizarre Foods" hosted by chef and food critic Andrew Zimmern.  

Check out the video and these pics below!

Fete Like No Tomorrow

Carnival…The GREATEST Show On Earth!!

Move over Mardi Gras, step aside Rio Carnaval, Trinidad & Tobago has the greatest pre-Lenten celebration in the world. Each year, over 40,000 visitors join 780,000 locals to jump, dance and wave to the beat of pulsating soca rhythms during the Caribbean’s largest and most anticipated cultural mega-festival, Trinidad Carnival. Known as “The Greatest Show on Earth,” this annual celebration is not just a typical parade where bystanders stand alongside the road and watch the masquerade bands go by – they join in, sing, dance and are completely immersed in the festivities.

We tend to agree that “the greatest show on earth” is a cliché that doesn’t really describe Trinidad’s Carnival at its core… A more accurate term capturing the revellery of Carnival Monday and Tuesday might be “the world’s greatest street party!”

But if you’re new to Trinidad Carnival, know that most everything else you’ve heard about it is true. Yes, people dance and party in the streets for two days straight. People let loose for weeks before the dancing and partying in the streets on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. Yes, it’s the mother of West Indian-style carnivals throughout the Americas. You can get a taste of the experience in New York, Toronto, London and other Caribbean strongholds the world over, but you won’t know true Trini Carnival experience until you return to the source. And yes, love it or hate it, it is a uniquely Trinidadian experience you are unlikely to forget.

The excitement builds the week before Carnival, with wall-to-wall fêtes, events and competitions. Early on “Fantastic Friday” morning, stickfighters, moko jumbies and a cast of actors and dancers descend on east Port of Spain to re-enact the Canboulay Riots. In the early afternoon, traditional Carnival characters take the spotlight in Port of Spain. And as 9pm hits, some of the biggest soca stars begin to vie for the Soca Monarch crowns.

The streets belong to the children on Carnival Saturday for Kiddies Carnival at the Savannah; some of the finest costume designs are seen right there. Once night falls, steelbands clash at Panorama, the greatest showcase for the instrument anywhere in the world.

Sunday – Dimanche Gras – is reserved for two of the hallmarks of Carnival: the breathtaking costumes of would-be Kings and Queens of Carnival, and the race for the Calypso Monarch crown.

The Climax: Carnival Monday & Tuesday

From 4am Monday morning, scores of people chip and slither through the streets of the country’s cities, covered in paint, grease and mud. This is J’ouvert, with traditional Carnival characters like jab jabs, blue devils, and bats, alongside those in outrageous costumes – or just old clothes. Once the sun comes up, most stagger into bed to sleep off the high (natural or induced). This is J’ouvert!

Around 11am the action picks up again as thousands flock into Port of Spain to meet their band (or the one they intend to crash). Almost no one is in full costume, though – the joy is in just being in the streets, with music and merriment continuing well after dark.

Tuesday starts early, and bands typically dance along specific routes between judging posts, where adjudicators choose the next Band of the Year. Some with less energy crash at sundown, but others keep following the huge music trucks until last lap. It’s only then, or perhaps on the beach the next day (a post-Carnival tradition), that you can finally permit sleep to come.

So be sure to plan your next trip around February or March so you can experience the GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!! 

Check out this video below!

Get to the point … Pigeon Point

WHITE POWDERY SANDS, FRINGED BY SWAYING PALM TREES AND BORDERED BY CALM REEF-PROTECTED TURQUOISE BLUE WATERS!

A 10-minute drive from the Arthur N. R. Robinson International Airport down Pigeon Point Road will bring you to Pigeon Point – Tobago’s finest beach and ranked among the world’s 100 top beaches according to CNN. This picturesque destination is the stuff that Caribbean post cards photos are made of. With white powdery sands, fringed by swaying palm trees and bordered by calm reef-protected turquoise blue waters, Pigeon Point is perfect for relaxing, swimming and snorkeling.

The jetty – a wooden boardwalk which extends from the shore and ends with a quaint thatched-roofed hut with the backdrop of aquamarine water, is a signature image of this island and is said to be the most photographed jetty in the world.

But before you can experience Pigeon Point you have to pay an entrance fee. Once that is done, you are free to enjoy the gently sloping beach or take a stroll to the park, enjoy a sunny picnic day, splurge on souvenirs, satisfy your hunger with local delicacies or sipping a cold beverage at the beach bar. Beach chairs, umbrellas, surf boards, scuba and snorkeling equipment, kayaks are available for rentals. Safe parking, washroom and seating facilities are also provided.

Admission at Pigeon Point is $1.50 USD for children and $3 USD for adults. An additional fee applies for beach chair and umbrella rental, but washrooms and beach huts are available free of charge. If you plan on spending multiple days at the beach, consider purchasing a weekly pass, which costs $8 USD for children and $16 USD for adults. The beach is open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m

There’s so many more exciting to do in Tobago, check out these videos below!

R&R…Nope! NOT Rest & Relax...Roti and a Red Solo!!

Roti...4 little letters that have the power to put any Trini into a smile-infused stupor!!!

The roti, to the Trinidadian, is what the bagel is to the New Yorker. Perfected in Trinidad, it's based on culinary ideas brought by immigrants from India in the last century. So, what exactly is roti? Along with Pelau and Doubles, many trini’s consider it one of Trinidad’s national dishes.

Leave it to Trinidad to use one word to describe a multitude of meal options. The word “roti” describes a particular type of unleavened bread, part of the spectrum of Indian breads that includes “chapatti” and “naan”. That is roti: a type of bread. In Trinidad, it's also a type of meal. There are three basic approaches, all of which are distinct variations on the theme of bread and curried foods.

Wrapped/Dhalpouri: a thin roti (dhalpouri) folded around a curried meat and vegetable filling. Depending on the preparation, this can be handheld, sandwich-like experience. But generosity often stretches the roti’s capacity to breaking point.

Buss up shut: curry meats with vegetables and roti presented as separate portions. The roti is usually paratha, shredded and frayed and generally bearing a resemblance to a particularly mangled shirt. Busted shirt = buss up shut.

Sada: Sada roti is a thicker, firmer roti – more like a stiff pita – and lends itself to a dip-and-spread approach to eating the meal, as opposed to the fold-and-dab technique the other options tend to encourage.

This being Trinidad, there are other types of roti – but we can’t tell you everything. You’ll know them when you see them. But what you should know is that a roti goes hand in hand with a red solo! Trinis call this soft drink a “Red Solo” … because which Trini says “May I have a Kola Champagne soft drink please?” … yeah, ummm … NONE! It’s called a “Red Solo” because the color is obviously RED. Nuff said!

When I die and go to heaven–as some people doubt I will – the first thing I’m going to do is look for is a Roti Shop.  It stands to reason that any God worth HIS name would have a roti shop in heaven!

There was some hot debate quite recently when a Toronto Star health reporter, indicated that a roti has too many calories and should be eaten as two separate meals. Of course, the backlash was swift. Trinidadians home and abroad were outraged that the beloved local Trinidadian cuisine was being treated with disrespect. Check out the video here

Social media went ballistic!!! and thus, Roti-gate was born.

One person said: “when is half a roti ever an option?”

Another said: “OMG, she literally disrespected the entire West Indies”.

One Canadian national wrote: “That was indeed a pathetic display of journalism in our city.”

The reporter also came under heavy criticism for her mispronunciation of the word which she pronounced “roadie”. FYI, for those who aren’t familiar, it’s pronounced ROATEEEEEEEE, heavy emphasis on the E!

So whenever you land on our shores, add this to your list of best foods in the world to eat! Check out these pictures below

Disclaimer: May cause mouthwatering, severe hunger, fatigue, depression etc 

DDI & Gasparee Caves

TAKE AN OFFSHORE ADVENTURE AND DESCEND 100 FEET UNDERGROUND!!!

The tiny islands scattered off Trinidad’s north-west peninsula, separated by the sea channels called the Bocas del Dragon, are beautiful and sometimes eerie outposts of history. Gasparee, Monos, Chacachacare, and the others have long been known as holiday retreats, but their bays and hills also conceal a wealth of stories. There are stories that these caves were used by pirates to stash away treasures. You never know when luck hitches a ride on your shoulders. There is also a crystal clear pool at the bottom of the cavern.

Assemble at the Island Owners Property Association (Island Homes) Marina.  At this marina you board a water taxi to Gaspar Grande Island. On this short but pleasant boat ride, be sure to look out for the dolphins that love to swim alongside the boat.  As well, you may catch glimpses of Venezuela in the distance if the weather is clear.

Descend 100 feet underground and walk through a magnificent system of natural limestone caverns and caves on island of Gaspar Grande.

Gasparee Caves is a natural system of limestone caverns and caves created by millions of years of wave action and slightly acid rain on the island of Gaspar Grande. The largest of these caves is known as the Blue Grotto and was open to the public in 1981. At the bottom of the Blue Grotto (100 feet underground) you will find a mysterious clear tidal pool which shimmers like glass! Although swimming is officially prohibited, if you are lucky your guide may allow you to take a quick dip – which is an awe inspiring experience for those so lucky.

The cave contains interesting stalagmite and stalactite formations which have been given nicknames such as “The Buddha”, “Virgin Mary” and “The Lovers”Gaspar Grande lies 12 km (7. 5 mi) west of Port of Spain. It is one of the “Bocas Islands”, which lie in the Bocas del Dragon (Dragon’s Mouth) between Trinidad and Venezuela. The Gaspar Grande is a 25-minute boat trip from Port of Spain or 15 minutes from Chaguaramas.

Check out some of these amazing pictures below and if you'd like to learn more about the islands, you can check out this featured post by Caribbean Airlines 

Swim in Nylon Pool...Tobago's Fountain of Youth

EXPLORE THE ROMANTIC MYTHS OF THE NYLON POOL

Between the shore and the Buccoo reef is the Nylon Pool, an offshore sandbar that formed a metre-deep pool in the middle of the ocean. This is one of many serene destinations in the tropical paradise that is Tobago. Located just south of Buccoo Reef, you can relax in the soft white sand bordering the thigh-high turquoise waters. If you can’t resist the urge to go in, you can float in the still lagoon, with the deep blue ocean on one side and a palm-fringed beach on the other. Accessible by glass-bottomed boat from Store Bay and Pigeon Point, the area was named by Britain’s Princess Margaret back in 1962, when she spent her honeymoon there. And it remains today a popular idyllic destination for couples and families alike.

Leave the hotel swimming pool behind on a trip to Tobago’s Nylon Pool. This huge offshore sandbar is a picturesque shallow bank about a mile from Pigeon Point, and a hugely popular spot for visitors to swim and snorkel under the Caribbean sun. Take a rejuvenating swim in the deep ocean on one side and palm fringed beaches on the other.

Locals claim the water here has the ability to rejuvenate anyone lucky enough to swim in it. As the legend goes, the Nylon Pool carries mystical powers that can benefit you in the bedroom, and save even the most troubled marriages! Benefits accrue to men, women, and couples as follows:

Men – a simple dip will grant you an additional five inches… where it counts.

Women – jump in and your age will jump back 10 years.

Couples – kiss beneath the waves and your marriage is guaranteed to last forever.

If you’re heading to Tobago and want to put the Nylon Pool myths to the test for yourself, check in with our friends at Tobago Waterholics. These guys put on a good time for those who like their Soca and Hip-hop music loud, their rum punch strong, and their boat travel fast! They can hook you up with coastal tours, Jet Ski rentals, fishing trips, scuba excursions, waterskiing, and more. Click here to visit them online. 

Snorkeling in Buccoo...

SNORKEL IN THE 3rd MOST SPECTACULAR REEF IN THE WORLD
There is about 735 species of reef-building or hermatypic corals in the world which 39 are known to exist in the waters around Trinidad and Tobago. Tobago’s spectacular underwater world is undoubtedly one of the treasures of this beautiful tropical island, and whether you’re a visitor or a resident in Tobago you should make every effort to experience its amazing variety and colour. The number of species found on coral reefs is estimated to be in excess of one million, making them the second most biodiverse habitat on earth after rainforests.

Buccoo is the largest and most frequently visited of Tobago’s reefs. An arc of five reef flats separated by channels, it boasts a wonderful array of vibrantly coloured aquatic life, including 40 species of coral. French explorer Jacques Cousteau labeled it the third most spectacular reef in the world, and it was declared a marine protected area in 1973. Visitors to Buccoo Reef can view this under-water haven through glass-bottomed boats. Bring a mask and snorkel and keep watch for parrotfish, queen angels and trumpet fish flitting among the reefs.

Glass-bottom boat tours to the Buccoo Reef depart from Pigeon Point and Store Bay, on the southwestern coast of Tobago, twice daily.  You can easily find tour ticket sellers at either beach.  It’s a good idea to check out the boat before you buy.  The boats vary in size, some with upper decks, and in the level of party atmosphere.  Also, you may want to ask whether the snorkeling gear is provided, if you don’t have your own.

The cost ranges from $80 to $120 TT (about $15 U.S. based on current exchange rates). 

All these activities are rapidly expanding on the island so, whether you are a visitor or resident, please use a reputed tour guide or dive operator and follow our guidelines to ensure that future generations can enjoy Tobago as it is today: Check out these stunning pictures below

-*-Do not leave litter anywhere – even if other people have
-*-Do not walk on reefs as this kills coral polyps and prevents regeneration
-*-Do not touch or collect anything while snorkeling or scuba diving
-*-If scuba diving control your buoyancy carefully – watch out for your fins
-*-If big-game fishing on a charter boat ask about tag and return

Single...Doubles...Triples...WAIT, WHAT?!!!!

ENJOY TRINI’S ULTIMATE STREET FOOD!!!

Pretty much everything we do revolve around food. Out for drinks? Yes but we’ll stop for doubles/roti/gyros after. Trinidad & Tobago can be complicated. But our united, delighted appreciation of food is our society at its simplest and most artless. Where ever there is food, there we go. There’s always talk about the diversity and complexity of the country: ethnicity, religion, politics, preferences in Carnival bands. But, if there’s something that really holds us together though, it is our love of food.

Everyone likes to eat; Trinis are no different: but some of our favorites may be unfamiliar, or variations on a theme, passed through the history of this country, and adapted to the particular conditions of the Caribbean, where it’s difficult to simply mimic the great cuisines of Africa, Europe, India and the Middle Eastern.

Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that doubles have become known as the epitome of Trinidad’s Street Food culture and everyone’s favorite! What is doubles? In the words of a trini it’s simply two barras with channa and pepper. But if you want to get technical, its Curried chickpeas, served with one or several sauces and chutneys(mango sweet sauce, tamarind, shadow beni, coconut, cucumber, kutchela), and a dash of hot pepper sauce if you like it hot, on a flatbread called a “barra”. There will be two barras; hence the name “doubles”.

But, if you got a big appetite, you might want to add another barra and make it a triple delight! There’s always some hot debate around where you can find the best doubles in Trinidad. Do you have a favorite? Take part in the poll before and let us know!

Trini's Best Doubles

On your next trip to Trinidad, you will definitely want to try a doubles or two or three! It’s quite impossible to just have one! Doubles have become so popular, its often features in various international news. Check out these links below!

Doubles Mentioned on "Rookie Blue" - Canadian Police Drama TV Show

Doubles featured on ABC News

Leatherbacks - Up Close and Personal

Each year, more than 10,000 leatherback sea turtles travel from across the Atlantic Ocean to nest on Trinidad’s eastern beaches.

Leatherbacks are the largest surviving turtle species on earth. Some can reach up to seven feet long and weigh more than 2,000 pounds. These reptiles can dive to depths of 4,200 feet — deeper than any other turtle — and can stay down for up to 85 minutes. They can live up to 45 years. Once prevalent in every ocean except the Arctic and Antarctic, the leatherback population has declined dramatically in many parts of the world.

From March to September, Trinidad takes on a very important role: the second largest leatherback turtle nesting site in the world is at Grande Rivière. In fact, Trinidad and Tobago are two of the world’s most important turtle nesting grounds, and not only for the endangered leatherbacks. Hawksbill, green turtles, and other species — all of which are legally protected on our shores — come up on north and east coast beaches to nest during nesting season.

During nesting months, females heave themselves onto the shore, laboriously digging holes with their rear flippers and laying about 80 eggs, a process they’ll repeat up to 12 times during breeding season. Two months later, the eggs hatch, and the baby turtles dig themselves out of their nests and hustle — awkwardly and adorably — to the open sea.

You would definitely want to witness this miracle yourself, be sure to include it in your next visit to Trinidad. Check out these reviews on Tripadvisor <<click here>>

Here are some helpful tips to help make your experience enjoyable for both you and the turtles. Check out these amazing pictures and a video attached!

Protecting the turtles

Access to these nesting beaches, particularly Grande Rivière and Matura, is restricted to prevent poaching and to allow the turtles to nest and young hatchlings to emerge undisturbed. They already have to contend with fishing nets, sargassum, plastics, natural predators, disconcerting man-made light (they follow the light of the moon), human activity (including parties and vehicles driving on the beach), and poachers. Turtles are said to come ashore in greatest numbers late at night and during the full moon, though there are instances of nesting during daylight hours.

Tour operators can arrange necessary permits and access. You can also choose to stay at a nearby hotel. It’s best to go with a guide, who can explain the nesting process.

Guides & conservation groups

The Turtle Village Trust (www.turtlevillagetrust.org, 638-5953/674-4213) is the umbrella body for the islands’ leading turtle conservation groups:

-*-Nature Seekers

-*-The Grande Rivière Nature Tour Guide Association

-*-The Matura to Matelot (M2M) Network

-*-The Fishing Pond Turtle Conservation Group

Turtle watching essentials

-*-Do not touch or disturb nesting turtles or hatchlings in any way. Give them ample space

-*-Lights (including flash photography), noise and activity tend to disorient both turtles and hatchlings

-*-Try to be quiet and unobtrusive, and do not use flashlights or flash photography

-*-Do not try to pick up hatchlings or impede their progress to the sea

-*-Do not drive on nesting beaches; the weight of the vehicle can crush eggs buried in the sand.

Swim with horses

STROLL ALONG WETLANDS, RIDE THROUGH CLEAR BLUE WATERS OF BUCCOO BAY WHILE LEARNING ABOUT HORSE CARE, BODY LANGUAGE AND BEING ONE WITH NATURE. A TRULY MAGICAL EXPERIENCE!

This special 2 hour experience is a joyful one for both horses and riders, including first timers who have never spent time with horses. Excellent guidance and instruction makes it possible for all riders to be at ease.

After introducing the horses to guests (at which point each rider chooses his/her ’team partner’ horse), the tour starts with a ride through Buccoo Village, past the goat race track and through the wetland mangroves to the beach for a long and exciting beach ride to the end of Buccoo Bay where the group can then swim with the horses along the shore.

Learn about the horses personality & character, their age & where they came from and how to interact with them in a gentle & easy way.

The cost of this guided tour is 600TTD (60 UK Pounds or 95 USD)per person (children and adults are the same price).

Check out some of the incredible pictures below and don’t miss your chance of this magical experience on your next visit to Tobago!

3...2...1....ZIP!!

Zip through the forest overlooking the Caribbean Sea!

Zip lines are the best way to get a bird’s eye view of the breathtaking beauty at Macqueripe Bay, Chaguaramas, whilst at the same time experiencing all of the exhilaration that comes with such a heart-stopping experience.

Fly through the sky! There are 7 lines and 5 canopy walks/net bridges overlooking the majestic Caribbean Sea and lush forest. The highest cable is approximately 100 feet up and the longest cable is about 500 feet. It takes about forty-five minutes to an hour to glide through the course.

The ziplining experience begins with the basic formalities of paying $120 and signing a waiver. Then it’s time to suit up. A qualified line guide helps you into a harness, which is clipped on snugly to your body. Riders are furnished with a helmet and gloves, and given a quick mock demonstration showing how to position your body and hands while on the cable, and how to slow down.

Once buckled up, it’s time to zip across the bay! As a cool-down its time to take a swim in the refreshing waters of a nearby beach. This sheltered bay offers very calm water for swimming.

So be sure to add this to your list on your next trip to Trinidad and happy zipping!!


Check out these reviews on TripAdvisor  <<Zip_Itt_Adventure_Tours-Chaguaramas_Trinidad_Trinidad_and_Tobago>> and these breathtaking photos below