Maracas Bay

This is one of the most beautiful beaches in Trinidad. The drive to the beach takes you across the tree lined hills on a single lane road where you can stop along the way to purchase preserves of local fruit, including green mangoes, plums and pepper pineapples. There is also a large lookout where you can see the sea from a most gorgeous vantage point. The drive along the hills also brings with it a change in the air both in terms of freshness but also a calming coolness.

Once you approach the final stretch to the beach, the beauty and expanse of the bay is striking visually. There is a huge car park behind the beach which also holds many small huts selling their specialty fare, fried shark and bake, with many different condiments and salad vegetables to insert. There are many different places that cater for this delicacy at a cost of around £2, but by far the most popular is called Richard's or his nearby sister Natalie's. Competition is fierce among these sellers and most will offer the same condiments with minor variations like tamarind chutney, cilantro chutney and honey mustard to name a few. There are also changing and shower facilities here at a nominal fee of £0.20p however you can see most people changing next to their cars!

The beach itself arches along what appears to be a quarter mile or so of white sand and flowing waves. Maracas is very popular both with the locals and the tourists alike, and is comparable to many of the beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Along the beach you can see small sheds offering some solace from the 32 degree sun, as well as lots of coconut trees offering shade... but be careful for dried coconuts falling! There is an abundance of flags and lifeguards on patrol making it one of the safest beaches on the island. You may also find persons on the beach peddling local craft such as leather sandals, bracelets and trinkets.

The sand is fine and white, which contrasts beatifully with the deep blue (and deep green in parts) water. The waves are moderate to large at times, however the best times to experience a calm ocean is usually at 6am, or 6pm. During these times, the sunrise or sunset both provide stunning backdrops to a very beautiful beach. At these times, it is always best to either lay out on a beach towel or beach chair and absorb the feeling of deep calm in this beach paradise. For the more adventurous travellers, there is a beach of approximate size about 5 minutes drive further called Tyrico Bay, or another 15 minutes to Las Cuevas Bay, both more popular with the locals.