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How many days in Trinidad and Tobago? 5 days, three on Trinidad and two on Tobago
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
The two islands are very different. Trinidad is big, industrial and lively, the home of Carnival, steelpan and some of the Caribbean's best street food, with rainforest full of birds. Tobago, 25 minutes away by plane, is small, green and slow, with coral reefs and quiet bays. Give them five days: three on Trinidad for Port of Spain, the north coast and the Caroni Swamp, then two on Tobago for Pigeon Point, Buccoo Reef and the Main Ridge forest.
Short answer
Four days covers Port of Spain, Maracas and Caroni on Trinidad, and one beach day on Tobago. Five adds the Asa Wright birds and Tobago's rainforest and waterfalls.
The 5-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Port of Spain: the Savannah and the hills
Morning. Walk round the Queen's Park Savannah, a 1.5-km park at the heart of Port of Spain, past the Magnificent Seven, a row of grand early 1900s mansions including the restored Stollmeyer's Castle. Next door, the Royal Botanic Gardens (free) date from 1818.
Afternoon. Visit the National Museum and Art Gallery (free) for Carnival history and Trinidadian painters, then take a taxi up to Fort George (free), built in 1804 on a hill 335 metres above the Gulf of Paria.
Evening. Eat at the food stalls along the Savannah at night, where coconut sellers and doubles vendors gather, then go to a bar on Ariapita Avenue in Woodbrook, the city's main nightlife street.
Use registered taxis (H-plates) or ask your hotel; some local 'PH' taxis are unlicensed. Avoid walking downtown after dark.
Day 2: Maracas Bay and the north coast
Morning. Drive about 40 minutes over the Saddle Road and the North Coast Road, with views over the Northern Range, to Maracas Bay, Trinidad's most popular beach, a long arc of sand backed by green hills.
Afternoon. Eat bake and shark, fried shark in fried bread with toppings like tamarind, garlic sauce and shado beni, at Richard's or one of the beach stalls (about TT$40-70). Continue 15 minutes to quieter Las Cuevas bay for a swim.
Evening. Back in Port of Spain, look for a steelpan rehearsal at a panyard, such as those of Phase II Pan Groove or Renegades, especially in the weeks before Carnival.
Maracas has lifeguards at the main section; currents can be strong elsewhere, so swim near the flags.
Day 3: Asa Wright birds and the scarlet ibis of Caroni
Morning. Drive about 1.5 hours to the Asa Wright Nature Centre in the Arima Valley, a former cocoa estate in the rainforest with over 170 bird species. From the veranda, watch hummingbirds, honeycreepers and toucans at the feeders; guided walks run in the morning (entry about TT$100-150).
Afternoon. Head to the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, a mangrove swamp just south of Port of Spain. Boat tours leave at about 16:00 (about TT$100-150) and wind through channels with snakes, caimans and tree-climbing crabs.
Evening. At sunset, thousands of scarlet ibis, Trinidad's national bird, fly in to roost on a mangrove island, turning the trees red. Back in the city for dinner around 19:30.
Bring insect repellent and binoculars for both stops; the Caroni boats move slowly, so a long lens helps for photos.
Day 4: Over to Tobago: Pigeon Point and Buccoo Reef
Morning. Fly from Piarco to Tobago (about 25 minutes, roughly TT$300-400 return for visitors) or take the fast ferry from Port of Spain to Scarborough (about 2.5-3 hours). Go straight to Pigeon Point (small entry fee), with its thatched jetty and calm water.
Afternoon. Take a glass-bottom boat to Buccoo Reef (about TT$150-250) to snorkel among corals and fish, then stop at the Nylon Pool, a waist-deep sandbar of clear water in the middle of the lagoon.
Evening. If it is Sunday, go to Sunday School in Buccoo, an open-air street party with steelpan and then soca into the night. Otherwise, eat curry crab and dumpling in Crown Point (about TT$80-150).
Book Caribbean Airlines flights early around Carnival and Easter, when Trinidadians head to Tobago.
Day 5: Main Ridge rainforest, Argyle Falls and Speyside
Morning. Drive about 1 hour to the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, protected since 1776 and said to be the oldest legally protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere. Walk the Gilpin Trace trail with a local guide (about TT$100-200) for motmots and other birds.
Afternoon. Swim in the pools of Argyle Waterfall (about TT$60), Tobago's highest at about 54 metres, then continue to Speyside for a glass-bottom boat or snorkel trip to Little Tobago and the Angel Reef, home to some of the Caribbean's largest brain corals.
Evening. Drive back along the Caribbean coast past Castara and Englishman's Bay, two of the island's prettiest beaches, for a seafood dinner by the sea.
From about March to August, leatherback turtles nest on Tobago's beaches at night, such as Turtle Beach; join a guided watch run by local conservation groups.
Only have 4 days?
With 4 days, combine Port of Spain and Maracas Bay in one day, keep Asa Wright and Caroni, and spend one full day on Tobago at Pigeon Point and Buccoo Reef. You lose the Main Ridge rainforest.
Got extra days?
Add 2 days on Trinidad for the Pitch Lake at La Brea, the world's largest natural asphalt lake, the Temple in the Sea at Waterloo and the 26-metre Hanuman Murti at Carapichaima, or a night at Grande Rivière for leatherback turtles.
Where to stay in Trinidad and Tobago
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Woodbrook, Port of Spain / Crown Point guesthouses | Simple rooms near Ariapita Avenue, or near the airport and Pigeon Point on Tobago. | TT$400-700 |
| Mid-range | St Clair / Maraval, Port of Spain | Quiet, leafy streets close to the Savannah. | TT$800-1,400 |
| Mid-range | Castara / Speyside, Tobago | Small hotels on quiet bays and near the reefs. | TT$700-1,300 |
| Comfort | Port of Spain business hotels / Tobago resorts | Hilton and Hyatt in the city, and beach resorts in Tobago's west. | TT$1,800-4,000 |
Getting around
On Trinidad, a rental car (about TT$300-500 a day; driving on the left) or a driver is easiest, as traffic is heavy and buses are limited. Shared maxi taxis, minibuses with coloured stripes by route, are cheap but confusing. Piarco airport is about 30-45 minutes from Port of Spain. Between the islands, fly with Caribbean Airlines (25 minutes) or take the Port of Spain-Scarborough fast ferry (about TT$50-100 one way). On Tobago, rent a car or hire taxis; the island is about 40 km long.
What to eat in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad's street food draws on Indian, African, Chinese and Creole roots. Start the day with doubles, two fried flatbreads with curried chickpeas, for about TT$6-8. Try bake and shark at Maracas, roti with curry goat or chicken, pelau (rice with pigeon peas and meat), corn soup at night and callaloo. On Tobago, eat curry crab and dumpling. Drink Carib beer, sorrel at Christmas and Angostura rum. A local lunch costs TT$50-80.
Best time to visit
The dry season, January to May, is best, with highs of 30-32°C. Carnival falls on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, usually in February or early March, and hotels triple in price and book out months ahead. June to December is the wet season, with heavy showers; the islands sit south of the main hurricane belt but storms are possible.
Month-by-month weather for Trinidad and Tobago →
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | TT$300 | TT$600 | TT$1,500 |
| Food & drink | TT$200 | TT$400 | TT$800 |
| Sights & tickets | TT$80 | TT$250 | TT$500 |
| Local transport | TT$80 | TT$250 | TT$500 |
| Total per person, per day | about TT$660 | about TT$1,500 | about TT$3,300 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Trinidad and Tobago dollars (about TT$6.80 to US$1); hotels add a 10% accommodation tax and 12.5% VAT, and many add a 10% service charge.
Before you go
Common questions
When is Trinidad Carnival?
Carnival Monday and Tuesday fall just before Ash Wednesday, usually in February or early March. The season builds for weeks before, with fetes, steelpan competitions such as Panorama, and calypso tents. J'ouvert, before dawn on Monday, is the mud, paint and chocolate party. Book flights and hotels at least six months ahead and join a band for costumes.
Should I spend more time on Trinidad or Tobago?
It depends on what you want. Trinidad is for culture, food, birdlife and Carnival, but its beaches are fewer and its towns busy. Tobago is for beaches, snorkelling, rainforest and a slower pace. Most visitors give at least two days to each, and beach lovers may want more on Tobago.
Is Trinidad safe?
Crime is higher than in many Caribbean islands, mostly in parts of Port of Spain and its east. Visitors who use trusted taxis at night, avoid quiet areas after dark and keep valuables out of sight usually have no problems. Tobago is calmer, but normal care applies. Check current advice before travel.
Can I see the scarlet ibis all year?
Yes. The scarlet ibis roosts at the Caroni Bird Sanctuary throughout the year, flying in at dusk. Numbers are usually highest in the dry season and in the late afternoon before sunset. Boats leave about 16:00 to reach the roosting island in time. Book through a local operator at the sanctuary entrance.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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