Western Trinidad

West

West Trinidad is known for the glitz and glamour of its flashy nightlife. Several discotheques, bars and clubs can be found along the North western part of the island. Stretching from Port of Spain to The Bocas the area loosely called the West is actually in fact the North Western peninsula due West of Port of Spain.

 

Port of Spain, because of its accessibility by water, became a natural successor to St Joseph as the island’s capital in 1757. The city serves at the retail and administrative centre of the island and facilitates a transient daily population of 250,000 people. The largest container port in the region is located on the city’s harbor. As is the International Waterfront Centre, the site of the Fifth Summit of the Americas and Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in 2009.

The Queen’s Park Savannah, which at 2.3 miles is the largest round about in the world, is home to many of the cities tourist hot spots. The National Museum and Art Gallery, Royal Botanical Gardens and National Academy for the Performing Arts are all located around the savannah. 

The Magnificent Seven, a series of beautiful old mansions and castles that make excellent backdrops to your holiday snapshots, are also located around the Queen’s Park Savannah. They include: Killarney, Whitehall, Archbishop’s House, Roomor, Mille Fleurs, Hayes Court and Queen’s Royal College.

 

St. James is affectionately known as "the city that never sleeps" because it's the one pace you can find something to do 24 hours a day. Its also known for its diverse mixture of cultural activities with many Muslim and Hindu celebrations stemming out of this western town.

You can find a wide selection of bars (rum shops) and fast food restaurants including the largest Pizza Hut branch in the world in St James as well as numerous variety shops for your shopping pleasure. 

Chaguaramas, a few miles due west of Port of Spain, is the hub of western night life. It’s a 14,572 acre region with five offshore islets. Along the coast there are several coves and bays that provide havens for a large boating community and boasts a thriving marine services industry.

Sailing and Fishing is a delight. The calm Gulf of Paria Sea makes the area ideal for sailing. Deep-sea fishing is also a popular past-time in the Boca Islands with an abundance of biting mackerel, kingfish, wahoo, yellowtail tuna, barracuda and red snappers to be had.

Macqueripe Bay, with its unusually deep waters near the shoreline is also a reminder of the American presence as it marks the spot where they dug the shoreline to facilitate their submarines. Lots of activities are available at Macqueripe Bay. Beach lovers and adventure seekers alike can enjoy a dip o the North Coast or Zip Line across the forrest.

Chaguaramas offers some of the best boat repair and maintenance facilities in the Caribbean. First class marinas and yacht clubs like The Trinidad and Tobago Yacht Club, Crews Inn and the Trinidad and Tobago Sailing Association which has both dry storage and stern-to-docks facilities are located in here.

Bocas Islands or “Down ‘D’ Islands” lie between Trinidad and Venezuela, in the Bocas del Dragón (Dragons' Mouth) These series of straits separating the Gulf of Paria from the Caribbean Sea are locally referred to as "Down ‘D’ Islands.” 

Many locals have weekend homes here and families can be seen sailing, enjoying wake boarding and other boating activities. Its not just for the laid back either, there has been an upsurge in boating activities with many please cruises and private events being held in the many bays and inlets.

Major Bocas Islands
  • Chacachacare 
  • Monos 
  • Huevos 
  • Gaspar Grande (Gasparee)

Minor Bocas Islands

  • Gasparillo Island or Centipede Island