What to See in Trinidad and Tobago - Top Sights and Attractions

Zoo in the Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. The Emperor Valley Zoo is the only zoo in Trinidad and Tobago. It is located North of the Queen's Park Savannah and West of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Port of Spain.

The zoo was first opened on 8 November 1952 by Governor Sir Hubert Rance. At that time, there were 10 cages containing 127 animals, mainly indigenous species. It now has a collection of over 2300 individuals and over 200 species.

The zoo was named after the large, blue Emperor or Morpho butterfly which once frequented the valley in which the zoo is situated. It covers 7.2 acres.

There are both local and foreign animals: lions, ocelots, parrots, macaws and many more including snakes, caiman, wildfowl giraffes, tigers and others. The categories include small mammals, large cats, a reptile house, aquariums, a deer park, primates and ponds.

The zoo has undergone major upgrades over the past few years, both for upkeep to its existing infrastructure to bring it up to international standards as well as in preparation for additions to its animal stock. These upgrades have been undertaken by the Zoological Society of Trinidad and Tobago (ZSTT). with financial assistance from the government of Trinidad and Tobago to the value of TTD $56 Million.

During the upgrade period there has been the construction of a Giraffe enclosure, which was populated in December 2013 by two giraffes and the addition of a Tiger exhibit which received three tigers in 2014 - two white Bengals and a ginger Bengal. The White Bengals have successfully bred and have had two cubs in January 2015.

On 12 October 2016, the zoo announced that they had received six llamas from a nature park in Texas, USA. Zoo officials stated that of the six llamas, four are female.^[1]

Beach in Trinidad and Tobago. Englishman's Bay is a secluded beach on the leeward coast of Tobago, between Castara and Parlatuvier. Although the bay draws fewer beach-goers that Tobago's western beaches do, it is considered one of the island's most beautiful. The beach itself is a classic crescent shape, capped by two heavily forested headlands descending from Tobago's Main Ridge. The sand starts immediately after the forest ends and is of a shallow to medium gradient and somewhat coarse grain. The beach's size changes little at high or low tides, due to the gradient. There is heavy beach break. Owing to the number of waves, the beach does not boast magnificent snorkeling. As of 2018, there is one small restaurant/gift shop, Eula's, and a single-stall male and female bathroom.

There are usually 20 or so people on the beach which makes it safe to leave personal items at your towel. There is plenty of space. There are both sun and shade.^[3]

The Pro-Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help or simply Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is a religious building located in Harris Promenade in the town of San Fernando, on the island of Trinidad, part of the Caribbean country of Trinidad and Tobago.

The temple follows the Roman or Latin rite and functions as the pro-cathedral (or temporary cathedral) of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Port of Spain. He received the status of a cathedral by decision of Pope Benedict XVI in August 2012.

The building began as a wooden church in 1838 which was completed in 1849. In 1948 it was demolished so that in 1950 it was rebuilt in Romanesque style in 1975, was renamed the Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, name that is he incorporated the title of pro-cathedral later.^[6]

Tour agency in Trinidad and Tobago. Pigeon Point is also known as Pigeon Point Heritage Park and is often considered Tobago’s most beautiful beach and is home to the world famous thatch-roofed jetty which has become an internationally recognised signature of Tobago. The resort includes a long stretch of white sand beach with warm aquamarine waters. There are excellent beach facilities such as bathrooms, showers and beach-chair rentals as well as bars and a restaurant. Tourist amenities include souvenir and water-sports shops.

The peninsula has been the subject of major controversy over recent years after the property was bought by Dr. Anthony Sabga, founder and chairman of the Trinidad-based Ansa McAl conglomerate.

In early 2005 the government promised to purchase the property; by compulsory purchase order if necessary. A deal was struck and the peninsula became the property of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) in late 2005 at a cost of $106 million TT dollars.

Dr. Sabga had spent a considerable amount of time and personal energy in developing the property into the Heritage Park and the systems and practices that he had established are still being practiced today by the THA who now maintain the property.

The controversy that surrounded PPHP was the establishment of an entry fee for usage of the facility.

This remains even after the considerable expense to purchase the property and return it to Government control.

The entry fee to PPHP is set at TT$20 (US$3.33/£2) per person (children aged 6–12 half-price and children under six free).^[7]

Abbey. Mount Saint Benedict Abbey, also known as The Abbey of Our Lady of Exile is a Benedictine monastery following the Order of Saint Benedict. This monastery is located in the northwestern town of St. Augustine in Tunapuna–Piarco in Trinidad and Tobago.

The Benedictine Order was founded by Saint Benedict of Nursia who wrote The Rule of Saint Benedict followed by all Benedictines. The Motto of the Order is Ora Et Labora, 'Pray and Work'. Benedict, born in 480 in Nursia, Italy, was sent by his family to Rome to study law. Revolted by the immoral atmosphere of the city, he decided to become a hermit, spending his days in seclusion and prayer. Eventually, Benedict gained a following and established the Benedictine order.^[10]

San Fernando Hill is a 192-m hill which lies at the centre of the city of San Fernando in Trinidad and Tobago. The hill, an outcrop of Argillite is the highest point in the Naparima Plains. Originally nearly dome-shaped with a flattened top, the size was reduced by more than a third as a result of unrestricted quarrying in the 1970s. The Hill originally supported semi-evergreen forest, but this was largely replaced by cultivated species prior to the devastation of the Hill by quarrying.

Quarrying on the Hill was not a new phenomenon, but the increase in demand for Argillite aggregate (for construction) during the oil boom of the 1970s led to an expansion of quarrying to the point where it appeared that the entire Hill would be removed. Protests by citizens' groups led to a halt to quarrying and the Hill was included in the National Parks and Protected Areas plan of 1980. The Forestry Division took over management of the Hill and have since constructed a visitor centre and recreation area on the Hill. When visiting the centre, one can look out over a commanding view of south and central Trinidad, the Gulf Of Paria, and on a clear day, the coast of nearby Venezuela. Several World War II-era bunkers also exist on the Hill, but they are not readily accessible to the public.

During the late 1980s the then mayor of San Fernando, Dr. Romesh Mootoo suggested that the City Hall be removed to the Hill, calling it the Acropolis of the Caribbean. Nothing came of these plans, however. With the development of the Hill as a recreation area, the burgess of San Fernando and surrounding have re-connected with the Hill. During the Christmas season, a large star, lit electrically, can be seen all over the surrounding area, from its place on the San Fernando Hill.

Based on the Masters research of Tyrone Kalpee, (now of BP), an innovative plan for the restoration of the bare-rock surface of the formerly quarried areas (which make up about 3/4 of the Hill) was developed based on Leucaena leucocephala, a fast-growing leguminous tree species. The Forestry Division incorporated Kalpee's plans into its restoration plan for the Hill, and as a result many areas support relatively lush vegetation.^[11]