www.socanews.com | carnivalgrooves | Trinidad & Tobago Carnival

home | carnivalgrooves | Trinidad & Tobago Carnival [4145 page views]

Trinidad & Tobago Carnival
Mon 3 & Tue 4 March 2014

Introduction Route Time Attendance Participation

Representing more than 500 years of European and African cultural heritage, Carnival was originally a Catholic festival, a final fling before the denial of the flesh ordained by Lent. Today, however, it is a show of cultural expression and solidarity, and occurs at different times of the year on many of the islands.

Carnival season is party season, and in Trinidad it begins many months in advance. There are mas band launches, large fêtes, and calypso tents where contenders for the Calypso Monarch crown perform nightly. No carnival would be complete without the various competitions that highlight the thought, skill and creativity on which each component of the festival is based. After weeks of intense preparation, steelbands deliver their best interpretations of leading party tunes and custom-made pan songs at the Panorama finals.

The main Carnival celebrations take place in the capital where mas bands make their way along a predefined route through the streets of Port of Spain.

But carnival isn't just reserved for Port of Spain as there is also carnival celebrations taking place in San Fernando in the South of Trinidad.

7am - 7pm

Pictures

Tobago jazz Experience highlights	Pan Semi Finals	One Fete
Yeah 2012	Trinidad Carnival Tuesday (pt1)	Trinidad Carnival Tuesday (pt2)

More Galleries

Getting There

Flights Accommodation Car Rentals Currency Other

Getting to Trinidad - British Airways direct from Gatwick London to Piarco International Airport (Trinidad) or Crown Point Airport (Tobago) and a connecting flight on Tobago Express.

Virgin Atlantic from Gatwick to Tobago and then a connecting flight on Caribbean Airlines.

British Airways or Virgin Atlantic to Barbados and then a connecting flight on Caribbean Airlines.

Please Note:
An economy passenger travelling on Virgin Atlantic or British Airways is ONLY allowed 1 piece of luggage weighing 23kg. However, extra baggage allowance can be purchased online (at the respective airline’s website) for £32 or at the airport for £40.

Trinidad Maracas Bay Hotel( Port of Spain)

Tradewind's Hotel( Port of Spain)

The Chancellor Hotel & Conference Centre( Port of Spain)

The Chaconia Hotel( Port of Spain)

The Cascadia Hotel & Conference( Port of Spain)

The Carlton Savannah Limited( Port of Spain)

Sun Deck Suites Ltd( Port of Spain)

Salybia Nature Resort And Spa( Port of Spain)

Rockycity Guesthouse( Port of Spain)

Pax Guesthouse( Port of Spain)

Paria Suites( Port of Spain)

Par May La's Inn Ltd( Port of Spain)

Monique's( Port of Spain)

Le Sportel Inn( Port of Spain)

Le Grande Almandier( Port of Spain)

Kapok Hotel( Port of Spain)

Hyatt Regency( Port of Spain)

Hotel Normandie( Port of Spain)

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites( Port of Spain)

Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre( Port of Spain)

Forty Winks Inn( Port of Spain)

Crowne Plaza( Port of Spain)

Crews Inn Hotel Ltd( Port of Spain)

Courtyard by Marriott( Port of Spain)

Coral Cove Marina Hotel( Port of Spain)

Coblentz Inn Boutique Hotel( Port of Spain)

Carnetta's Inn( Port of Spain)

Cara Suites Hotel & Conference Centre( Port of Spain)

Bel Air International Airport Hotel( Port of Spain)

Ambassador Hotel( Port of Spain)

Alicia's House( Port of Spain)

Find auto rental deals and cheap car rentals in any of the following locations in the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (U.S.)

Trinidad & Tobago Dollar - (TTD) (US accepted)

Details coming soon

On The Island

About Attractions Dining Getting Around Directory

Trinidad and Tobago was a Spanish colony from the times of Christopher Columbus to 1802, when it was ceded to Britain. The country obtained independence in 1962.

Location: It is the most southerly of the Caribbean islands. It is seven miles off the Venezuelan coast and 21 miles (34km) away from Tobago.

Nationality: Trinidadian / Tobagan

Area: (1,864 sq miles) (4,846 sq km)

Population: 1.5 million

Geography: North-east of Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles.

Government: Parliamentary Republic

Electricity: 120 volts

*Pitch Lake in Pointe-a-Pierre, near San Fernando, where the world’s largest source of natural asphalt can be found.

*Caroni Bird Scantuary to see the Scarlet Ibis in flight and coming home from their daily journey as well as other birds.

*Asa Wright Nature Centre in Arima to see some of Trinidad’s rich flora and fauna.

* Chaguramas – for hiking, beaches and kayaking.

*Gasparee caves – Gasparee Island off Chaguramas

* Temple by the Sea- Waterloo, Trinidad

* Devil’s Woodyard (mud volcanoes) – Princess Town

* Bucco Reef – Tobago

* Tobago Rain Forest Reserve

* Paria Bay

The Food Inn (Port of Spain)

The main forms of transport are maxi taxis, air conditioned buses and taxis (H Registration taxis are those operating legally) which charge flat fares for various destinations. Taxis can either be hired in full to take you to your destination or they can be shared with other passengers and taken to specific areas.

Most areas are accessible by maxi taxi from City Gate in the heart of Port of Spain. Buses are better for travelling to main towns like Arima, Chaguanas, San Fernando. Maxi taxis have no set times and there are different stands for different destinations.

There is also the possibility of car hire or hiring a maxi taxi for large group excursions.

International Soca Monarch( Port of Spain)

Pan Trinbago( Port of Spain)

Carnival Happens In