One of the best things about Trinidad and Tobago is that hardly anyone goes there! It has everything you need for an alternative holiday in the Caribbean. It is also a great location for eco-tourism. This little-visited paradise offers everything from tropical rainforests to beach seclusion and from soft natural adventure to pure Caribbean relaxation, or liming, as it is locally known.

Once you’ve tried the national dishes of Roti and Corn Soup you will almost be able to taste the cultural diversity on these small Caribbean islands, just off the coast of Venezuela. With influences from Amerindian tribes, African and East Indian slaves and workers, Chinese migrants, Spanish, French, Dutch and British colonisers is a cultural hot pot. It is not surprising that the Trinidad Carnival in February each year is world famous!

T&T also has the added bonus of being an all year round destination. So, even if you do visit outside of the dry season (which is December to June) T&T’s geographical location just south of the Hurricane Belt means that it avoids the usual path of the hurricanes and tropical storms that torment other Caribbean islands.

Although united by their status as the same nation and only separated by a short plane journey, Trinidad & Tobago are actually two very different islands, with separate histories and cultures. As a visitor both islands stand alone in their own right but they are best experienced combined. Let me talk you through the possibilities.

If you’re after pure relaxation from reef to rainforest then head straight to Tobago where you can choose from a variety of delightful hillside or beachfront hotels. There’s the Arnos Vale Hotel, built on an old sugar plantation, where you can enjoy afternoon tea with tropical birds and fantastic views over the secluded bay. Further up the Caribbean coast is Castara Retreats, where you can stay in an open plan all-wooden simple but luxurious villa looking over the sleepy Caribbean town of Castara.

On the Atlantic Side, Blue Waters Inn offers undisturbed views of Little Tobago and Goat Island where Ian Flemming sat in his mansion (now for sale) and allegedly wrote some of the 007 novels. There are also some great beachside hotels near Scarborough, the most prestigious being Blue Haven, which was the first hotel on the island. When the queen arrived to host a reception celebrating T&T’s independence, in 1962 she looked out over the panoramic view over the bay from the terrace and exclaimed “it’s like being on the Britannia.” The hotel has since been renovated by it’s enthusiastic owner Karl, and you can still stay in same room that once hosted stars such as the Beatles, Robert Mitchum and Rita Hayworth.

The best way to explore Tobago is by hiring your own compact 4x4 - it is wonderful to drive around the island (you can drive all the way round in a day). Aside from the standard tourist tours if you’re after activities, then we have selected some specialist guides, who are all experts in their field, and with whom we can put you in contact. These opportunities include sea kayaking to Lover’s Cove (the 10th most secluded in the world!) in Charlotteville, horse-riding on the beach at sunset near Crown Point, diving and snorkelling at Bucco Reef and Speyside, as well as rainforest hiking, cycling and bird-watching in the Tobago Forest Reserve.

But nothing beats staying in the middle of the rainforest, and Cuffie River Nature Retreat provides the perfect opportunity to slow down and relax in a beautiful natural setting surrounded by hundreds of species of tropical birds – and with wonderful home cooked organic food! If you’re looking for a truly holistic haven within reach of civilisation then look no further than the Kariwak Village, the name pays tribute to the Carib and Awawak people who lived in T&T pre-Columbus.

If that’s too much flora, fauna and yoga for you then head to Bucco on a Sunday night where you can witness some excellent steel pan orchestras before dancing the night away at a place which gives a whole new meaning to the phrase Sunday School.

Over in Trinidad, visitors generally skip the capital, Port of Spain, and head straight up into the northern mountain range. However, if you’ve got the time then there is a load to see in Port of Spain and some lovely accommodation to match, especially in the leafy suburbs. The Pax Guesthouse, a converted monastery, offers fantastic views over the city and is a great location for day trips to the Caroni Swamps to see the national bird of T&T, the Scarlet Ibis, come in to roost at sunset.

Heading into the Northern Mountain Range, the Asa Wright Nature Centre is a must for bird and nature enthusiasts, both amateur and professional. Situated in the Arima Valley, there are over 400 species of birds on the doorstep of the hotel and many trails to choose from. If you are after ‘soft adventure’ (or even ‘hard adventure’!) we can tailor-make bird watching, hiking, kayaking and mountain biking tours with specialist guides to fit your requirements. Together with our local operator we strive to organise tours which have a positive impact on local people and on the protection of natural environments and the organisms within them.

If you are lucky enough to visit during the turtle-nesting season (March to September) then head up to Grande Riviere to see the giant Leatherbacks. For such a small sleepy town there is a surprising amount of decent accommodation. There are NGOs successfully working to conserve and protect turtle the nesting beaches on Trinidad’s north coast. The Mount Plaisir Hotel is situated directly on the beach and you can pretty much see the huge leatherbacks nesting from the restaurant, and if you don’t get a good enough view during a moonlit turtle watching tour, then if you wake up early and you might just catch a turtle peacefully laying its huge eggs at sunrise!

There is so much choice on the two islands. I’ve just returned from a detailed research trip to T&T and would be delighted to help you tailor-make the holiday itinerary that best suit your needs, and those you are travelling with.

Suggested T&T Itinerary

These islands combine excellently. Here is a suggested two-week itinerary taking in the highlights of each. We know all of the hotels and locations personally and we are in a great position to put you together an itinerary to suit your budget and interests.

Week 1 - Naturally Trinidad

Days 1-2: Port of Spain, Pax Guesthouse x 2 nights (City tour of POS, Caroni swamp tour, sea kayaking)

Days 3-5: Arima Valley, Asa Wright Nature Centre x 3 nights (Nature trails, bird-watching, cycling, full day trips)

Days 6-7: Grand Riviere, Mt. Plaisir Hotel x 2 nights (Turtle watching, waterfall hike, great food!)

Week 2 – Tobago Lime

Days 8-10: Caribbean coast, Arnos Vale Hotel x 3 nights (Relaxing/snorkelling on Caribbean beach, visit Scarborough)

Days 11-14: Speyside, Blue Waters Inn x 4 nights (Private beach, Little Tobago boat tour, diving, rainforest, bird-watching)

*Tours are optional and can be tailored to suit your interests