Photo and Jeep Tours to Paramin

Trinidad's almost Alpine garden community...

High in the hills above Port-of-Spain you'll find Trinidad's almost alpine community, and its market gardens, often floating amongst the clouds.

For self-guided Paramin Jeep tours you'll need a 4-wheel-drive vehicle, and a good map or trusted guide, and of course your camera.

 Where is Paramin? 

Paramin is located between Maraval and Diego Martin but we begin our expedition at the end.

The far eastern end of Paramin, approximately 2½ miles (4k) beyond where the North Coast Road to Maracas Bay turns off from Saddle Road, as it cuts through the hillside to Santa Cruz. If you blink twice you may miss the grooved concrete Paramin Road zigzagging northward, as it rises almost vertically to the final crest of the Northern Range where it overlooks the Caribbean Sea.

 Picturesque Hilltop Communities 

To the right, as you drive westward, the hillside slopes away rapidly, offering beautiful vistas of the Caribbean Sea. It's a great spot to stop and take a few dramatic pictures of Trinidad's islet strewn North Coast, perhaps even capture the Tobago Ferry in the background, as it streaks it's way to it's destination.

Further along, on your self-guided Jeep tour, as you wind your way west and south, you'll come across almost Alpine looking hillside communities. This is a region where homes perch on mountaintops, and herb gardens cling to steep slopes.

Paramin is a self-sufficient farming community with deep Spanish roots, a story well told by the faces and family names of people you meet along the way. It's where many of the vegetables and herbs served in the homes and hotels of Port-of-Spain comes from, crops that appreciate the cool mountain air.

 Vertical Herb Gardens 

From these heights, you'll see the entire northeastern corner of the island, set about by the Gulf of Paria to the south, the islands of the Dragons Mouth to the west, and the Caribbean Sea to the north.

At various points along you way the hills part to reveal astonishing views of Diego Martin, Port-of-Spain, Caroni Swamp and, on a clear day, even San Fernando and Venezuela.

 Private Jeep Tours 

During private jeep tours, good Trinidad tour guides will stop to introduce you to one of the old established farming families, where, after a few introductions, you'd have the opportunity to explore a hillside herb garden, and perhaps take a few pictures of the giant chives being prepared for market.

Pictures of Paramin in the early morning mist, and those of late evening sunsets or during twilight can be particularly stunning, if you can arrange for Jeep tours to begin that early or end that late.

As we end our journey we're back at the beginning, which for us is the intersection of Morne Coco and Saddle Roads in Maraval Village. In front of you on valley wall stands the Our Lady of Lourdes RC Church, established 1846, its Spanish architecture another reminder of the areas roots.

 Christmas in Paramin 

If you are lucky enough to explore Paramin, September through December, you will be treated to the sweet sound of Parang, or Parang Soca, Trinidad's Latin styled Christmas music.

If so, enjoy the season and "drink ah rum an’ ah punch-a-crème" for us, sprinkled with a little grated nutmeg and a dash or two of Angostura Bitters. Because, the hills of Paramin literally come alive with the sound of Trinidad Parang at this very festive time of year.

Get more information about Photo & Jeep Tours to Paramin.