Trinidad Cruisers - Exploring the
Island
New Website
http://www.trinidad-cruisers.com/
Site devoted to providing up-to-date
information for the cruising sailor about Trinidad.
The first question most cruisers ask is, why travel all the
way to Trinidad? Several reasons come to mind. Many need to get work done on
their boats and are attracted by Trinidad's reputation for excellent work or
low prices. Others seek to keep their boat in a safe place during the Caribbean
hurricane season. Many of these people leave their boats and return to North
America or Europe for the summer. Few cruisers travel to Trinidad just to
experience the island and its people. It is a shame as there is much to see.
Often cruisers are so focused on getting their work done that they seldom
venture beyond Chaguaramas. We will attempt to explore some of the things that
can be found beyond the limits of the marinas in Chaguaramas. Not covered are
such topics as marine parts or finding services and skilled trades. These
topics are well covered elsewhere.
How the Site is Organized
· Arrival - Matters concerning arrival into Trinidad and Tobago.
· Chaguaramas Facilities - Details on what to expect in
Chaguaramas.
· Exploring Trinidad - What to do outside of Chaguaramas and what
to see in rest of the island.
· Notice Board - A new feature to tell people in Trinidad what is
happening.
· Weather - General information about the weather in Trinidad and
the Eastern Caribbean.
· Links - Links of interest to people in Trinidad or considering
traveling to Trinidad.
· About Us - About the people that made this site possible and our
contact information.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad
was first colonized by the Spanish; the islands came under British control in
the early 19th century. The islands' sugar industry was hurt by the
emancipation of the slaves in 1834. Manpower was replaced with the importation
of contract labourers from India between 1845 and 1917, which boosted sugar
production as well as the cocoa industry. The discovery of oil on Trinidad in
1910 added another important export. Independence was attained in 1962. The
country is one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean thanks largely to
petroleum and natural gas production and processing. Tourism, mostly in Tobago,
is targeted for expansion and is growing.
CIA Fact book, Trinidad and Tobago.
Geography:
· Land Area - 5,128 sq km, 1980 sq mile (slightly smaller than
Delaware).
· Coastline - 362 km, 217 miles
· Highest Point: El Cerro del Aripo 940 m, 3084 feet.
· Natural Resources: petroleum, natural gas, asphalt
· Land Use: agricultural land 10.6%, arable land 4.9%, permanent
crops 4.3%, permanent pasture 1.4%, forest 44%, other 45.4% (2011 est.
Population
1,220,479 (July 2016 est.), country rank to the
world: 160
Ethnic Groups
East Indian 35.4%, African 34.2%, mixed - other
15.3%, mixed African/East Indian 7.7%, other 1.3%, unspecified 6.2% (2011 est.)
Religions
Protestant 32.1%
(Pentecostal/Evangelical/Full Gospel 12%, Baptist 6.9%, Anglican 5.7%,
Seventh-Day Adventist 4.1%, Presbyterian/Congregational 2.5%, other Protestant
0.9%), Roman Catholic 21.6%, Hindu 18.2%, Muslim 5%, Jehovah's Witness 1.5%,
other 8.4%, none 2.2%, unspecified 11.1% (2011 est.)