The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is themost southerly Caribbean country. Positioned just off the coast of Venezuela,Trinidad is sevenmiles fromthemainland and Tobago is 21milesoff the coast of Trinidad. Rather than having volcanic or coral origins likemany Caribbean islands, it is believed that these islands broke from themainland and share many geologic features with Venezuela. Visible fromone to the other because of their relatively high mountain ridges – 1,860feet in Tobago and 3,085 feet in Trinidad – the two islands, though relatedpolitically, are worlds apart in physical characteristics.

Like so many Caribbean islands, Tobago offers an exquisite environment,but it has other major advantages. Until recently, Tobago’s tourism industry was relatively undeveloped. There were only a few resort-style
hotels on the island, and none were more than three stories high. Numer- ous small hotels and guest houses dotted the towns, and there was a verylow-key feel to the island. Tobago has now found itself on the tourist map,and hotels and holiday villa construction projects are in the works around the island or planned to begin in the next few years. Poised between the quiet life of local people and developing tourism, Tobago is still a very friendly and safe island. There are beautiful beaches, of course, but Tobago offersmuchmore. It is a bird watcher’s paradise. It also has the oldest national park in this hemisphere and some of the best scuba diving in the Caribbean for experienced divers.

Trinidad and Tobago is a country of twin islands, but they are fraternal
rather than identical. The familial relationship is there, but each has
grown in different and special ways. The British joined Trinidad and To-
bago as one country in the latter 19th century, though each island has a
very distinct history and culture. They also differ geographically: Tobago
feels Caribbean in nature, while Trinidad feels more South American.
Tobago’s history is one of estate plantations. Agriculture dominated the is-
land’s economy into the 1960s. It is still, inmany ways, rural in character.
Its people aremostly ofAfrican origin,while Trinidad’s naturewas shaped
by the much wider variety of people who settled there. Trinidad has lush
jungle in the north, a heavily developed central corridor, and swamps and
savannah in the south. Though it, too, has an agricultural base, Trinidad
also has almost a hundred years of modern industrial development.
Together, the two islands form a fascinating country with an intriguing
history, wonderful people, and an array of unique places to explore and
things to do.
Themajority of visitors to the islands right nowareBritish, Scandinavian,
and German. Americans have long known of the bird watching opportuni-
ties in Trinidad, but have only recently discovered Tobago.