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Voykit pocket guide · Trinidad and Tobago
Chaguaramas
Half-day trip from Port of Spain for the beach, a hike and a boat ride; not a base unless you have your own wheels and want quiet.
Chaguaramas is a forested peninsula 20 km west of Port of Spain, with a national park, a popular beach at Macqueripe Bay and boat access to the Five Islands. Traffic on the single road in and out is heavy; most visitors come for a few hours of nature and water sports, then return to the capital.
- Country
- Trinidad and Tobago
- Best months
- Jan–May (dry season)
- Avoid
- Jun–Nov (rainy season, rough seas)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- TTD
- Money
- Currency is the Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD); US dollars are accepted in some tourist places but are scarce to change back.
- Daily spend
- Budget TTD 300–500 excl. bed · Mid TTD 500–1,000 excl. bed · High TTD 1,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- bmobile (TSTT) and Digicel sell SIMs at Piarco and malls; bring your passport.
- Emergency
- Police 999 · Fire 990 · Ambulance 811
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 115 V · 60 Hz · US plugs fit.
- Tipping
- Restaurants: 10–15% if no service charge.; Taxis: Round up.; Guides: TT$50–100 per person for a half day.
- Water
- Tap water is treated but supply is irregular in places; most visitors drink bottled or filtered.
- Toilets
- In malls, restaurants and hotels; few public toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Taxi Port of Spain → Chaguaramas | TTD 150–250 |
| Boat trip to Five Islands | TTD 200–400 per person |
| Lunch at a beachside stall | TTD 40–80 |
| Beer at a bar | TTD 10–20 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- POS · Piarco International Airport
- About 45–60 min by car via Port of Spain, depending on traffic
Typical fares
- Taxi Port of Spain → Chaguaramas
- TTD 150–250, about 30–45 min (check)
- Boat trip to Five Islands
- TTD 200–400 per person (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Car or taxi is the only practical way; the Western Main Road is the single route. No public transport inside the peninsula. Bicycle possible but hilly.
See and do
Known for
- Macqueripe Bay
- Chaguaramas National Park
- Five Islands
- Sailing and diving
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Port of Spain | Car or taxi via Western Main Road | 30–45 min |
| Maracas Bay | Car via North Coast Road, about 45 min | About 1 h |
| Diego Martin | Car, about 15 min | About 20 min |
Sleep
- Chaguaramas peninsula
- A few guesthouses and self-catering apartments; quiet but isolated without a car.
- Port of Spain
- Most visitors stay here and day-trip; 30–45 min drive each way.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hellohello |
| Thank you | Thank youthank you |
| How much? | How much?how much |
| Where is the beach? | Where is the beach?where is the beach |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Good morning to everyone; handshakes; avoid: Skipping greetings
- Religion: Cover up and remove shoes at temples; avoid: Beachwear in town
- Carnival: Follow your band's rules and security; avoid: Wandering off alone at J'ouvert
- Talking: Food, cricket, music and Carnival; avoid: Taking sides in Afro/Indo politics
Scams and watch-outs
- Heavy traffic on the Western Main Road on weekday mornings and evenings.
- Macqueripe Bay can get crowded on weekends and public holidays.
- No ATM in Chaguaramas; bring cash.
- Boat trips to the Five Islands depend on weather and operator availability — check ahead.
Chaguaramas is generally safe during the day. Petty theft from parked cars is reported at trailheads and beaches: leave valuables out of sight. Avoid walking alone on trails after dark.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Chaguaramas yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Macqueripe Bay
- Chaguaramas National Park
- Five Islands
- Sailing and diving
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Chaguaramas, revision 5329688 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5329688
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/chaguaramas). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.