Travel Tuesdays.The truth is no-one’s travelling out of country like before. Many of us have had to turn to virtual sojourns to relive the joy of wanderlust yet again.
As virtual experiences become the new norm, viewers adapt and are seemingly immersing themselves in digital travel overload. Join us are we explore beautiful escapes right here in Trinidad and Tobago. |
On the south-western end of the island of Chacachacare lies a magnificent triangular salt pond that is approximately 13,578 square meters (145,152 sq ft) in area. Created by a sand and shingle bar that trapped sea water from a bay, the salt pond is one of the best attractions of the island. Due to the high salinity levels (three to four times the salinity of the sea), the salt pond is warm, relaxing and one can float easily float without fear of sinking. Some claim that the hyper-salinity, much like the Dead Sea near Jordan has therapeutic properties. It is said that the pond was a source of salt for Amerindians, the islands’ first inhabitants, who travel to Chacachacare to collect blocks of salt formed from the evaporation of the salt water. The pond is bordered by vegetation such as mangrove, manchineel and sea-island cotton, and is best accessed from its eastern side, where the shingle bank of about 30 ft wide separates the pond from the Gulf of Paria.
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Fondly called the “Eight Wonder of the World” by villagers is located on Trinidad’s south-western coast, the La Brea Pitch Lake, is still a source of amazement and mystery.
It is the largest commercial deposit of natural asphalt in the world – one of only three in known existence – and holds approximately 10 million tonnes of asphalt. A recent study connected to the European Space Agency, discovered there are living microbes beneath the asphalt’s surface, which may one day help answer the question whether or not life exists on other planets! Spanning some 109 acres, the lake appears like a huge oval-shaped car park, but on closer inspection, it looks like very dark clay, with rough undulating patches. Its asphalt has been used to pave roads and airport runways around the world, including the roadway in front of Buckingham Palace in England, La Guardia Airport in New York, the Lincoln Tunnel which connects New York to New Jersey, as well as numerous roads in several countries. Visitors can walk on the surface and you might feel it is alive – with its hissing and burping sounds. Small pools of water form on it during the rainy season and you can bathe in them. They contain high levels of sulfur and villagers claim they are the fountains of life, good for curing anything from skin conditions to joint pain. British adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh claimed he ‘discovered’ the pitch lake in 1595 on his search for El Dorado. However, it was the Spanish who started to refine the pitch in 1792 and called it ’Tierra de Brea’, meaning land of pitch – the name eventually became La Brea. First called ’piche’, the Amerindians believed it was created by the Gods as punishment. Legend has it the lake swallowed an entire tribe after they ate humming birds which were believed were the souls of their departed ancestors. To date, numerous Amerindian artifacts have been unearthed onsite, including a bench carved in the shape of an animal (with the carver’s name still clearly visible). Some of these can be viewed at the onsite museum. Indications of prehistoric life in Trinidad and Tobago have also been found – the rib and thigh of a giant sloth, along with a tooth identified as belonging to a mastodon. You can also enjoy the flora and fauna around such as water rose, nymph lilies, and bird of paradise. Bird watchers can enjoy glimpses of Herron, hummingbirds, kingfishers and sandpipers fluttering by. It’s best not to take on the pitch lake on your own – go to the Visitor Centre and ask for a tour guide – the experience will be worth it! Sorce: https://www.destinationtnt.com/pitch-lake/ |
The 12,000-acre Caroni Swamp and Bird Sanctuary is the natural nesting home of the Scarlet Ibis bird, one of the national birds of Trinidad and Tobago. The other is the Cocrico, the only game bird native to Tobago and is not found in Trinidad. The major attraction at this mangrove is the opportunity to observe, close to sunset, the ritualistic roosting habits of thousands of these bright red birds. Many of the guides claim the birds travel daily to the Venezuelan mainland to feed, then return to the Swamp at dusk, a distance of about 11 miles. The mangrove trees provide nesting places for the migratory birds, making it perfect for birdwatchers. Flat-bottom boats conduct regular tours through the mangrove. If you’re staying in Port of Spain, then it is just a short 15 minute drive southward, where you can choose from numerous boat tour guides, who are well-experienced to spot many (if not all) of the 100 plus species of other birds, caimans, swamp boas and crabs of different species which also make the Swamp their home. The Caroni Swamp is the largest mangrove wetland in Trinidad. There is a maze of channels, some natural and some dredged, and motorized boats are not allowed. Although officially protected, the Scarlet Ibis population is at risk from poaching and pollution of the swamp and Gulf of Paria. There is an open pond area about 20 minutes distance inside where the boars gather so visitors can watch the ibis’ return while having some refreshment. SOURCE: https://www.destinationtnt.com/caroni-swamp-and-bird-sanctuary/ |
This Hindu temple is regarded as a National Treasure to Trinidad and Tobago. An Indian labourer, Seedas Sadhu, had constructed the first temple on the seashore in 1947. It was demolished because it was built on MacMillan Park, private property belonging to Tate and Lyle Limited, one of the leading sugar companies. Sadhu was sent to prison. He subsequently decided to build the temple in the sea. It took him 25 years to build singlehanded with only his bicycle to transport materials. This temple is on a man-made island and is connected to the mainland by a pedestrian causeway. Images and murtis of Ganesh, Siddartha and other Hindu deities are displayed in an exquisite manner.
The temple, which was rebuilt on 1995 under a committee of which Randal Rampersad was Chairman, received assistance from the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP), as well as from overseas. SOURCE: https://nationaltrust.tt/location/siewdass-sadhu-temple-in-the-sea/ |
The Nariva Swamp is the largest freshwater wetland in Trinidad and Tobago (over 60 sq. Km). Designated a Wetland of International Importance, the swamp is home to 58 different species of mammals including the West Indian Manatee and Red Howler monkeys.
A permit is required to visit the Swamp which can be obtained from the Forestry Department at St Joseph Not too far from the rumble and tumble of waves at Manzanilla beach is the Nariva Swamp, accessible by kayak or dinghy in the wet season or on foot in the dry season. This internationally protected forest reserve is Trinidad’s largest mangrove freshwater wetland, located behind lush coconut groves. Within the swamp, there is the Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary, home to more than 200 species of birds and animals. Here, red howler monkeys are often seen swinging between the hardwood and huge silk cotton trees which also serve as the nesting place for colourful parrots, the red-bellied macaw and an array of beautiful butterflies. Don’t be fooled though, because among these beautiful creatures live some that are quite scary if you interfere with them! There are tree-climbing porcupines, anacondas, caimans (alligators), anteaters, the endangered ocelot and the peaceful manatee – a sea cow indigenous to Trinidad. The reserve spans about 24 square miles of wetland, marshes and swamp. Along the northern border, a small portion has been reclaimed for rice cultivation but for the most part it is wild wasteland. The swamp is also home to the tallest fig tree on the island, the only one of its kind and recently ‘discovered’. In an earlier time, this tropical giant would no doubt have been felled for its small fortune in timber, but today its place is assured until nature decides its fate. To visit the Nariva Swamp and Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary, you need to visit the Forestry Department at St Joseph to collect a pass, and there you can also get information on hiking and boat tours. |
Point-a-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust is a wetland habitat that is home to locally endangered wetland birds. Interestingly, the Trust is located on the compound of a major petrochemical and oil refinery in south Trinidad. The Trust is ideal for nature lovers, especially birdwatchers, who can view various waterfowl in their natural habitats.
What is unique about the Point-a-Pierre Wild Fowl Trust is its location on the compound of a major petrochemical and oil refinery in south Trinidad. Encompassing two lakes and about 30 hectares of land the Trust is a popular destination for scientists and researchers, and is also ideal for nature lovers, especially birdwatchers, who can learn about the facility’s ongoing efforts in the areas of breeding and re-introduction of locally endangered wetland birds to their natural habitats. There are small boats which take you out on the two ponds, where you can view or photograph the numerous species of tropical birds. Or you can just take a quiet stroll through the beautifully landscaped grounds. It is an ideal spot to see tropical water fowl close up in their natural environment, without the discomfort of trekking through swamps and jungle. The Trust is probably also the only eco-tourism site on the island with a boardwalk built along much of the first pond, suitable for wheelchairs or baby strollers. There is an onsite learning centre, a small Amerindian museum and a full service guest house, with areas for retreats, corporate workshops and seminars. |