activities

During your stay in our Port of Spain hotel, you'll find a wealth of attractions to keep you occupied and intrigued. Aside from our many on-site activities, there are hundreds of exciting things to do near Hyatt Regency Trinidad. Visit our popular beaches, drive though a rainforest to the Asa Wright Nature Centre or tour the Caroni Bird Sanctuary. From sports to botanical gardens and outdoor adventures, you'll find something to suit your interests. Use our Port of Spain Trinidad Tobago hotel as your base of operations to explore all our fascinating islands have to offer.

area attractions

Asa Wright Nature Centre
Visit the oldest - and one of the largest - nature preserve in the Caribbean. Some 108 mammals, 400 birds including 10 species of hummingbirds, 55 reptiles and 617 butterflies consider this area home. Formerly a cocoa and coffee plantation, the Asa Wright Nature Centre is about 50 miles long and 37 miles wide. Most of the 197 acres are covered by tropical rainforest. Enjoy outstanding nature trails, bird watching, high tea on the veranda and award winning meals with naturalists and bird watchers from all around the world when you visit the Asa Wright Nature Center.

Tobago
For a more relaxed atmosphere, visit Tobago – a much smaller island northwest of Trinidad.

Tobago experiences much less tourism, which allows it to maintain a more tranquil style. If you're in the mood for a quiet day of bird watching or snorkeling, this may be the place for you. The waters range from clear to turquoise and usually hover in the upper 70s (F), making scuba diving and snorkeling some of the main attractions for this area. Dive in for a memorable look at the area's natural beauty. Or admire the beauty in the skies above. Tobago, and even the smaller islands of Little Tobago, Goat and St. Giles are ideal places for eco-tourists to come and view the area’s wide variety of tropical birds.

Royal Botanic Gardens
Just minutes from Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain are the Royal Botanic Gardens. The Gardens are open to the public every day from 6:00a.m. to 6:00p.m. and feature 70 acres of flowering plants, shrubs and trees plus an orchid house. Guides are present to direct and educate you in your tour.

Caroni Bird Sanctuary
Tour the Caroni Bird Sanctuary to see the brilliant Scarlet Ibis (the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago), herons, egrets and several other species. Tour operators also provide excursions in flat-bottomed motorboats through the swamp's channels to observe boa constrictors, mudskipper fish, etc. At sunset you can view the birds flying to roost in the tops of the mangrove trees.

Emperor Valley Zoo
Visit the Emperor Valley Zoo to learn more about the area's wildlife. The zoo was established in 1952 to expose the residents of Trinidad and Tobago to the native fauna and the fragility of the ecosystems here. It has since grown into an exciting tourist attraction.

outdoor adventures

Hiking
Hikers will appreciate the variety of trails, waterfalls, rivers, streams and limestone caves in the island’s northern mountain range as well as the wetlands of Central Trinidad and wildlife-rich southern mountain range – both of which are great for exploring.

Bird Watching
With tropical savannah, rainforest, woodlands and mangrove swamp, Trinidad is a paradise for lovers of diverse bird life. More than 430 bird species, from the elusive Speckled Tanager to the spectacular Scarlet Ibis, can be spotted on the island.

Turtle Watching
From May to September, the beaches along Trinidad's northeast coast are transformed as hundreds of marine turtles clamber to nest each night. Five species of turtles nest in Trinidad - Leatherback, Loggerhead, Green, Hawksbill and Olive Ridley. The leatherback turtle is the most visually dramatic of the turtles that nest in Trinidad, with adults varying in size from 600 to 2,000 pounds.

Biking
Every cyclist can find an ideal path for biking in Trinidad. With terrain ranging from flat land to rolling inclines and hillsides, the island’s network of old oilfield roads and hiking paths provide a range of surfaces and environments for cycling. Country roads with little traffic are perfect for those who prefer a paved surface. Natural vistas and undulating land will inspire the cross-country rider. And mountain bikers can find forest trails with fallen logs, bamboo and streams to provide a challenge.

Kayaking
Enjoy a relaxing kayaking experience in Trinidad – perfect for those who do not want to contend with large waves, ocean swells and unpredictable sea currents. Chaguaramas on the western peninsula and Godineau River in south Trinidad are popular kayaking sites.

Cave Exploration
Explore the fascinating cave systems of Trinidad. In the Northern Mountain Range lies the Aripo Caves, Trinidad's largest accessible cave system and home to a colony of nocturnal oilbirds. In Central Trinidad, the Tamana Caves, a complex boasting a wide 30-foot entrance and 11 species of bats, and the Cumaca Caves provides exciting opportunities for hikers. Off the western peninsula, on the island of Gaspar Grande, a network of underground caverns called the Gasparee Caves provide a wealth of geological formations including stalactites, flow stones and fringed curtains.

beaches

Northwest Peninsula
Check out the nearby beaches of the Northwest Peninsula. Within easy reach of the capital, this well-developed area of coastline offers a variety of activities from offshore island exploration to water sports. Relax at Bombshell Bay on the Eastern end of Gasparee Island or Macqueripe on the Tucker Valley Road. Chagville Beach, Chagacabana and Williams Bay are all located at Carenage Bay in Chaguaramas. Or, take a 20-minute boat ride to Scotland Bay for ideal swimming conditions or to Chacachacare – a 900-acre island with eight beaches and a saltwater pond.

North Coast
Enjoy a drive through the Northern Range and Maracas Valley to the beaches of the North Coast. The Blanchisseuse area has become a popular weekend getaway, with small bays and beaches at the foot of lush rain forest. Marianne Bay is the largest beach with a freshwater lagoon at its eastern end. Approximately five miles east of Tyrico is another well-liked beach at Las Cuevas Bay with many caves and calm, clear water excellent for swimming. Maracas Beach is the most famous beach in the North and about a 45-minute drive from our hotel. Approximately 1 ¼ miles long, this beach and has off white sand and waves ideal for surfing. For a hiking route, try the trail to the deserted Paria Beach and Waterfall beginning where the North Coast road ends, at the suspension bridge across the Marianne River.

Northeast Coast
Still relatively rural, the Northeast Coast area has some of Trinidad's most picturesque villages and seaside spots. Balandra Bay, Mayaro Bay, Saline Bay, Salybia Bay and Manzanilla Bay all offer good spots for sunbathing, surfing and swimming. Grande Riviere and Matura are both known for the leatherback turtles that come ashore to lay their eggs from March to August. Sans Souci Bay, a slightly sloping bay with often choppy waves, is particularly popular with surfers in the winter.

Southwest Coast
The Southwest Coast offers excellent beaches for relaxation after a visit to the Pitch Lake and La Brea, but sediment from the Orinoco River means waters can sometimes appear muddy. During the dry season, the water of Vessigny Beach – just west of Vessigny Village – is generally very calm and somewhat cleaner. Near the tip of the south-western peninsula, one of the furthest points on the island from Port of Spain, Cedros has Trinidad's widest beach at low tide and is among the best vantage points for sighting the Venezuelan mainland.

cultural events

Carnival
Plan your visit to Trinidad during Carnival season. With its massive masquerade bands, spectacular costumes, pulsating music and unparalleled stamina for partying, Trinidad's Carnival has been described as the greatest show on earth.

Goat Race
Check out the annual goat race in Buccoo, Tobago, on the Monday and Tuesday following Easter Sunday. These goats are specially bred for racing and are very quick with "jockeys" running alongside encouraging them with ropes and sticks.

Heritage Festival
Tobago's Heritage Festival is the annual celebration of local heritage with authentic music, dance and food. It's celebrated for two weeks in late July.

shopping

Charlotte, Henry and Frederick Streets
On nearby Charlotte, Henry and Frederick streets, shop the arcade malls and street markets for authentic local crafts and souvenirs. Trinidad's local craft industry is one of the Caribbean's most vibrant. Memorabilia like miniature steelpans, hand-carved ornaments, do-it-yourself cocktail packs using popular local rums, leather goods and powdered local seasonings for that distinctive Trini flavour, are stocked by most souvenir shops. Craftsmen selling hand-made leather sandals, belts and wood carvings are found on Independence Square at the corner of Henry and Frederick streets. Charlotte Street is a haven for street vending and the place to find bargains on everything.