Today is the day! My new book, How to Travel the World on $75 a Day, is out NOW! (Woo! Hoo!) This newly updated edition of my New York Times best-selling book will help you travel on a budget.
The last edition of the book came out in 2017 and, since then, a lot has changed. COVID changed the travel industry forever. A lot of companies/hotels/hostels closed during the pandemic, including ones that had been around for decades! Old methods of saving money (like RTW tickets) became obsolete and new methods (like certain apps and sharing economy websites) came into being.
Destinations changed. Prices have definitely changed.
If you’re looking to have those magical travel experiences you always hear about in books or on social media, my new book is going to help you. You’ll become an expert traveler and know how to always find deals and get off-the-beaten-path. It will lay out travel planning in a simple and easy to follow format and give you specific strategies that work no matter where you go in the world or for how long. (After all, it doesn’t matter how long you’re going away for, we all get on the same planes!)
This book has my twenty years of travel wisdom distilled into one place and has tips, tricks, and resources not found on this blog. So, if you’re looking to unlock the power to go anywhere without spending a fortune, get your copy today from one of the following retailers by clicking the image below:
Here’s some of the new stuff you’ll find in this edition:
A new section on collecting and redeeming points and miles.
A completely updated resource section filled with companies and accommodations I love.
More information on overtourism and how to be a responsible traveler.
Completely revised and updated and expanded destination sections that include new prices, ways to save, tips on where to eat, accommodation, transportation, and activities.
New trips and tricks on how to save money before you go.
New ways to save money on accommodation, including ways to get free accommodation.
New ways to save money on transportation (with new information on transportation passes).
Here’s a detailed chapter-by-chapter breakdown:
Chapter 1: Getting Over Your Fears
Chapter 2: Is Travel Really Too Expensive?
Chapter 3: How to Save for Your Trip
Chapter 4: Banking Overseas
Chapter 5: Credit Cards
Chapter 6: Airline Tickets
Chapter 7: Backpacks and Suitcases
Chapter 8: Travel Insurance
Chapter 9: What to Do with Your Stuff
Chapter 10: Tips for Saving Money on Accommodations
Chapter 11: Tips for Saving Money on Food and Beverages
Chapter 12: Tips for Saving Money on Transportation
Chapter 13: Tips for Saving Money on Activities
Plus, the book also covers the major destinations of the world, like Australia, Central America, China, Europe, New Zealand, South America, Southeast Asia, and a few others!
Book Your Flight Find a cheap flight by using Skyscanner. It’s my favorite search engine because it searches websites and airlines around the globe so you always know no stone is being left unturned.
Book Your Accommodation You can book your hostel with Hostelworld. If you want to stay somewhere other than a hostel, use Booking.com as it consistently returns the cheapest rates for guesthouses and hotels.
Don’t Forget Travel Insurance Travel insurance will protect you against illness, injury, theft, and cancellations. It’s comprehensive protection in case anything goes wrong. I never go on a trip without it as I’ve had to use it many times in the past. My favorite companies that offer the best service and value are:
Want to Travel for Free? Travel credit cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for free flights and accommodation — all without any extra spending. Check out my guide to picking the right card and my current favorites to get started and see the latest best deals.
Need a Rental Car? Discover Cars is a budget-friendly international car rental website. No matter where you’re headed, they’ll be able to find the best — and cheapest — rental for your trip!
Need Help Finding Activities for Your Trip? Get Your Guide is a huge online marketplace where you can find cool walking tours, fun excursions, skip-the-line tickets, private guides, and more.
Ready to Book Your Trip? Check out my resource page for the best companies to use when you travel. I list all the ones I use when I travel. They are the best in class and you can’t go wrong using them on your trip.
Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana, popularly known as ‘’the 3 Guianas’’, are three countries located on the eastern shoulder of South America – and probably the least visited countries in the all the Americas.
Whether you are overlanding across Latin America or just traveling here for a few weeks, it’s easy to combine the 3 countries in one single trip.
This guide will show you how to cross the 3 Guianas (Guyana-Suriname-French Guiana) overland, from Georgetown to Cayenne.
In this Guyana travel guide, you will find:
our recommended travel insurance for Guyana
With its Backpacker plan, IATI Insurance is the best insurance for any kind of adventurous destination, like Guyana.
Introduction to travel in the Guyanas: Why are they called the 3 Guianas?
The Guyana is a geographical area comprised of the Guiana Shield.
Politically-speaking, this area today refers to Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana but, theoretically, it also includes the Guayana region in eastern Venezuela and Amapá state in Brazil.
In fact, during colonial times, Venezuelan Guayana was referred to as Spanish Guyana, while Amapá state was Portuguese Guyana.
Similarly, Guyana (the country) was known as British Guyana, and Suriname as Dutch Guyana.
French Guiana never got its independence and today, this tiny country is an overseas department and region of France, and as such is part of the European Union.
The Guyanas is mostly dense forest, photo taken in South Guyana (British)
How to get to the 3 Guianas
Where to start from, Guyana or French Guiana?
From a logistical perspective, it really doesn’t make any difference you should start from wherever is more convenient for your kind of trip.
I personally started from Georgetown (Guyana), and the only advantage I can think of is that I liked ending my trip in Cayenne (French Guiana), where I found pretty amazing restaurants serving decent French food and wine, something which is hard to find in the other 2 Guianas.
How to travel to the 3 Guianas by land
Traveling to Guyana by land
From Venezuela: There’s no official border between the two countries, not even roads, just thick jungle.
From Brazil: The border is open at Lethem, easily reached by public transportation from Boa Vista. If you are traveling in Venezuela, you should get yourself to the southern city of Santa Elena de Uairén – there are direct buses from Caracas – and then cross into Brazil to Boa Vista.
The journey from Lethem to Georgetown is a very long one, over 500km of mainly unpaved road including a river crossing by ferry, and it’s difficult to do it in one go, so do stay somewhere in between, like the area of Rupunini or Iwokrama.
Traveling to Suriname by land
Suriname has a border with Brazil but there aren’t any roads, so you can only get in from either Guyana or French Guiana.
Traveling to French Guiana by land
Macapá, a city that lies on the Amazon delta, is the main transportation hub to Saint-Georges, the border town from this part of French Guiana.
How to travel to the 3 Guianas by flight
Before getting into the Guianas, I was traveling in Trinidad and Tobago for a couple of days, and from there I flew into Georgetown.
From Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) there are inexpensive daily flights to Georgetown, meaning that adding Trinidad and Tobago onto your 3 Guianas adventure is quite feasible, especially because from a cultural perspective, they are similar.
Traveling to Georgetown by flight
Georgetown has two international airports – Eugene F. Correia International Airport (OGL) and Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA).
Besides Port of Spain (POS), common connections are Panama (PTY), Miami (MIA), New York City (JFK) and Bridgetown, Barbados (BGI).
Traveling to Cayenne by flight
Besides a daily flight to Paris (CDG) with Air France, the International Airport of Cayenne (CAY) has barely any connections, only to the French Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe.
How to travel the 3 Guianas overland: Georgetown-Paramaribo-Cayenne
our recommended travel insurance for Guyana
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The route Georgetown-Paramaribo-Cayenne
The distance between Georgetown and Paramaribo is 840 km.
Remember that the countries are not connected by road, and are separated by a river with no bridge, meaning you can only cross by boat.
How to get from Georgetown to Paramaribo (Guyana to Suriname)
The main cathedral in ParamariboMain market in Georgetown
Here are the steps you need to follow to travel from Guyana to Suriname by land.
Step 1: Get your Suriname e-visa and complete the online immigration form
Suriname is the only country in the Guianas that requires a visa.
The portal recommends applying 72 hours in advance, but I applied the day before and got mine right there and then.
After securing your visa, you need to fill out the following online form and show the respective QR code upon arrival in Suriname.
A yellow fever certificate is also an entry requirement for Suriname
Step 2: Georgetown to Molson Creek
Molson Creek is the border town with Suriname, where you need to catch the ferry.
The journey takes 3 to 4 hours, depending on the type of vehicle used.
You have two options:
1) Booking a shared taxi in advance
This has the added benefit that they will pick you up from your hotel. A second shared taxi will be waiting for you across the border to take you to Paramaribo.
For this, you should book a couple of days in advance to secure your spot.
Pick-up is between 4 am and 5 am and the journey takes about 3 hours. It costs 50 USD, including the second leg of the journey, from the border to Paramaribo.
Note that the ferry ticket isn’t included in the price.
I can recommend a man named Rudolf, a very easy-going, kind local guy from Georgetown. You can message him on WhatsApp: +592 641 6010
2) Going by local bus
The advantage of going by bus isn’t really the price difference but personally, I prefer going by public transportation, as it’s usually a great way to meet locals. Option 1 is just too easy.
Important: there’s only one daily ferry crossing the river, so if you want to catch it, you’ll have to be at the station extra early, no later than 4 or 5 am.
The problem, however, is that the minivans depart from Stabroek market, one of the sketchiest areas in the city, and you’ll have to be there when it’s still dark.
Georgetown is well-known for its violent crime so, if possible, try to get there by taxi from your hotel don’t walk alone around this area!
Alternatively, you could just show up in the middle of the day, and spend the night at the border town.
Due to all the safety issues in Georgetown, Stabroek market in Georgetown features a massive surveillance screen
Step 3: Immigration and ferry crossing
In Molson Creek, you’ll need to get to the ferry terminal, where you’ll go through immigration and purchase your ferry ticket, costing 20 USD.
In my experience, the border was quite busy, but the whole process didn’t take more than 25 minutes.
Guyana / Suriname border
After getting your passport stamped, all you have to do is wait for the ferry. Apparently it departs at any time between 9:30 am and 1 pm. In my case, it departed at 11 am.
The journey by ferry takes 1 hour 30 minutes, and it’s incredibly slow.
The ferry that takes you from Guyana to Suriname
Step 4: Suriname immigration and South Drain to Paramaribo
As soon as you cross the river, get off the boat quickly to skip the immigration line.
On leaving customs, you’ll be approached by several shared-taxi drivers looking for passengers to Paramaribo.
The journey shouldn’t cost more than 20-25 USD.
From the border to Paramaribo takes another 3 to 4 hours.
How to get from Paramaribo to Cayenne (Suriname to French Guiana)
Here are the steps you need to follow for overland travel from Suriname to French Guiana.
Step 1: Complete your online immigration form
Similarly to what you did when entering Suriname, you will also need to fill out the same online form to exit the country. Here’s the link.
Step 2: Paramaribo to Albina
To travel to French Guiana, you can easily take a local shared taxi to the border town of Albina.
The journey takes 2 hours and costs 20 USD. Too easy…
Step 3: Look for the actual customs
The boats that take you to French Guyana, actual European Union
This could prove confusing for some.
The local shared taxi will drop you at a very busy spot by the river banks, an area packed with small boats that take you across the river.
These boats take people into French Guiana illegally, but I was never able to understand why there isn’t any control over it.
While you are sure to be approached by some of their captains, remember that first, you’ll need to get your exit stamp at the actual customs, located 500 meters away from where you probably are. Right here.
After obtaining your exit stamp, it doesn’t matter whether you take the official boat or go back to the ‘’illegal’’ port.
In fact, the guy who stamped my passport encouraged me to take one of the illegal boats, since it’s way faster, but he told me to make sure I go through French immigration.
I went back to my initial location and, when I got on one of the boats, the guy said: Do you want to be dropped off at the French customs?
I was the only person who actually got off at the customs, the rest entered French Guiana somewhere else.
This is what you find upon arriving in French Guyana
Step 4: Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni to Cayenne
The French have invested very little in their South American colony/enclave, especially when it comes to public transportation.
Moreover, this is a rarely-transited border crossing, so the chances of not seeing any drivers at all are pretty high.
You have 2 options:
Walk to the center of Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni and take the 1 pm bus to Cayenne. There are 2 daily buses, one at 6 am and another at 1 pm.
At the customs, you’ll see a few boat owners. If you can’t see any taxi, ask them to call a shared taxi for you.
Cayenne. the capital of French Guyana
In my case, I decided to spent the night in Saint-Laurent-du-Maroni, which I can strongly recommend.
The town is packed with street vendors most likely from Suriname, there’s a nice market and the Transportation Camp for the prisoners going to the Salvation Islands (remember the book/movie Papillon?). It’s hard to believe the town belongs to the EU.
The next day, at around 10 am, I headed to the bus station only to find out that I’d already missed the first bus (it was at 10 am) so I went back to customs, where I managed to find a shared taxi thanks to one of the boat men.
You can either try your luck there or just call this number: +594 694 21 18 28 (Nell)
The journey takes 3 hours by car and costs 40 USD. French prices!
More travel information
📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.
Trinidad and Tobago is the southernmost country in the Caribbean.
After the Republic of Haiti, this island-nation is also the least visited and most unsafe country in the region.
It’s a country divided into two islands: the island of Trinidad, and the island of Tobago, each one offering a completely different travel experience.
This travel guide to Trinidad and Tobago will tell you everything you need to know to tour one of the least visited countries in the Caribbean, including how to get there, budget, itinerary and more.
In this travel guide to Trinidad & Tobago you will find:
our recommended travel insurance for Trinidad and Tobago
With its Backpacker plan, IATI Insurance is the best insurance for any kind of adventurous destination, like Trinidad and Tobago.
🇹🇹 Introduction to traveling to Trinidad and Tobago
I liked Trinidad and Tobago, and I liked it because this isn’t your typical Caribbean destination.
On the one hand, the capital – Port of Spain – is a bustling metropolis as per usual Caribbean standards. It’s busy, polluted and the city center features high-rise, concrete towers.
Port of Spain’s city center
On the other hand, and as mentioned earlier, this Caribbean nation is composed of two islands that could hardly be more different.
The island of Trinidad is multiethnic, most of their population being ethnically African – descendants of former slaves – and Indian – brought to replace freed African slaves who refused to continue working on the sugar plantations.
You are also likely to meet many white Trinis, as well as direct descendants of incomers from Syria and China.
This cultural diversity and the way the different ethnicities coexist and worship in their respective temples – the island is packed with Hindu temples, churches and mosques – is the highlight of visiting Trinidad.
A Hindu temple somewhere in Trinidad
Tobago, nevertheless, is more rural and 99% African. It’s also significantly closer to your idea of a Caribbean holiday, with the added benefit that mass tourism isn’t really a thing here. In fact, this is one of the few places in the Caribbean where you can still find unspoiled beaches that can be enjoyed all to yourself.
The thing is that Trinidad and Tobago is the leading producer of natural gas and oil in the Caribbean, so they never had a need to develop a proper tourist industry, making it one of the most authentic countries to explore in this part of the world.
Trinidad was first Spanish and then British Trinidad had been a Spanish colony since their first permanent settlement in 1592 but years of negligence and leaving the island abandoned and defenceless make the British taking it over in 1797. Trinidad and Tobago got its independence from the British in 1962. Despite Trinidad being a Spanish colony for 200 years, today’s colonial heritage is purely British, not only in the language and architecture, but also in that Indians – brought to replace freed African slaves who refused to continue working on the sugar plantations – are the largest ethnic group.
An empty dreamy beach in Tobago
⚠️ Is it safe to travel to Trinidad and Tobago?
Excluding Haiti, Trinidad is infamous for being the most violent country in the Caribbean and one of the worst in Latin America.
In 2024 alone, the country registered 624 homicides for a population of 1.5 million people. That’s higher than Mexico and USA cities with a high level of criminality, such as Chicago.
The situation was so bad that in December 2024, Trinidad and Tobago imposed a nationwide state of emergency due to the spread of gang violence in Port of Spain.
This gang violence is explained by the country’s proximity to Venezuela and direct transportation routes to Europe, which makes Trinidad and Tobago an appealing market for drug smuggling.
Gangs and violent street crime are a fact of life here, but that shouldn’t prevent travelers from visiting Trinidad and Tobago, for the following reasons:
Gang violence mostly focuses on Port of Spain
Shootings and homicides are concentrated in Port of Spain, more specifically in certain areas within Port of Spain like Laventille, which you are very likely to avoid.
Violent crime here is not worse than in Bogota or Mexico City
Street crime in Port of Spain is pretty bad per Caribbean standards, but I don’t think it’s that bad if we compare it to other Latin American cities frequented by tourists such as Rio de Janeiro, Bogota or Quito.
You already know how things work in these places, just apply common sense: don’t take random taxis, don’t walk alone at night and avoid empty areas after dark, such as downtown.
Tobago is pretty safe
Unlike Trinidad, Tobago is as safe as other islands in the Caribbean.
Tobago is super safe to travel
🪪 How to get a visa for Trinidad & Tobago
You don’t need a visa to visit Trinidad & Tobago.
Upon arrival, all you’ll get is a friendly stamp valid for travel in Trinidad and Tobago for 90 days.
🚑 Travel insurance for Trinidad and Tobago
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🛫 How to get to Trinidad and Tobago
How to travel to Trinidad and Tobago by air
The International Airport of Port of Spain (POS) is the main hub in the Caribbean, connecting with several islands like Barbados, Grenada, and Saint Vincent, among many others.
You can also fly there from anywhere in the 3 Guianas, including Georgetown, Paramaribo and Cayenne.
Just check flight schedules on Caribbean Airlines, the national airline.
If you’re coming from Europe, you can find relatively cheap flights from London with British Airways, and if coming from the Americas, check out flights via Miami (American Airlines) and Panama City (Copa Airlines).
I personally traveled to Port of Spain on a direct flight from London and flew out to Georgetown, Guyana.
Does Tobago have an international airport?
Tobago has a tiny international airport named ANR Robinson International Airport (TAB).
It has several daily connections with Port of Spain but very limited (and expensive) connections with the rest of the world.
However, they are currently building a larger terminal, so Tobago is set to be more connected within the next few years.
How to travel to Trinidad and Tobago by boat
As of today, there aren’t any official ferries going to Trinidad, only cruise ships.
⛅ Best time to visit Trinidad and Tobago
Choosing when to travel to Trinidad and Tobago highly depends on the amount of rain.
The dry season runs from the end of November to May so technically, this would be the best season to visit both islands, especially if you are interested in beaches and Caribbean vibes.
The rainy and hurricane season runs from June to November. However, being the southernmost island in the Caribbean means that Trinidad and Tobago receives lesser amount of rainfall than other islands in the Caribbean, from Grenada to Haiti.
Visit Trinidad during Carnaval
Port of Spain holds what is arguably one of the best Carnavals in the world, perhaps not as large as Rio de Janeiro’s but way more authentic. That’s what they claim, anyway.
Their Carnaval is so important to them that upon my arrival in Port of Spain, the bartender from the first bar I went to asked me: Are you here for the Carnaval? – even though Carnaval was still 6 weeks away.
If I ever go back to Trinidad, I’ll definitely visit the country during Carnaval.
As you may know, Carnaval dates always vary but it’s always some time between the end of January and the beginning of March.
Lookout at Maracas. We visited Trinidad in January, it was great, just a little rain from time to time
🛺 How to get around Trinidad and Tobago
As in other West Indies islands, public transportation isn’t great and not particularly convenient to visit the various nature spots around the country.
That’s why I recommend renting a car directly from the airport, either in Tobago or Trinidad. Remember, however, that in Trinidad and Tobago, they drive on the left side of the road, like the United Kingdom.
If, for whatever reason, you can’t rent a car, you can still get around (sort of) on the buses and minivans connecting the main towns, although you’ll be more limited.
Is there a bus from the airport to Port of Spain?
Yes, there is a bus running from Monday to Friday, and tickets can be purchased from inside the terminal.
However, the bus drops you downtown, one of the most notorious areas in Port of Spain for violent crime, so I don’t recommend getting on that bus if it arrives after dark. In day time, it should be fine.
How to get around by shared taxi
To get around Port of Spain, locals use what they call Route Taxis, which are shared with other passengers going in a similar direction. They charge TT$5 per passenger.
Please make sure their license plate starts with the letter ‘H’’. Don’t accept a ride from cars with the license plate beginning with the letter ‘’P’’ or ’T’’, just as you wouldn’t accept a ride from a random car in Mexico City, Bogota or Caracas.
How to travel between islands, from Trinidad to Tobago
Traveling from Trinidad to Tobago by air
Caribbean Airlines has loads of daily scheduled flights from Port of Spain to Tobago for around 70 USD return. It’s a 30-minute flight, making it the fastest way to travel to Tobago.
How to travel from Trinidad to Tobago by ferry
There are 2 daily ferries running between Port of Spain and Scarborough, the capital of Tobago.
Typically, one departs in the morning, and the other in the afternoon.
Important: In my experience, rental car companies don’t allow their cars on the ferry. If you plan to rent a car for your entire trip, you’ll have to make 2 different bookings, one on each island.
💰 Money & budget in Trinidad and Tobago
In Trinidad and Tobago, they use the Trinidad & Tobago Dollar (TTD) and approximately:
1 USD = 6.75 TTD
Exchanging money in Trinidad and Tobago
I recommend exchanging your currency at the airport – the rate was pretty decent.
Cash or card?
Many places across both islands accept card payments, especially hotels and fancier restaurants, but do bring cash for the rest.
By the way, US dollars are accepted in many hotels and/or Airbnbs.
How much does it cost to go backpacking in Trinidad and Tobago?
These are the prices of the most typical things:
Private room with bathroom in Tobago: from 400 TTD
Private room in a hotel in Port of Spain: from 100 TTD
Local meal, e.g. roti: from 40 TTD
Street food e.g. doubles: from 10 TTD
Main meal in a restaurant: from 110 TTD
Rental car: from 60 USD a day
Beer: from 70 TTD
Short taxi ride with local app: from 100 TTD
🛖 What to do in Trinidad and Tobago in a 5-day itinerary
The following itinerary for Trinidad and Tobago is what we followed during our 5-day visit, which worked pretty well for us.
In only 5 days, we obviously didn’t became the ultimate experts on the country, but it gave us an idea of what’s it’s like.
Try doubles Doubles is a popular street food consisting of curry chickpeas served in two fried flatbreads. They tend to top it with mango and different kind of spices, so this Indian-influenced snack is more amazing than it sounds. You can find doubles everywhere across both islands.
Map of our Trinidad and Tobago itinerary
What to do in Trinidad and Tobago on a 5-day itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Trinidad and Tobago, staying in Piarco
The first day of our Trinidad and Tobago trip, we landed in Piarco International Airport around 5 pm.
We decided to spend the night in the town right next to the airport, since our flight to Tobago was scheduled on the next day early in the morning.
There’s not much to do in Piarco, so all we did was go for drinks and a meal at a bar/restaurant called Quties.
Where to stay in Piarco
Please note that accommodation in Piarco is pretty expensive for solo travelers.
If you want something cheaper, go to Port of Spain instead.
We stayed at a place called Travelholics Getaways, a comfortable, privately-owned guesthouse. It’s quite expensive but there were 3 of us, so it turned out to be a good deal.
Proper hotel. There aren’t many hotels in this area and Holiday Inn Express is one of the few choices, but it’s $$$.
Around Piarco, there’s a cheaper option called The Layover, a small apartment with two rooms.
Day 2 – Fly to Tobago
On day 2 of our Trinidad and Tobago itinerary, we took the Caribbean Airlines flight from Port of Spain to Tobago.
We picked up our rental car (via Rental Cars) at the airport itself and chose to stay in a village named Castara.
Do I recommend staying in Castara?
Yes, I actually do. It’s a small coastal village with a pretty laid-back and quiet local vibe.
On Thursday night, local people from the area gather by the beach around a bonfire with music and drinks.
On that particular day, we didn’t do much other than recover from jetlag and a small hike to Castara waterfall.
Where to stay in Castara
We stayed in Casa de Castara, a house that features single and double rooms with a private bathroom. I think it was the cheapest option in town.
Day 3 – Full day around Tobago
On our third day in Trinidad and Tobago, we did a full circuit of the island, stopping in the following places:
Englishman’s Bay: Probably the best unspoiled beach in the Caribbean.
Parlatuvier: This tiny village isn’t only pretty but also very local
Charloteville and Pirate’s Bay: A medium-sized town, not touristy, from where you can walk to another unspoiled beach named Pirate’s Bay.
Argyle Falls: The highest falls in Tobago, which you can reach in an easy 20-minute hike. They charge an entry fee of around 10 USD per person.
Scarborough: The capital of Tobago. There isn’t much to do here, but it’s worth checking it out.
Pigeon Point: The closest thing in Tobago to a proper touristy Caribbean beach. I don’t really recommend it, but it’s good to see every facet of Tobago.
In the evening, on the way back to Castara, I recommend you stop at a local bar named Village Vibes, right in the center of the island, where you can enjoy a very authentic side of Tobago.
Look for Sue’s Doubles in Tobago. The best doubles we had in Tobago were from Sue’s Doubles, which has quite a few street stalls across the island. Look for the one in Scarborough.
This is Trini rotiThis is Trini doubles
Day 4 – Back to Trinidad and full day around Trinidad
On day 4 of our Trinidad and Tobago trip, we flew to Port of Spain in the early morning.
After checking in to our hotel, we spend the day driving around the island of Trinidad.
A man selling coconut in Port of Spain
Places we visited included:
Sewdass Sadhu Shiva Mandir Temple in the Sea: A Hindu temple built on the sea. There wasn’t anyone there when we visited but it’s still nice to see.
Dattatreya Mandir Temple: Another Hindu temple, larger and more active than the previous one.
Maracas Beach: The northern coastline is the prettiest in Trinidad, Maracas being the most popular places for locals.
Try chow at Maracas Lookout: Here, you’ll get amazing views of the area and you’ll also be able to buy chow, which consists of local fruit like mango or pineapple marinated in garlic, salt and coriander.
This is the famous Trini chow
Maracas is known for serving the best Bake & Shark, a Trini fried fish sandwich, too greasy in my opinion, but a typical thing to eat in the area.
We spent the evening and night in Port of Spain, in a very busy street called Ariapita, which is packed with all manner of bars and restaurants.
Where to stay in Port of Spain
Port of Spain is definitely not backpacker friendly, most budget accommodation being rooms and apartments run by private owners. Hence, I recommend Alicia’s Lodge.
Budget/mid-range hotel – Culture Crossroads Inn. Probably the cheapest proper hotel in the city.
Day 5 – Port of Spain and departure
Our flight to Georgetown (Guyana) was in late afternoon, so we saved the last day to visit Port of Spain properly.
For breakfast, I recommend going to an area by the sea, where you will find a dozen food stalls serving all sorts of local foods, including coconut bake with smoked fish, a traditional breakfast.
For lunch, try roti at Prataj Roti Shop. Roti is another Indian-influenced street food, consisting of roti bread filled with a choice of slow cooked curry, from shrimps to potatoes.
When it comes to things to see and do in Port of Spain, we walked around Independence Square in downtown – an area to avoid once it gets dark – and also Queen’s Park Savannah and all the colonial buildings along Maraval Road.
Colonial building in Port of Spain
❗ More information
📢 In my Travel Resources Page you can find the list of all the sites and services I use to book hotels, tours, travel insurance and more.
