Day Trips by Car from Port of Spain
Our base for our Day Trips was ‘The Gingerbread House’ in Port of Spain’s Woodbrook district. It is on Carlos Street, a short walk to Ariapita Avenue, where several good restaurants such as the Hakka. Also, it is just a short drive to Movie Towne Mall for more restaurants, shopping, and cash machines.
Moreover, we avoided high-risk tourist attractions listed on the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website or those mentioned in guidebooks when touring. We also stayed out of the area bounded by Charlotte Street, Beetham Highway and Lady Young Road and the downtown area, Independence Avenue, north to Queen’s Park Savannah.
West Coast and Centre
Trinidad’s West Coast Mudflats
The Trinidad west coast mudflats include Caroni Swamp and the villages of Waterloo and Orange Valley. The mudflats and mangrove swamps are engaging for wildlife photography and bird watching.
La Vega Estate Garden Centre and Nature Park
La Vega is a commercial plant nursery with recreational facilities, such as nature trails, picnic areas and lakes. Further, it is not busy on weekdays, you can tour the grounds by car, and the gardens and lakes attract wildlife.
Port of Spain
Staying in the capital was disappointing with high traffic congestion, jams, and noise; the rush hour starts early and goes well past the school runs. In addition, driving in Trinidad is challenging. For instance, cars exceeded the speed limit by significant margins on the highway, overtake on both sides of the carriageway, and changed lanes at high speed. Moreover, in the country, the traffic is slow as most drivers try to avoid potholes and drive on the wrong side of the road even if there is oncoming traffic.
Chaguaramas Peninsula
Our first day trip from Port of Spain was west to Chaguaramas Peninsula. We planned several scenic walks, but a public safety notice at first trailhead put us off. Since I carry expensive camera equipment, I felt we could be a target, so we went to Macqueripe Bay instead. It is at the end of Tucker Valley Road, and families go there to swim.
Macqueripe Bay Beach
The beach is small, and the slope behind the beach has shrubs and trees. I photographed some wildlife, a giant ameiva lizard, and a spotted sandpiper in the area just behind the beach.
North Coast
We drove from Port of Spain along the North Coast Road to Maracas beach and Blanchisseuse Bay. And then south on the Blanchisseuse Road to Arima and then back to Port of Spain. Apart from Macqueripe Bay, I did not find much to inspire me to take photos. We stopped in several places on the Blanchisseuse Road, but the birds were too far away to photograph successfully.
Mt St Benedict Monastery
Mt St Benedict Abbey
The drive to Mt St Benedict Monastery was around 20 Km. There is a circular trail starting and finishing at St Benet’s Hall. Unfortunately, we gave up after an hour and returned as the track was poorly maintained, not that scenic, and there was not much wildlife to see.
West Coast
Driving to Manzanilla Bay on the east coast is around 65 km from Port of Spain. Then, it is a further 25 km to Point Radix, about a two-hour drive without stops. The east coast is a wild and windy coastline on the Atlantic. From Manzanilla to Point Radix is along the Mayaro Road with the Nariva Swamp on one side and Cocos Bay, lined with coconut palms, on the other. The south end of the Nariva Swamp is Bush Bush Reserve, but entry is entry by permit.