Trinidad & Tobago Nature Explorer

A holiday with a special focus on the natural side of both islands, seeing the best of their wildlife and natural scenery whilst staying in small characterful accommodation

from £3645

Customer rating 95%

'Trinidad & Tobago Nature Explorer'

What makes this trip special?

Birders hiltop retreat

PAX Guesthouse

A characterful but simple birders retreat set on a monastic estate in the mountains of the northern range with nature trails and a raptor viewing terrace. A great base from which to visit other parts of the island but note that some rooms are not en-suite.

Wildfowl and wetlands

Pointe-a-Pierre & Caroni swamp

Explore Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust, an attractive park reserve home to a variety of waterbirds, trees and plants, and the RAMSAR wetland of Caroni swamp, taking a flat-bottomed boat through the mangroves to catch the spectacular scarlet ibis fly in to roost.

Magnificent flora and fauna

Asa Wright Nature Centre

Asa Wright Nature Centre is Trinidad's premier birding and natural history lodge, a former coffee-cocoa-citrus plantation surrounded by the forests of the Northern Range. Over 170 bird species have been recorded from the main house verandah and well-laid out trails.

Quiet, palm-backed beach village

Grande Riviere

Located on Trinidad's remote north-eastern tip, Grande Riviere is a relaxed beach village backed by lush forests, rivers and waterfalls. The attractive, long beach is a favourite nesting spot for leatherback turtles, who come to lay their eggs between March and August.

Natural history hideaway

Cuffie River

Cuffie River is a superb locally-owned lodge in a tranquil natural setting located on the edge of the Tobago Forest Reserve. Flowering plants, fruit tables and nectar feeders are teeming with birds and the award winning resident guide can help you to explore the lodge nature trails.

Stunning coastal scenery and local village life

Northern Tobago

Northern Tobago is the place to get away from it all - much less developed than the south of the island with picturesque villages, cliff-backed sandy bays and rich coral reefs popular with divers. Little Tobago island, accessed by glass-bottomed boat from the mainland, is bird sanctuary popular with walkers and birders.

Itinerary

Day Overnight
1 Mount St Benedict (PAX Guesthouse)
2 Mount St Benedict (PAX Guesthouse)
3 Mount St Benedict (PAX Guesthouse)
4 Asa Wright Nature Centre
5 Asa Wright Nature Centre
6 Asa Wright Nature Centre
7 Grande Riviere
8 Grande Riviere
9 Cuffie River Nature Retreat (Moriah)
10 Cuffie River Nature Retreat (Moriah)
11 Cuffie River Nature Retreat (Moriah)
12 Speyside
13 Speyside
14 Speyside
For the detail of each day click the ‘Day-by-day’ tab above.

Day-by-day itinerary for 'Trinidad & Tobago Nature Explorer'

DAY 1

Port of Spain

You are met on arrival at Trinidad’s Piarco airport and driven to Pax Guest House–your base for the next 3 nights. This characterful but simple birders retreat is set on a monastic estate. Raptors and hummingbirds are the main attraction here, not all rooms have en-suite facilities, so if you prefer you could stay in a more comfortable guesthouse or hotel in Port of Spain.

DAY 2

Point-a-Pierre and Caroni Swamp

Your private Trinidad guide collects you for the day. In the morning visit Point-a-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust, with a picnic lunch. Late in the afternoon go by flat bottomed boat (with your guide but boats may be shared with others) to explore Caroni Swamp and watch scarlet ibis fly in to roost.

DAY 3

Bush Bush Reserve

Your private guide picks you up to head for the magnificently wild East Coast, driving alongside long palmbacked beaches from Manzanilla to Mayaro to visit Nariva Swamp and Bush Bush Nature Reserve. Either by starting out early or staying until dusk you could see red-bellied macaws.

DAY 4

BLD

Asa Wright Nature Centre

Private transfer by road to Asa Wright, Trinidad’s premier birding lodge, for 3 nights. Settle in and take an orientation tour of the property.

DAY 5

BLD

Free time to enjoy Asa Wright’s well laid out trails. As well as many different species of birds there are good possibilities of seeing agoutis, pacas, iguanas and blue morpho butterflies. The flora here is also magnificent.

DAY 6

BLD

Today you can visit the centre’s own oilbird cave. To limit the disturbance to the birds this is reserved for guests staying at the lodge for 3 nights or more. Other optional excursions are available from the lodge.

DAY 7

Grande Riviere

After a final early morning wildlife viewing at Asa Wright, private transfer by road to the quiet village of Grande Riviere on Trinidad’s northeast corner, to stay for 2 nights at the laid-back Mount Plaisir Estate, set right on the beach.

DAY 8

Free to relax on the sands or perhaps take a wet river nature walk through the forest, walking along a shallow river bed. In the evening in season (March to August) the lodge can arrange a permit for you to go on the beach with a warden to see leatherback turtles laying their eggs.

DAY 9

Cuffie River Nature Retreat

Private transfer by road back to Piarco airport to take the short flight to Tobago. On arrival you will be collected and taken to Cuffie River, a small lodge on the edge of the western hemisphere’s oldest preserved rainforest your base for 3 nights .Your host, Regina, will look after you well.

DAY 10

BLD

Today you can take a guided walk (shared with other guests) through the forest with the lodge’s resident naturalist guide who has great knowledge of the flora and fauna of the area.

DAY 11

BLD

Free day to enjoy the richness and tranquillity of the natural surroundings. A host of colourful birds are attracted to the well-stocked feeding tables while hummingbirds buzz greedily between the nectar feeders and flowering plants.

DAY 12

Gilpin Trace, to Speyside

Transfer to Blue Waters Inn via the Gilpin Trace. A local guide will accompany you on this trail into the rainforest where you have the chance of see wild vivid red heliconia and the lovely blue-crowned motmot. Bats even fly during the daytime in dark sections of the forest. The star find here is the near endemic white-tailed sabrewing hummingbird which has a display lek near the trail.

DAY 13

Little Tobago

This morning you visit Little Tobago island by glass-bottomed boat. Here you can see impressive flocks of frigatebirds, boobies, terns and the elegant and delicate red-billed tropicbird. Afternoon free.

DAY 14

Free to relax and enjoy the beach.

DAY 15

Private transfer to the airport for the short flight back to Trinidad’s Piarco airport in time for your international flight home.

Route map for Trinidad & Tobago 'Trinidad & Tobago Nature Explorer' holiday

Guide prices for 'Trinidad & Tobago Nature Explorer'

options	based on	all year	low season	mid season	high season	peak season	other season
Guide price	2 people sharing	£3,645

Prices are per person and include:

all travel in Trinidad and Tobago
all accommodation
meals as indicated B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner
excursions as described

Prices do not include:

international flights
travel insurance
items of a personal nature such as drinks, tips, laundry, etc
any optional excursions you may buy locally

Customer reviews for 'Trinidad & Tobago Nature Explorer'

Recent reviews are shown here from holidays based on this initial design. In each case the itinerary may have been modified (a little or a lot) to suit the individual traveller.

Average customer rating 95%

Everything ran smoothly. Enjoyed the experience very much. Thank you for organising it so well.

Best parts: Asa Wright, Guides arranged by Banwari experience, cuffie river

We had a fantastic time, and saw many birds. Thank you.

Andrew and Christine and all their staff were excellent, organisation and excursions very good. Very informative and lots of unexpected add ons. All in all we had a great holiday which lived up to our expectations.

Best parts: Asa Wright and Cuffie River

This was a great holiday - only a few small glitches. We are busy telling friends and family about Trinidad & Tobago. Thank you very much!

Best parts: We would have liked to have spent an extra day at Speyside.

One of the best holidays we have had.

Best parts: Tobago was the more luxurious and Trinidad the more interesting. Overall a superb blend of holiday experiences.

Geodyssey were very helpful in organising the tour.

We were always met on time and all arrangements were good.

Best parts: Cuffie River & Port of Spain trips.

All local guides were fantastic with outstanding knowledge. We wouldn’t have seen the things without them.

Best parts: All equally enjoyable.

We cannot speak highly enough of Andrew, our guide, who was an excellent guide. The time we spent with him in Trinidad and from Cuffie in Speyside was exceptional.

Had an amazing time, thanks so much. Brillantly put together itinerary!

Best parts: All of it was brilliant, little Tobago, Asa Wright, Speyside, Cuffier River, Kariwak Village & surrounds

Our holiday was very enjoyable. The people on both islands whether directly involved with our holiday or not, were unfailingly friendly and at not time did we feel any concerns whatsoever.

Best parts: Yerette's Hummingbird Garden, Turtles at Grande Riviere, The overall variety of birds, Relaxing at Blue Waters Inn

Our holiday in Trinidad and Tobago was one of the best ever!! We had great service from our guides. It was a kaleidoscope of culture, nature and adventure we would recommend to any active holidaymaker.

Best parts: Caroni Swamp, trekking, Carnival, Little Tobago. It was all good

Great holiday. We will recommend you. Everything went so smoothly.

Best parts: The whole experience

Whole trip amazing, Andrew taught us a lot about birds and the islands. Our first birding holiday. Lots of photo opportunities. We enjoyed the local food.

Best parts: Asa Wright and Cuffie River

Seasonal information for 'Trinidad & Tobago Nature Explorer'

Select your month of travel:

Along this route in January

Day	Location	Max °C
1	Mount St Benedict (PAX Guesthouse)	29°C	67mm
2	Mount St Benedict (PAX Guesthouse)	29°C	67mm
3	Mount St Benedict (PAX Guesthouse)	29°C	67mm
4	Asa Wright Nature Centre	28°C	121mm
5	Asa Wright Nature Centre	28°C	121mm
6	Asa Wright Nature Centre	28°C	121mm
7	Grande Riviere	28°C	153mm
8	Grande Riviere	28°C	153mm
9	Cuffie River Nature Retreat (Moriah)	28°C	108mm
10	Cuffie River Nature Retreat (Moriah)	28°C	108mm
11	Cuffie River Nature Retreat (Moriah)	28°C	108mm
12	Speyside	28°C	135mm
13	Speyside	28°C	135mm
14	Speyside	28°C	135mm

Typical weather for January

Max °C figures are the average daily maximum temperatures for the month. Rainfall is the average precipitation for the month.

Hotels for 'Trinidad & Tobago Nature Explorer'

Select your preferred accommodation option

Days 1 - 3

PAX Guest House

Tunapuna

High on a hill in the grounds of a Benedictine monastery, Pax Guest House has the mountains and forests of the Northern Range at its rear and wide views over the plains to the south. It is well sited for day trips to most parts of the island.

There are 19 guest rooms, dining and sitting rooms, and balconies overlooking the gardens. Nature trails lead around a 600-acre estate. The hospitality is genuine and the ambience is peaceful. Rooms. Pax is famed for its high teas in late afternoon. The manager, Gerard, makes a fine rum punch at sundown.

Rooms are simply furnished, many with antique furniture made by the monks and with ceiling fans. Some have private bathrooms, but most just have sinks in the room, with separate men’s and ladies’ showers and WCs a few steps across a corridor. The whole property is rather a 1950s time wharp - in need of renovation.

Days 4 - 6

Asa Wright Nature Centre

Arima Valley

Average rating 4.6 (49 ratings)

Asa Wright, surrounded by the forests of the Northern Range, is a world famous destination for birdwatchers. Over 170 bird species have been recorded at this former coffee-cocoa-citrus plantation established from early work in the area by Dr William Beebe. Many species can be seen from the verandah of the main Victorian house or along numerous trails on the estate.

The lodge has 24 en suite bedrooms, mostly in cottages in the gardens near the main house. All have private verandahs.

There is an oilbird colony that can be visited by guests staying for 3 nights or more. The property is spread over a hillside with numerous steps to reach some rooms. There are a couple of rooms in the main house for less able visitors.

Asa Wright Lodge gets very booked up in high season so you need to reserve well in advance.

Days 7 - 8

Mount Plaisir Estate

Grande Riviere

An easy-going hideaway hotel directly on the beach in the quiet village of Grande Riviere on Trinidad’s remote NE coast, below the forests of the Northern Range.

There are 7 beach front suites, with electric fans and private bathrooms, each with flexible accommmodation suitable for couples or up to as many as 6 people. The hotel is built in a colourful rustic style, decorated with local crafts. The atmosphere is laid back, there is good cooking to a simple menu, and friendly staff.

The good-sized beach in front of the hotel is a great place to see leatherback turtles. They nest in numbers between March and August. Hatchlings make their hazardous journey to the sea between May and September.

The hotel can arrange walks in the forest with a local guide or horseback riding on old roads and trails in the forest. Riding on the beach is possible outside the turtles’ nesting season. For birders the main attraction is the Trinidad Piping Guan, a rare endemic which can be found in forests behind the village.

Days 9 - 11

Cuffie River Nature Retreat

Moriah

Average rating 4.8 (37 ratings)

This is a super locally owned eco-lodge for those who enjoy walking and natural history situated on the edge of the oldest protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere with well stocked fruit tables and nectar feeds to attract the birds. There are 10 very spacious, high ceilinged, guest rooms each with two queen-size beds, private bathrooms and balconies looking onto the lush vegetation, plus a nice swimming pool. All are large, the superior rooms have ceiling mounted fans (rather than fans on stands) and are situated in the quietest part of the building. Whatever ingredients they can't grow themselves the owner, Regina Sanchez, buys from surrounding villages. Their award winning local guide, Desmond Wright can escort you on 5 trails, 3 are good birding trails, others are for admiring the scenery including a splendid 50ft waterfall.

Days 12 - 14

Blue Waters Inn

Speyside

Average rating 4.1 (56 ratings)

Set in the semi-private and stunning Batteaux Bay in Speyside, Blue Waters Inn is a resort style property with 38 rooms in total.

Spacious Blue view standard rooms and Deluxe Blue View Studios all have sea views. The Deluxe Blue View Suites are free standing buildings. Likewise the Deluxe blue view bungalows also face the beach but have two bedrooms. Blue view Bungalow 9 is also similar to the suites, but has the addition of a patio with an outdoor beach shower and an outdoor grill. The Villa Blue is the same but with two double bedrooms.

On site there is a restaurant, bar and dive shop, free use of kayaks, wind-surfers, sun tanning beds, tennis court, TV room/library and a number of nature trails in the grounds. There is a small swimming pool the depth of which starts at 3 ft. with a step down to 7ft.