Trinidad & Tobago: Your dream vacation that wasn’t even on your radar… until now.

Written by Emily Plug, Head of Content & Sales at El Camino Travel. Originally published February 8, 2023.

As soon as your touch down, you’ll feel like you’ve been let in on a little secret. Trinidad & Tobago is quite literally the definition of a hidden gem with less than 500,000 visitors per year. If secluded beaches with turquoise water, a dynamic culture, and unparalleled cuisine is your idea of the perfect trip, then look no further—Trinidad & Tobago is the destination you’ve been craving.

Here are our top 5 reasons for visiting this dual-island nation before the word gets out.

1. The Leatherback Turtles 🐢

Every year, the leatherback turtles return to the same beach where they were hatched to lay their eggs. Trinidad & Tobago is the second-largest nesting ground on earth for these larger-the-life turtles. Weighing in at around 2000 pounds, seeing them swim through the water and make their way to the beach is an unforgettable experience that everyone should do at least once. At your beachfront lodge in Grand Riviere, you’ll have the best seats in the house. Depending on the timing, you may even see some of the hatchlings begin their perilous journey to the sea. Fun fact: Our trip is planned around the leatherback turtle migration so we only run this trip from May-July… which means it’s only offered a couple times per year.

2. The Nylon Pool 🐚

Spoiler alert: It’s not the type of pool you’re envisioning. Also known as the Fountain of Youth, this “pool” is formed by a natural sandbar off the coast of Tobago. This natural phenomenon is said to have “mystic powers” and it can only be reached by boat. The combination of the white sand bar and the shallow, crystal-clear water makes for ideal swimming and snorkeling conditions and that postcard-worthy bright blue water that you’ve been dreaming of. Despite being one of Trinidad & Tobago’s most visited attractions, its Wikipedia page is considered a “stub” because it’s so short! That just goes to show the untapped potential of Trinidad & Tobago, one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets.

3. The Food 🥘

East Indian + Caribbean + African = the delicious food of the islands. Doubles, roti, and crab dumplings are just a few of our local favorites. There’s an iconic meal on day 2 of our itinerary that our OG El Camino Travelers dubbed “beachside roti”, and all these years later, the name has stuck. You’ll be served an indulgent buffet of local favorites right on the beach. Grab a banana leaf to use as your plate, and load it up with some homemade vegetarian delights that you may recognize from your favorite Indian takeout spot back home, but with a Caribbean twist. This unforgettable meal is served up by local legend, Chef Susan, who we’ve been working with for years. 

4. The Waterfalls 💦

While we won’t spend all our time at the beach, you will be in your swimsuit for nearly every day of the trip. We’ll leave the salty shores to visit Rio Seco Waterfall. Rio Seco’s emerald-green waters are perfect for swimming. Enjoy the picturesque setting or jump from the falls into the deep plunge pools. A short hike will lead us to this idyllic spot where the cool waters will lure you in.

5. The Beaches 🏖️

Our Trinidad & Tobago trip is a water baby’s dream. When you close your eyes and imagine your ideal vacation, do you picture gorgeous beaches? This trip was made for you. Crystal-clear water, white sandy shores, palm trees all around… it’s just another day in paradise in Trinidad & Tobago. You’ll dine on the beach, you’ll stay on the beach, you’ll hop on boats that will take you from one secluded beach to the next. It says “beach” 13 times on our itinerary—yes, we counted. 

Does this trip sound like your perfect match? Click here to dive into the full itinerary… but be warned; it will be hard to resist booking your spot once you’ve started imagining yourself in paradise. 🌴