Updated: Trinidad's Best Beach
Written: May 28 '00 (Updated May 30 '01)
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Pros: Huge beach, Clean Surroundings, Moderate waves for body surfing or simple swimming
Cons: Crowded on weekends and public holidays, Far away from many hotels
The Bottom Line: An excellent beach located on the North Coast of Trinidad. It has good facilities and is kept clean. Perfect place to spend a day.
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| adamadi's Full Review: Maracas Bay |
Trinidad, although more known for its bird watching or carnival, has one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, Maracas Bay.
This beach is about 7 Miles from the Capital, Port of Spain. The road towards the beach is narrow but passable. (The road goes through some mountains and forest) This is one of the main problems with Trindad. Most of the beaches are located far away from the Guest houses and Hotels.
The beach is situated on the North Coast of Trinidad. There are many beaches on the coast, Maracas being the best. The beach over a mile long. There is a carpark opposite the beach for a nominal cost (I suggest if you go to Trinidad that you rent a car, there are shuttles to the beach but they are not as frequent as they should be. When driving, just remember that they drive on the left side of the road).
There are many huts with vendors on the beach and across the road, selling the famous Bake and Shark to even Hotdogs and Hamburgers. Snacks, drinks and many local treat are sold on the beach. Some of the huts also sell local t-shirts and chains but these are slightly more expensive here than buying in Port of Spain.
The beach was extended recently so there is about 50 Metres in width in some areas. Often, there is football (Soccer) played here. Also, during the Carnival season, there are often " Fetes " here where calypso artists perform for the crowds. There is a medical center on the beach which works in conjunction with the lifeguards who are always on duty. There are flags on the beach to locate safe areas and where the currents are. There are also bathroom facilities for under 50 cents for the day.
The water itself is green (Not blue because there is no coral reef there) and waves are usually 1 - 2 Metres high. You should make sure you and your family don't go out to far as the waves can sometimes overwhelm people. There are some watersports on the beach, like the tag on boat rides. These are moderately priced but are very enjoyable.
The beach is often crowded on weekends and on Public Holidays in the country. If you visit on these days, do not expect solitude. If you prefer are quieter environment, visit during the weekdays. The beach is kept very clean as there is a maintenance crew constantly picking up the mess. Most people just go to the beach to relax on the sand and suntan while their children play in the water. Adults do swim in the sea too!
Security is rather good on this beach. A police station is located about 200 metres from the beach. Policemen often patrol the beach and if you encounter any problems, they are willing to help. Still, try not to leave your belongings unattended for too long. There are a small amount of vendors who walk about selling items compared to many other beaches in other Caribbean islands. Just say your " Not Interested " and they will leave.
One great thing is that if Maracas is located close to many other beaches. About 1 kilometre east of Maracas is a much less populated beach called Las Cuevas which has basically the same water but is less modernized. Maracas is an excellent place to spend a day, or two when your in Trinidad.
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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Epinions.com ID:
adamadi
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Reviews written: 56
Trusted by: 25 members
About Me:
"The more people smoke herb, the more Babylon fall" Bob Marley
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