TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO5,128 km²

Who lives here?

How things work

What you'll need to get in and out

Where can I exchange my currency?

How to move around

Must-sees…

…and must-tastes.

How much is…

To make memories

What if I get ill?

Travel warnings…

Who to turn to…

Must-take pics

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

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The weather in Trinidad & Tobago is marked by two very distinct seasons: rainy season, going from June to November; and dry season, from December to May. The annual average temperature oscillates around 26 ºC, and it drops below 20 ºC during the night, with 75% humidity.

EXCHANGE RATE JULY2016

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO DOLLAR

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO DOLLAR

= 0,13 = 7,39

= 1,49 = 0,67

= 0,15 = 6,69

= 81,72 = 0,01

= 0,19 = 5,14

EURO

US DOLLAR

BOLÍVAR

COSTA RICAN COLON

CANADIAN DOLLAR

WEATHER

< 20ºC26ºC

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a rich fauna with rare species… these are just some of the things you will find in the two islands located just 11 kilometres off the Venezuelan coastline: Trinidad & Tobago. And, being part of the Caribbean as they are, these two atolls will definitely not disappoint you.

VIRGIN WHITE-SAND BEACHES ANDPRISTINE WATERS,

Pigeon Point, beach in Tobago

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_ The capital of Trinidad and Tobago if Port of Spain.

_ The most populated cities are San Fernando, with 58,000 citizens, and Arima, with 30,000.

_ The main form of religion in Trinidad and Tobago is Catholicism, which is represented by 24% of the population, followed by Anglicanism, with a 9.1%, Hinduism, with 22.5%, and Baptism, with a 7.2%.

_ The bigger island, Trinidad, represents 95% of the area of the country.

_ The official language is English, although Spanish, French, Hindi and Chinese are recognised as well.

_ The form of government in Trinidad and Tobago is a parliamentary republic, with Kamla Persad-Bissessar as Prime Minister.

_ The legal tender in the country is the Trinidad and Tobago dollar.

_ The GDP amounts to 27,469 million dollars.

_ The annual inflation rate is at 5.5%.

_ The unemployment rate is at 4,8%.

_ Numbers according to economic sectors: agriculture represents a 3% of GDP, industry a 58.8% and the services sector a 40.8%.

WHO LIVES HERE?

HOW THINGSWORK

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1 440 000 people

51% 49%

PUERTO ESPAÑA345 000 peoples

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WHAT YOU'LL NEED TO GET IN AND OUT

WHERE CAN I EXCHANGE MY CURRENCY?

HOW TO MOVE AROUND

BY CAR

_ A valid passport with an expiry date of at least 6 months ahead of the entry date.

_ A return plane ticket.

_ When it comes to visas, residents of EU member states do not need one to travel as tourist for a period of time under three months. As far as students are concerned, Trinidadian authorities only issue student visas to citizens of the European Union enrolled in university programs.

Upon arriving to Trinidad and Tobago, you can exchange your travel money to TTD in any of the 3 branches that Global Exchange has at Piarco I.A., Amman. Get more information on our website.

_ Cars drive on the left, and the steering-wheel is placed on the right, most cars being automatic.

_ Infrastructure outside the main urban hubs vary according to the area and is sometimes quite poor, with one-way roads, plenty of curves and slopes, and spontaneous landslides during rainy season.

_ In Trinidad, renting private cars is not advised if you do not know the routes because signs are not as reliable as they should be. In many parts of the country there are very bumpy roads that, added to heavy rain, force drivers to be extremely careful while driving. Besides, renting motorcycles is not allowed in the island.

_ In Tobago it is easier to rent a car in a rent-a-car agency because it is a smaller island and is also better signalled.

_ Rental rates ascends to 300 TTD, including insurance and unlimited car mileage.

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WHERE CAN I EXCHANGE MY CURRENCY?

BY PLANE

BY TAXI

BY BOAT

BY BUS_ There is not a city bus system per se, but there are private minibuses (known as maxi taxis) accommodating between ten and fourteen people. They pick up and drop passengers without fixed stops or signals, or indication about the route they are following.

_ Intercity buses only connect the main cities and do not run on a regular basis. It is basically locals who use them.

_ It is highly recommended to use hotel transfers or other private taxi services and agencies, avoiding the countless number of non-authorised vehicles.

_ Official taxis have prearranged routes and their number plates start by H.

_ Air connections between Trinidad and Tobago are good and cheap, with flights departing every other hour for about 300 TTD –round trip–. On top of that, the journey barely lasts 20 minutes.

_ The airline that offers this kind of service is Caribbean Airlines.

_ The two islands are also connected by sea, and so are Port of Spain and San Fernando (ferries for passengers and vehicles, and fast catamarans for passengers).

_ There is currently a ferry route connecting Port of Spain (Trinidad) and Scarborough (Tobago), which takes about two and a half hours to complete and costs 50 TTD. This service includes access to the bar, cafeteria and AC, among other amenities, and departs between two and four times a day from both islands.

Source: Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Lonely Planet guide.

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MUST-SEES…1) Maracas Bay, the most popular beach and one of the

most beautiful in Port of Spain, despite being 25 minutes away from the city by car.

2) The Temple in the Sea is a peculiar piece of architecture built by a Hindu that defied the colonial ban of building non-Christian temples on dry land.

3) The Royal Botanical Gardens, an extremely well-kept urban garden with vegetation and tropical animals.

4) The Queen’s Park Savannah, in Port of Spain, located just a few metres away from the previous site.

5) The Emperor Valley Zoo is the main zoo in Trinidad and it is very close to the last two spots.

6) Asa Wright Nature Centre, located in Trinidad's rainforest.

7) Pitch Lake, a natural deposit of asphalt located in the southwest coast, close to the village of La Brea.

8) Caroni bird sanctuary. If you like feeling connected to nature, this is one of those places you cannot miss.

9) Dattatreya Temple, in Port of Spain. Taking into account that 40% of the population comes from India, finding Hindu temples should not come as a surprise.

10) Port of Spain Carnival. If you happen to be in Trinidad and Tobago around February, you will be have the chance to experience the colourfulness of their famous carnival.

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…AND MUST-TASTES_ Doubles, a kind of fried sandwich stuffed with curry garbanzo beans.

_ Crab & Dumplings, pieces of dough boiled in crab sauce, are very popular in Tobago.

_ Bake and Shark served, in Maracas Bay, a shark meat sandwich for the boldest palates.

_ Callaloo, a spicy leaf vegetable soup.

_ Pepperpot, a stewed meat dish with vegetables and hot chillies.

_ Pelau, a rice and meat dish boiled in coconut milk.

_ Cou-cou, a cornmeal, okra and butter dish.

_ Coconut milk, Trinidad & Tobago’s traditional drink.

_ Punch, whose main ingredient is distilled rum.

_ Peanut punch, made from peanut butter, condensed milk, natural milk and ice, sweetened with spices.

DoublesTypical dish

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HOW MUCH IS…

TO MAKEMEMORIES

_ A single ticket for the tube, bus or commuter train: between 3 and 6 TTD (0.5–1 USD/0.4–0.8 EUR).

_ A coffee at a coffee shop: 9 TTD (1.5 USD/1.2 EUR).

_ A daily special at an average restaurant: between 62 and 125 TTD (10–20 USD/8-16 EUR).

_ A drink at a nightclub: 50 TTD (8 USD/6.5 EUR).

_ A beer in a pub: between 9 and 18 TTD (1.5–3 USD/1.2–2.4 EUR).

_ A ticket for the movies at the weekend: 50 TTD (8 USD/6.5 EUR).

_ Renting a room at an average area: between 9,371 and 15,619 TTD (1,500–2,500 USD/1,215–2,024 EUR).

_ A ride in a taxi from the airport to downtown Port of Spain (30 minutes approx.): 125 TTD (20 USD/16 EUR).

_ The bank holidays are: 1 January (New Year’s Day), 30 March (Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day), 3 April (Good Friday), 6 April (Easter Monday), 30 May (Indian Arrival Day), 4 June (Corpus Christi), 13 June (Sovereign's birthday), 19 June (Labour Day), Eid al-Fitr (End of Ramadan), 1 August (Emancipation Day), 31 August (Independence Day), 24 September (Republic Day), 11 November (Divali-Festival of Lights), 25 December (Christmas) and 26 December (Boxing Day).

_ Voltage in Trinidad and Tobago is 155V and plugs have two or three flat pins.

_ Opening hours go from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Thursday; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Fridays; and 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays, although some stores in Port of Spain close later than that.

_ Tipping is customary if the service is good and it usually represents 10% of the total price.

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WHAT IF I GET ILL?

TRAVEL WARNINGS…

_ More Chikungunya cases have been registered in the country over the last few weeks (as of 2014), so it is sensible to extreme precaution in order to avoid mosquito bites (nets, repellents, suitable clothing, etc.). Get more information on this matter on the website of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.

_ There are no mandatory vaccinations but immigration authorities might request that you are immunised against the yellow fever if you come from a country with a risk of transmission.

_ The country’s hospital network is good in general, and public healthcare conditions are the usual, leaning to poor.

_ The sensible thing to do is take out health insurance with a comprehensive coverage that includes an eventual repatriation.

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_ Be careful if you are visiting isolated areas when it is getting dark, i.e. from 7 p.m. onwards.

_ Be wary of participating in popular limings (meeting with friends to go out for drinks) in public spaces if you don’t know the area very well or you are not with a someone you trust.

_ Grabbing taxis at night if they are not trustworthy. The best thing to do is move around in private cars.

_ The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation recommends avoiding the neighbourhoods of Laventille, Belmont, Morvant and Sea Lots, Beetham Highway and Carenage; and be especially careful at certain hours of the night in Saint James.

_ Driving through Lady Young road at night, for transfers to and from Piarco International Airport.

_ Water is drinkable, although it has been treated and contains a lot of calcium, so it is better to purchase bottled mineral water for greater safety.

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_ If I need to make a call inside the country: dial the prefix + 1 868.

_ If I have an emergency: call the police at 999, firefighters at 990 or ambulances at 990.

_ If I need assistance: call 555.

_ If I need anti-kidnapping assistance: call 555.

_ If I need tourist information: http://www.tdc.co.tt/

_ If I need to check something online:

Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation Lonely Planet travel guide.

Travel and Exchange Blog.

WHO TO TURN TO…

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MUST-TAKE PICS

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Maracas BeachTrinidad

The Scarlet IbisTrinidad

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Carnival dancerFebruary - Trinidad

Parliament

Gasparee Cave - Gaspar Grand Island

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