Some of the other Outdoor Recreation activities in Trinidad, include:

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Kite Flying

With the passage of time we see less of the old time kites made of paper and bamboo or coconut fronds held together by a flour paste glue with a tail made of strips of cloth. However kite flying still has some popularity especially among children. In addition adults are often seen, at the beach, flying kites.

The chookie chong, which is a kite made from notebook paper with a tail also made from notebook paper, is the easiest kite style to make and was probably the first type of kite that most children learned to fly. Even today little children can sometimes still be seen flying a chookie chong around their home. The most commonly used design for a kite was the diamond shape. This kite style requires a long tail for stability and flies at a low angle. On these kites the longer the tail, the higher the kite will fly. The madbull is always held in awe as it is a very large kite that was and is generally flown by teenagers and adults because it requires some strength to hold the string. The madbull kite has objects attached that cause it to make a whirring or buzzing sound as it flies. One type of kite that is always admired in Trinidad is the fighter kite. This kite is designed to cut the strings of other kites as they fly, using sharp objects such as crushed glass or razor blades glued to its string.

Part of the excitement of kite flying arose from the task of creating the kite, which involved choosing the paper, deciding how to decorate, making the tail, getting the string. Most of the kites used today are purchased from vendors and made of plastic. Although the excitement of creation is gone, kite flying is still an enjoyable past time.

The peak period for kite flying is February to May because of the constant winds during that period. Similar to other Caribbean countries, there is a large kite flying competition each year during April (usually on Easter Sunday at the Queen's Park Savannah) and  other smaller competitions at other times such as the Tobago Kite Flying Festival on December 26th.

Below is some of the excitement from the Easter 2018 Kite Flying Competition at the Queen's Park Savannah.

To learn about the various kite flying competitions visit our Events Calendar

Turtle Watching

Trinidad has become one of the premier countries to view the nesting of leatherback turtles. The nesting season runs from March to September with May & June being the months of highest concentration. The leatherback turtle is the most visually dramatic of the turtles that nest in Trinidad because of their size. Adults can vary in size from 600 pounds to 2,000 pounds. Nesting takes place at night and only the female comes to land. The female leatherback turtle always returns to the same beach where they were born for laying their eggs. On the beach the female turtle will dig an egg chamber with her flippers and then lay between 80 to 100 eggs.  After laying, the female leatherback  covers the chamber with sand and then smoothes over the area to disguise the chamber. A female will visit and lay up to eight times during the nesting season.

Nesting takes place on Atlantic beaches that have heavy surf, a steep profile and coarse sand. The beaches on which nesting turtles are found are Maracas, Las Cuevas, Blanchisseuse, Grande Riverie, Sans Souci, Guayamara, Mission, Patience Bay, Tompire, Rincon, Matura, Fishing Pond and Manzanilla.  The prime nesting sites are at Matura and Grande Riverie and permits are required for visiting these beaches at night during the nesting season as well as at Rincon and Fishing Pond.

Grande Riverie is the premier site for viewing the nesting turtles. This popularity is due to the fact that the largest number of leatherback turtles comes to this beach which is partly caused by the conservation efforts in this area. Set on the grounds of a former estate, very near to the beach, is a small visitor center (telephone number 868-670-4256) with a cocoa drying shed. Many of the trees around the center are labeled so you are able to learn the names. Permits can be obtained at the visitor center and there are licensed guides to oversee the nesting and explain the process. There are several hotels on the beach so that visitors can sleep over if they are too tired for the return journey. It should be noted however that turtle watching is a very popular activity and the hotels are often fully booked on weekends, so reservations are advised.

Big Bay at Sans Souci is also a turtle nesting site and receives the four other species of sea turtles in addition to the leatherback turtle. One can arrange to view the turtle nesting at Sans Souci by calling the Sans Souci Community Turtle Tour Guides at 868-670-1505.

The beaches at Guayama, Mission, Patience Bay, Tompire are not well known for receiving leather back turtles however these turtles also nest on these beaches. The Tompire beach is on the outskirts of Cumana village and gets its name from the river that crosses the Toco Main Road just before one enters Cumana village. The Guyamara Beach lies between Rampanalgas Village and Cumana Village and is highly accessible as it is immediately next to the main road. The heavy surf and steep profile of this beach make it suited for leatherback turtles to heave their tremendous weight out of the water and onto the sand. While turtles definitely nest at this beach and towards the end of the nesting season one can see discarded egg shells there is not a high incidence of nesting, possibly because the frequent car headlights passing along the road discourages the turtles from coming out of the water. These beaches are patrolled at night during the nesting season by the Toco Turtle Protection Programme (TTPP) to ensure the protection of the nesting turtles. To view the nesting on these beaches you can contact the TTPP at 868-670-0068 or email tfprojects@tstt.net.tt. The TTPP also conducts nightly patrols at Big Bay Sans Souci.

Matura Beach is another popular location because of the tours run by Nature Seekers, a community based environmental protection group. At the starting point for the Matura beach tours there is a small visitor centre with toilet facilities that are open when tours are being conducted. The Beaches Page has directions for finding Matura Beach. Permits for viewing the nesting of the leatherback turtle can be obtained from the Forestry Division at

Maracas, Las Cuevas, Blanchisseuse and Manzanilla receive occasional nesting turtles. Las Cuevas Bay has not traditionally been known as a major turtle nesting site, however leatherback turtles have been nesting at this bay, particularly at the far western end of the bay. For persons living or staying within Port of Spain and its environs this beach has the advantage of being in easy driving distance being approximately 45 minutes away. The months of May and June have the heaviest concentration of nesting turtles at this Bay and it is reported that hundreds of turtles come to nest. The Las Cuevas Eco-Friendly Association (868-309-0113) arranges guided tours for turtle watching at Las Cuevas.

The number of turtles nesting at Manzanilla is not as great as at Grande Riverie or at Matura, however leatherback turtles have been reported as nesting on this beach since the 1880's. During the months of March to August, the Manzanilla Beach is closed to the public during the hours of 6pm to 6am to protect the turtles. Persons wanting to view the turtle nesting at Manzanilla should go to the orientation site at the "Breakaway" area along the Cocal Stretch.

Paria Beach, Madamas Beach and Gran Tacarib are also nesting sites for Leatherback turtles. These beaches are only accessible by boat or via a forest hike.

Photo by Ricardo La Borde

In addition to the leatherback, four other sea turtles nest on the beaches of Trinidad and Tobago and these are:

Viewing turtle hatching while not as dramatic as the nesting is also an enjoyable activity. The young turtles begin hatching approximately 60 days after the eggs are laid. As soon as they hatch the young turtles climb through the sand onto the beach and immediately head for the water. Upon entering the sea, the young turtles head for deep water. The young females will then remain at sea until they are sexually mature at approximately 15 years.

Catching_Crayfish

Crayfish also called Crawfish and also called river shrimp or freshwater shrimp is a delectable crustacean. Catching crayfish has been a vacation activity for many a family and for legions of young boys on school holidays providing hours of clean cool fun. There are four species of crayfish in Trinidad with differences in size and the color varying from blue, green, grey, to yellow with dark brown stripes. Crayfish eggs are carried downstream by the river currents to the sea where they develop into larval stage and then they return as juveniles up the river to live their remaining lives.

Crayfish live in clear fresh water and so the streams from Trinidad's Northern Range are the areas for finding these freshwater shrimp. The rivers that flow out into the Atlantic Ocean in areas such as Rincon, Las Cuevas and Blanchissuesse on Trinidad's north coast and in areas such as Salybia, Rampanalgas, Cumana, Toco, Gran Riverie and Matelot on Trinidad's north-east coast are the favored haunts of those seeking this crustacean. While catching crayfish can be done in the day, this is usually a night time activity as these freshwater shrimp are largely nocturnal. The task of catching them can be a hilarious activity especially when done in a group with someone who is a novice as crawfish move swiftly and have a high sensitivity to vibrations in the water that is detected by the sensory antennae on their head. One of the humorous aspects of catching crayfish is that they test everything with their pincers and so may nibble at your toes or legs when you are in the water. It can be quite funny to see someone jumping out of the water because of a pinch from a crayfish.

Crayfish tend to rest under rocks in both shallow and deep water or near the river banks where the vegetation overhangs the river as this provides them protection from predators and their coloration allows them to blend well against the rocks. When they spot prey such as smaller fish, shrimps, worms and insect larvae or flying insects such as small dragonflies that come near the water surface they dart out from their hiding place.

The normal tool for catching these freshwater lobsters is either a small three pronged fork or a small net on a pole or both. Of course as catching crayfish is a nighttime activity you must have a light to see them and usually the telltale sign of their presence are their eyes that glow red in the light. The most common method for catching them is to spot them in the water and either quickly scooping them up with the net or spear them with the fork but you must be quick because they certainly move fast. Some persons catch crayfish using bait such as chicken, liver or fish tied to a string and pulling the crayfish out of the water when it holds on to the bait with its pincers. Another technique that is used by some to attract the crayfish is to spread a small amount of grated coconut on the water and then scoop them up as they are drawn to the surface by the grated coconut.

Crab_Catching

Crab catching is an engaging recreational activity especially when the crabs are caught for eating. The main crabs used as food in Trinidad are land crabs known as the Blue Crab and the Hairy Crab. The Blue Crab generally lives in muddy places and the Hairy Crab usually lives in swampy places. A third type of crab that is eaten, though much less often because of its habitat, is the Manicou Crab, which is a brown, terrestrial mountain crab that lives in the forest.

One of the methods used for catching these crabs is to use a trap and these are usually made of wood, bamboo or wire. Despite the material that the trap is made of, the concept of the design is the same. The trap has a door that is open, but when the crab takes the bait that is in the trap the door either drops shut or falls shut and cannot be opened by the crab from the inside. To attract the crab, bait of either dried coconut meat or large pieces of hot pepper are placed in the trap.

Another method that is used, but is one for the really brave, is to spot the crab entering its hole and then to push your hand into the hole and grab the crab. The claim made by those who use this method is that the crab cannot open its claws in the hole and so cannot pinch very hard.

Probably the most enjoyable way to catch land crabs is to grab them with your hands as they come out of their holes and traverse the beach. The best time for indulging in this method of catching land crabs is at night during a full moon with a high tide. During this time the crabs come out their holes and cross the beach to release their eggs in the sea. They can thus be caught going to the sea or returning after releasing their eggs. This method, if done with friends, can result in hours of entertainment and is guaranteed to result in laughter especially if some one does not hold the crab properly or firmly. The safest method for catching the crab is to grab the crab from behind using the thumb and index finger and holding the crab by the body with the fingers positioned behind the pincers (gundy). This method is safe because the crab cannot reach behind itself with it's pincers. Areas that are mangrove fronted by a beach are prime areas for this activity as they generally have a large population of crabs. Manzanilla and Mayaro are two areas that are well known for this type of crab catching and many individuals engage in this night time activity while on vacation at these beaches.

After catching the crabs some people keep them in a barrel for 3 or 4 days and feed them lettuce. The reasoning advanced for doing this is to purge the crabs of all the rotted material that the crab may have eaten previously.

Catching marine swimming crabs is also very popular. Individuals use a piece of chicken on a line dangled in the water and when the crab takes hold of the chicken the line is pulled out of the water and a flattened basket (usually the metal or plastic cover from a fan) is slipped under to catch the crab if it lets go of the bait when it comes out of the water. The canals along the Uriah Butler Highway are one of the places that is popular for catching these crabs.

Archery in Trinidad

Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow. Historically archery has been used for hunting and combat although throughout most of the world archery is now simply a recreational activity and is probably the oldest sport now practiced, dating back as far as 50,000 years BC. Target archery is the most popular form of archery, in which members shoot at stationary circular targets at varying distances ranging from 30 meters to 90 meters outdoors and 18 and 25 meters indoors. In Trinidad and Tobago archery is a relatively new sport, although our Amerindian ancestors certainly practiced it for hunting and defense. Although new it is a growing sport.

There are presently 4 archery clubs in Trinidad; Southern Bowtech Club of Gasparillo; the Central Precision Archery Club of Chaguanas; Elite Archery Club of Tunapuna; and Points Archery Club of Chaguaramas. These clubs operate under the Trinidad and Tobago Target Archery Federation (TTTAF), which maintains an archery field at Tucker Valley, Chaguaramas and this range is named after Micheal P. Mackenzie, one of the first local archers and a founding member of the federation.

This range is available to all members of the federation without charge. At the clubs beginners, starting from 10 years, are provided with entry level equipment which includes bow, arrows, targets and some protective gear and of course training. But it’s not just a youth sport, it’s attracting sportsmen and women of all ages including senior citizens. 

Dragon Boat Racing

Dragon Boat racing is a new sport to Trinidad, having been introduced in 2006 to commemorate the arrival of the Chinese to Trinidad.

The standard crew complement of a contemporary dragon boat is around 22, comprising 20 paddlers in pairs facing toward the bow of the boat, 1 drummer or caller at the bow facing toward the paddlers, and 1 steerer or tiller (helm) at the rear of the boat, although for races it is common to have just 18 paddlers. The drummer or caller leads the crew throughout a race with the rhythmic beating of a drum to indicate the timing and frequency of paddling strokes. The steerer, known also as the coxswain, helm, steersman, sweep, or tiller, controls the dragon boat with a steering oar similar in function to a tiller which is mounted at the rear of the boat.

An association has been formed and regular races are held, often comprised of teams from different companies. Visit our Events Calendar to see the scheduled races. The association can be contacted at ttdbf@wow.net

Windsurfing

Windsurfing has a small following in Trinidad. Chagaramas and along the west coast in the Bayshore, Westmoorings area are popular locations. Los Iros beach in South Trinidad with its constant breezes and low level waves is another popular windsurfing location. As the beaches used by windsurfers in Trinidad are different from those used by regular surfers, there is little jostling for space.

Visit our Events Calendar to see the scheduled competitions.

Kite Surfing

Long stretches of beach with few or no persons in the water, an absence of rocks and a constant on-shore wind create heaven for a kite surfer. For the small band of dedicated kite surfers in Trinidad our south coast beaches are that type of heaven. On any weekend when the wind is above 14 knots, especially during December to June you may see individuals kite surfing at either Mayaro, Moruga or Los Iros beach. Persons who are interested in the sport can contact Edward Shim at Shim's Tailoring (868-623-1655) for more information and visit the group "T&T Kiteboarding Page" on Facebook for information on wind conditions and kiting activities. For other pictures of kite surfing, visit the Photo Gallery and enter the search term"surfing".

Jet Ski

For those who like the feel of the power and the speed while zipping across the water, the use of personal watercrafts is considered unrivalled. The relatively sheltered waters of Chagaramas Bay with its low waves is a favored location. Jet Skis are available for rental every day at Williams Bay, Chaguaramas.  Visit the Photo Gallery for more pictures of Jet Ski action.

Model Boat Racing

There is a model boat club that hosts regular racing competitions for model boat enthusiasts. Mucarapo Bay in the waters in front of the lookout on the Audrey Jeffers Highway and Williams Bay Chaguaramas are the locations most often used for these races. These races are usually held once per month on a Sunday afternoon. On other Sunday afternoons, members of the club gather to practice with their boats.

Visit our Events Calendar to see the scheduled races.

Model Aircraft Flying

Model aircraft flying is an interesting hobby that is practiced by a few dedicated aficionados mainly at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain; although there are some persons who fly their model planes in any open area near their homes. The group that flies at the Savannah has formed the Queen's Park Savannah RCI Club and fly their model planes mainly on Sunday mornings and on public holidays.

Individuals who are new to this hobby usually start by flying planes that are trainers which are planes designed to automatically correct for pilot errors and continue flying. As individuals acquire greater skill through practice some persons upgrade to more demanding models such as miniature war planes or acrobatic planes or jets or helicopters. The group at the Queen’s Park Savannah starts fairly early in the morning between 7.30am and 8am and engage in pattern flying and acrobatic flying. For safety reasons no more than 4 planes fly ant any one time.

So on a Sunday or holiday morning you can visit the Queen's Park Savannah in the area of the old sand track and see model aircraft in the air doing their various tricks and stunts. If after seeing the planes in the air you want to start this hobby you can buy a completely built plane or buy a kit and build your own. Model airplane kits come either completely broken down or almost ready to fly with just some assembly required by the owner.

Off Road Driving

For those who love the adrenaline rush of tires on a four wheel drive vehicle, churning and slipping sideways in the mud, off road driving is a sport to explore. Trinidad's various logging trails, cane field and agricultural dirt roads provide the right environment for testing the ability of your four wheel drive vehicle. While it is fun to explore new areas there is a benefit to doing that exploration as part of a group (especially if you get stuck in the mud) and the Trinidad Off Road Club regularly organizes group drives. Visit our Events Calendar to see the scheduled group off road drives.

Motor Car Rallies

Motor Car Rallies are organized in Trinidad by the Trinidad and Tobago Rally Club, which is responsible for the two disciplines of Navigation and High Speed Stages. The TTRC organizes approximately 7 Events every year including the Championship Series, a major International Rally, and numerous charitable events. The international Rally is known as Rally Trinidad and draws participants from throughout the Caribbean and the UK. This event is usually held in March or April. This true off road racing with the stages being on dirt and gravel roads. Most of the cars competing in these events are 4 WD models but some 2WD models also take part.

Spectators are always welcome at rally events but you must arrive before the rally starts because often the access points to the rally are the same roads that the cars would be racing on and so once the rally starts these access points are closed.

The thrill of Rally Trinidad 2018

Here are some scenes from the Trinidad 2013 Car Rally

See a Video of the 2014 Trinidad Car Rally by clicking here.

See close up photos of the action in the 2014 Trinidad Car Rally by clicking here

The last Car Rally of 2022.

Circuit Car Racing

Radio Controlled Car Racing

Every year children throughout Trinidad and Tobago receive model cars as gifts and most people think of these radio controlled cars as children's toys. However for some adults these radio controlled cars are much more than toys, for them these cars are tools in a very serious sport. With cars that run on a special methanol fuel mixture, tires made of a special compound plus the ability to make fuel flow, throttle, camber and suspension adjustments this is a serious recreational activity. On weekends, various members meet to practice their skill, check how their cars are operating and make adjustments to the operation of their cars.

Throughout the year there are organized model car race meetings in various parts of Trinidad and Tobago. The racing is done in both Off Road and On Road categories along defined race course. The racing is also done in accordance with very specific rules and using a sophisticated timing system.

For more information on this sport visit the web site of the Radio Controlled Model Organization of Trinidad and Tobago at http://www.rcmott.org/

Chaguaramas Zip-Line

Many countries have zip-lines as a means of outdoor recreational activity as it is an exciting way to get a panoramic view of an area and when created high in the forest canopy it also offers  a view of the canopy that is almost impossible to achieve from ground level. A zip-line consists of a series of cables strung along several points at an incline. A pulley is suspended on the cables and the rider is attached by means of a harness to the pulley. The rider then launches from a platform and travels along the zip-line with the rider's movement being propelled by gravity as he travels along the cable.

Trinidad now has a multistage zip-line located in Chaguaramas in the Tucker Valley. The zip-line has seven (7) stages beginning on the northern side of Macqueripe Bay. The rider goes through all 7 stages and then turns around and zips back to the beginning. The first stage takes you over Macqueripe Bay with a wonderful view of the bay below while the remaining stages take you through the trees up in the forest canopy. As a rider completes each stage you have to move to the next platform as the starting point for the next stage which is always somewhat higher than the ending point of the stage you have just completed. Moving from one platform to another requires walking in the tree canopy along suspended wooden bridges providing a view within the canopy.

One of the key aspects of zip-lining is rider safety. At Chaguaramas for each zip line stage there are two steel cables and riders are double attached to both cables. Each rider is given a pair of heavy duty gloves and can control the speed of their movement by holding the cable while using their hand as a brake.  In the event that a rider stalls along the cable because of going to slowly, the rider can use their hands and pull themselves along the cable to the next station.

The entire zipline course takes between 45 minutes and one hour to complete and is full of excitement with one hearing howls of enjoyment as riders move along the course.

To find the locations referred to on this page, see the Trinidad Map