Good Time to Visit

Weather

The climate of Trinidad and Tobago is tropical, tempered by northeast trade winds. The annual average temperature is 29°C, and temperatures are at their hottest between June and October.

The average rainfall is 125 cm in the west, 300 cm in the north-east. The rainy season in Trinidad falls between June and October. May, June and July in Tobago can be wet at times, but the differentiation between the wet and dry seasons is much less acute than in Trinidad.

Visitors are advised to bring tropical lightweight clothing; rainwear will also be needed, especially in the wet season.

More information about the Trinidadian and Tobagonian weather can be found in Climate in Trinidad and Tobago.

Festivals

The Trinidad Carnival, held in February just before Lent, is renowned throughout the world. This world-famous event held in Port of Spain is a mass of colour and sound. Weeks are spent preparing for Carnival and the entire island comes to a halt. The run-up to Carnival starts immediately after Christmas when the Calypso tents open, with festivities climaxing at the beginning of Lent, on the two days immediately preceding Ash Wednesday. During this time, visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrancy of steel bands, parades, spectacular costumes and limbo dancing. A week before the Carnival proper, Panorama, the Grand Steel Drum (pan) tournament is staged around the Savannah, the large park in the north of Port of Spain.

On neighbouring Tobago, the Tobago Heritage Festival features activities such as traditional weddings, goat races and games. Emancipation Day celebrates the abolition of slavery each year on 1 August.

There are many other festivals and events representing the many cultural and religious diversities of the islands. This includes the Buccoo Goat Race Festival, a highly amusing event held annually on Easter Tuesday. Jockeys dress in the silk of the goat's owner and betting is taken as the goat and jockey proudly parade in front of the crowd. Races take place on a 100-metre track, with up to ten goats per race. Once the race starts it is the jockey you sympathise with, as the goats tear off up the track, veering off in all directions. The event includes cultural events, plenty of local rum and even crab racing.

Public Holidays

The following table shows the public holidays celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago: