The Road to Maracas Bay

...a delightful self-guided tour of Trinidad's North Coast

Experience the drama of Trinidad's North Coast on the road to Maracas Bay.

Drive through lush tropical rain forests to discover, at journeys end, the lazy crescent of Maracas Beach nestled in the protective arms of its mother bay.

Take your camera - this is a delightful scenic drive that you can do on your own, and a must for all first time Trinidad visitors.

 Maraval Valley 

Our journey begins in Maraval, the valley at the base of the serpentine road that leads up over Trinidad's Northern Range and along the coast westwards.

As you drive through the village you may notice villagers catching water (collecting water) from a standpipe (roadside source of clean piped water). This is a reminder that while Trinidad is one of the wealthiest islands in the Caribbean, an oil producing nation blessed with abundant rain, piped water is still a relative luxury in many Trinidadian homes.

 Traveling Trini Style 

Enjoy a bit of local culture on your adventure: About halfway up the first hill, just after the Moca golf course turnoff and on the right hand side of the road, you'll find the last rum-shop (bar) before Maracas Bay. This is an ideal spot to stop and buy a round of drinks for everyone but the driver - try an ice cold Carib, one of the excellent local lagers.

Now, fully provisioned, like any self-respecting Trini, we can begin our journey in earnest. From this point the drive to Maracas Bay takes about 1 hour return, non-stop, during the week when there's no traffic.

 Primeval Rain Forest 

The first climb up over the Northern Range is steep but you are soon at the peak.

The grass like plants you'll see covering the share banks roadside with long wispy red plums are, in fact, a family of bromeliad, plants that capture the majority of their water through their leaves, using their roots mainly for stability. You'll also notice other bromeliads and tropical ferns growing on telephone wires, and on the bark and branches of nearly every tree in this almost primeval tropical rain forest.

 National Flowers 

On your drive you'll likely see the Chaconia in bloom, Trinidad's national flower, or catch a glimpse of a Balisier, which shrouds the hillsides with it's dark-green banana like leaves.

If you are here in late February and March you'll witness the Flamboyant, the flame of the forest, the king of forest trees, setting the mountain sides ablaze with their fiery orange blossoms.

 Views and Vistas 

Soon you're snaking along Trinidad's North Coast at 500 feet above sea level, surprised by breath taking, birds-eye views of dramatic little islets and minor bays each time the car swings out from behind lush tropical greenery.

Stop at the lookout to take few pictures if you wish, but...
We're close now; you can almost see Maracas Bay...

 Tickle Your Fancy 

A little further on, as we round yet another bend, you'll come across the Bamboo Hut, with just enough space to park roadside.

As at the lookout, you can purchase a wide selection of seasoned, spiced and preserved local fruit here. Of particular interest is the pineapple chow - sections of sweet pineapple seasoned with shado beni (cilantro), salt and a little pepper. However...

There are many other interesting fruit based confections to tickle your taste buds, and stimulate your sense of the dramatic, including tamarind balls, salt prunes, and pawpaw (papaya) preserves.
Try them all...

 Magnificent Maracas Beach 

Ahead, as the road coils its way down the hill you'll start to glimpse tantalizing views of Maracas Bay.

On the very last ridge before your final decent there's a small restaurant, come rum-shop, where you can stop for a cool drink and a panoramic view of Maracas Bay in its entirety.

When you get to the beach, take your shoes off, feel the sand between your toes, enjoy the soothing rhythm of the waves, feast on a delicious Shark and Bake, or just relax and take a few Maracas Beach photos. Maracas Beach is an exceptional place to unwind, lime and stretch your legs.

 Tour Guide Or Not To Guide? 

The Maracas Bay drive makes the ideal self guided tour for novice explorers to get their feet wet, but a good Trinidad tour guide can turn even this casual excursion into a wonderful adventure.

They'll be able to provide interesting details and commentary. For example, a good tour guide might tell you why it was that the American armed forces built the Maraval to Maracas road during the early days of the Second World War, or they may introduce you to Paramin.

But then, perhaps you'd rather forgo the formality of a tour guide until the more adventurous segments of your Trinidad and Tobago vacation, and just enjoy the amazing Caribbean scenery?

 Spectacular Gloden Sunsets 

Either way, time your journey home with the setting sun, especially if there are a few clouds in the evening sky to trap the suns dying embers. Leave the beach to the ghost crabs, and wind your way back along that serpentine, cliff hugging North Coast road. Just make sure to stop along the way to grab a picture of this magical coastline as it is bathed in the evening sun's golden light.

After a final climb back over the Northern Range the road begins to descend rapidly, there in front of you, framed by the Maraval hills, are the lights of Port-of-Spain sparkling like so many Caribbean jewels.

Click! Another memorable photograph for the family photo album.