These two islands are contrastingly different. Tobago has white sandy beaches and palm trees and remains relatively un-touristed while Trinidad is covered with rainforests and untouched mangrove swamps that are popular with bird watchers.
Built in 1912, this monastery is one of the oldest in the Caribbean and is situated in a garden of 593 acres, which provides places to hike, bird-watch and take in the views over Trinidad.
Visit this vibrant town with its partially restored colonial buildings, market stalls and bustling bars, clubs and restaurants. Wander around and experience a metropolitan Caribbean capital city.
Take a boat from Tobago to the uninhabited island of Little Tobago and walk through the forest, looking out for the birdlife. Afterwards, stop for a bit of snorkeling around the reef.
Venture to Tobago to visit Fort George. Built in 1804, this fort provides insight into the colonial past of the island, and its most remarkable feature is the signal station, built in 1833.
This bay, which is north-east of Port of Spain, provides a protected stretch of sandy, palm-lined beach to relax in the sun. There is a beautiful drive through the rainforest to reach the beach.
Although temperatures tend to be fairly consistent the whole year, with an average of 80°F, the weather is dry from December to May and the rainy season occurs between June and November. The dry season is considered the high season for tourism.
Citizens from a number of countries, including the US and EU, don't need a visa for up to 90 days. A valid passport for at least six months with at least one blank page is required.
The majority of international flights land at Piarco International Airport in Trinidad, while others land at ANR Robinson International Airport in Tobago. A number of airlines service the airports, including Caribbean Airlines, LIAT, American Airlines, United and budget airline JetBlue.
Trinidad and Tobago is on the itinerary of various cruise liners, such as Princess Cruises and Carnival, which make stops at both islands.
Hotels, guesthouses, hostels and the newer accommodation type, eco-hotels, are all present in Trinidad and Tobago. Luxury international hotels exist in the main cities on Trinidad while there are resort hotels in Tobago. Guesthouses, that are situated throughout the islands, are well-regulated and provide a good, moderately priced alternative to hotels.
Urban public transport in the main cities mainly takes the form of buses run by the government-owned company PTSC or, alternatively, the privately owned fixed-route minibuses.
There is a bus network around both Trinidad and Tobago and this provides a relatively cheap way to travel around the islands. The bus service is run by the government transport company PTSC and the main terminals are in Port of Spain in Trinidad and Scarborough in Tobago.
International car rental companies, such as Sixt and Hertz, and local car companies have pick up points at the airports on both islands.
There is a domestic flight route operated by Caribbean Airlines between the islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The flight is around 20m and there are several flights per day.
The Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago runs regular ferry services between Trinidad (Port of Spain) and Tobago (Scarborough), and there are both passenger and vehicle ferries. It is also possible to take a ferry between Port of Spain and San Fernando on Trinidad.
Credit cards, such as Visa and Mastercard, are generally accepted in hotels, restaurants and stores geared towards tourists. ATMs exist in towns and tourist areas as well as within shopping malls. A gallon of milk and a dozen eggs will cost around 65.90 TTD (9.50 USD) in a grocery store. It is cheaper to eat out than buy groceries with a meal per person in a local inexpensive restaurant costing around 40 TTD (5.80 USD).