SCENIC TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Fly to Trinidad and transfer to your boutique hotel in Port of Spain.

A morning sightseeing tour of the city could include the historic, enchanting buildings surrounding the Queen's Park Savannah, the Botanical Gardens, museums, preparations for Carnival and perhaps some shopping. You will have a delicious local lunch either in town or on the beach at magnificent Maracas Bay, where Bake and Shark is the local delicacy. If you like, this could be followed later on by an evening tour taking in some of the atmosphere of the city, local bars and street-food.

Leave Port of Spain and travel out of the city, with perhaps a stop or two on the way before reaching Yerette, which is a very special private home with stunning gardens, that is also a hummingbird sanctuary. From here you will then continue on to your next accommodation, Pax Guest House at Mount St Benedict.

The afternoon will find you on a boat gliding through the serene channels and tidal lagoons of the Caroni Swamp, which is known for many different species, including caimans, swamp boas, crabs of different types, herons and egrets, but in particular the Scarlet Ibis. Watching the birds in their thousands return to roost at dusk in the vivid green mangroves, red plumage blazing against the darkening sky, is one of the most magnificent sights the Caribbean has to offer.

A full day’s trip to Asa Wright Nature Centre in the lush Arima Valley, which will include a guided nature tour of several trails on the Estate and lunch.

Travelling down the west coast, you'll visit several Indian cultural sights and temples and taste some wonderful culinary delights. The tour continues to take in the Point a Pierre Wildfowl Trust and the curious geological phenomena of the Pitch Lake at La Brea, which has paved roads and runways the world over.

Transfer to the north east coast and Grande Riviere, where the river meets the sea on a wonderful beach and the Mt Plaisir Estate Hotel can be found. This is the best site to see Leatherback turtles lay their eggs, but it’s worth visiting at any time of year. Relax on the beach, take a forest walk to several nearby waterfalls or visit Shark River.

A short flight to Tobago, where the first three nights will be spent at the Kariwak Village Hotel & Spa in the south west of the island.

You can walk to nearby Store Bay or take the complimentary shuttle to the calm turquoise waters and white sands of Pigeon Point. Maybe take a glass-bottom boat out to Buccoo Reef and have a swim in the Nylon Pool.

A free day to explore the area, perhaps to visit Scarborough or to simply relax and enjoy a treatment at the hotel’s spa.

Take a scenic tour along the stunning coastline, past small fishing villages and glittering bays to Blue Waters Inn at Speyside, your home for the next three nights.

Today a glass-bottom boat will ferry you across pristine coral reefs to Little Tobago Bird Sanctuary with a chance to snorkel at Angel Reef on the way. This 250 acre wildlife sanctuary, is one of the most important seabird sanctuaries in the Caribbean and is home to nesting colonies of Red Billed tropic Birds, Brown Boobies, among other species.

Accompany your excellent guide on a walk along the Gilpin Trace and explore the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, which is the oldest protected forest in the Western Hemisphere, having been established in 1776 as a means to preserving the watershed of the island. This is a wonderful opportunity to walk into a relatively pristine forest and to discover the incredible flora and fauna to be found there.

Relax at your hotel before departing for the airport.

Arrive in UK early the following morning.