Things to do now that TRINI CARNIVAL is over

Now that the Carnival frenzy has ended, and life is slowly but surely returning to normalcy, you may be feeling a bit of a void. There are no more fetes, ole mas, Carnival prep or calypso commentary to fill your days. For those visitors from ashore, you too may be wondering, “What now?”

Thankfully Trinidad & Tobago possesses a wide array of activities and attractions, some of which we’ll give you an idea of below:

1)      Explore the culinary landscape. Trinidad and Tobago is heralded by some as the culinary capital of the Caribbean. A melting pot of nationalities and cultures means that the food landscape is wide and varied. Visit one or more of the many popular fine dining restaurants that line the avenue, take a trip down south to the Original Bar-B-Que Hut(aka Muslim BBQ), or head to Debe for the indian delicacies and cuisine. The options are truly limitless.

2)      Visit Chaguaramas. Now that the peninsula is free of fetes and the resulting congestion, you can take a trip to the Chaguaramas boardwalk and have a relaxing evening on the seafront. Go paddle-boating on the newly opened boardwalk or kayaking in Williams Bay. Journey further into Macqueripe to zip through the canopy with Zipitt Tours.

3)      Go shopping! Trinidad is well known for its thriving creative industries including locally made food, fashion, homewares and beauty products. There’s a Post-Carnival Sale at 101 Gallery which features a variety of local artisans and artists including Gina’s Truffles, Christopher Wainwright’s art, and ceramics by Adam Williams.

You can also visit The Shop at the Normandie Hotel, which carries an extensive range of locally made products, including Machel Montano gear.

4)      Hop over to the sister isle. Tobago is the number one destination for post-Carnival cool downs, and hundreds of Trinidadians flock to the sister isle for some much needed relaxation after the festivities. Head to Pigeon Point Heritage Park to laze about on the beach or participate in some water sports, or you can go trekking to Rainbow Waterfall. Take a drive to Castara to sample the bread made in the mud ovens or go scuba diving in Speyside. If you’re just looking for a relaxing day trip, you should board one of the many glass bottom boats and go explore the Buccoo Reef and Nylon Pool and be sure to grab some crab and dumpling at Storebay on your return.

5)      Eco-tourism. Trinidad and Tobago has anabundance of flora and fauna and with around 108 mammals, 620 butterfly species and over 470 bird species. If it’s bird-watching you’re after then head down to Asa Wright Nature Centre on Blanchisseusse Road. The former coffee and cocoa plantation also serves tea, lunch and dinner, so you can make a day of your excursion. The Caroni Bird Sanctuary is another popular destination for eco-tourists as a nesting spot for the national bird of Trinidad & Tobago, the Scarlet Ibis. You’ll see caimans, ant-eaters, snakes and other birds as well on your trip through the swamp.

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