Trinidad / Beaches

If you are looking for the picture perfect beaches that are synonymous with the Caribbean then Trinidad really isn’t your best bet - try neighbouring Tobago for those. There are only a few good beaches in Trinidad despite its size and they tend to be rugged and wild. Unlike so many Caribbean beaches they are usually not protected by offshore reefs (which do not grow easily off Trinidad because of the freshwater outflow from the Orinoco), which makes the waves rougher and the sand darker. There are some good beaches in the broad bays of the north coast which do have changing facilities, lifeguards and most drinks and snacks on sale. Seek advice about swimming as rip currents are common - a red flag indicates it's too dangerous to enter the water.

Click on the map to see an interactive map of Trinidad's Beaches.

Here is a selection of the best Trinidad beaches...

North Coast

Maracas Bay - The most popular beach in the north, about 45 minutes from the capital Port of Spain. An enormous sweeping strand backed with huge palm trees. Car park, lifeguards, changing rooms and plenty of food and drink on offer. Maracas Bay is known for its tasty snack called a ‘bake n shark’ - fried shark with salad in a pocket of fried dough.

Tyrico Bay - Grey to brown sand and waves often large enough to surf, in a protected bay. Toilets, parking and a lifeguard service. Just east of Maracas Bay

Las Cuevas Bay - Sheltered bay with calm clear water perfect for swimming. All the service facilities are located on top of the cliffs and include changing rooms, picnic facilities and showers. It is a favourite spot with the Trinidadians, so it can get very busy at the weekends.

Blanchisseuse - There are two main beaches around Blanchisseuse. They have good sand, but also large waves and strong rip currents because they are not protected from the big seas offshore. Just north of Blanchisseuse village is a long stretch of sand ending at the mouth of Marianne River, whose freshwater lagoon is a popular spot for swimming and you can hire kayaks to go up river. The smaller beach is at L’Anse Martin. Blanchisseuse is a popular area for camping, hiking and bird-watching, and there are a number of hiking trails along the coast and into the rainforest, including one to the Avocat Waterfall.

Grand Riviere - A good surfing beach with pale brown sand, thundering waves and a handful of cool hotels. It is more favoured for its swimming at the mouth of the river (during winter months the strong currents make swimming in the sea unsafe). Grand Riviere is best known as Trinidad’s main nesting site for the giant leatherback turtle. The beach is a protected area and during the nesting season (March to August) it is closed at night to non permit holders. Permits for turtle watching can be arranged through local tour operators or by calling the Grande Riviere Visitor Facility, t 670 4256 or the Wildlife Section of the Forestry Division, t 622 5114.

East Coast

Manzanilla - Long beach with brown sand backed by hundreds of palm trees. Perfect for sunbathing but be alert if swimming as the waves from the Atlantic can be high and strong. Lifeguards, snack bar and changing rooms.

Mayaro - The longest beach in Trinidad, accessed by the Mayaro-Guayaguayare Road. Be careful of the strong waves.

Chaguaramas - Not the nicest beach itself but it is only a 15 minutes drive from Port of Spain and the water is suitable for swimming.

For more information on Trinidad’s beaches, read Stephen Thorpe's Trinidad Beaches article.