Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad and Tobago is the southernmost Caribbean nation and one of its most vibrant! Trinidad gave the world one of music's greatest inventions - the steelpan (steel drum), the only acoustic instrument invented in the 20th century. Made from oil drums, the steelpan creates beautiful music and is the national instrument. Caribbean Carnival was also developed and perfected in Trinidad, where it is the greatest street party on Earth - two days of outrageous costumes, pulsing soca and calypso music, and non-stop celebration before Lent.

Trinidad is one of the most biodiverse islands in the Caribbean, sitting close to Venezuela and sharing many South American species. The Caroni Bird Sanctuary is home to flocks of scarlet ibis (the national bird) that turn trees blood-red at sunset - an unforgettable sight. The Pitch Lake in Trinidad is the largest natural deposit of asphalt in the world! Tobago, the smaller sister island, is quieter and more relaxed, with lovely beaches, coral reefs, and the oldest protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere. Trinidad's food is a spectacular blend of African, Indian, Chinese, and Spanish influences, featuring doubles, roti, and bake-and-shark. Trinbagonians (as they call themselves) are proud, energetic, and creative people.