Text Author: John-Frederick Thye

Our arrival in Trinidad in the middle of the night was a truly mysterious experience. The jungle hills loomed over us in massive shadows, as we sailed into the narrow passage that separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Paria. Venezuela was only 20 nautical miles off our starboard beam. The stars and moon outlined Trinidad's mountainous landscape, and the sweet smell of spices and open wood fires charged the air.

On the shore we saw people dancing on the beach, reminding us that we are making landfall during Trinidad's Carnival, a week-long fest that marks the time before Ash Wednesday. The Trinis (as the locals call themselves) take their Carnival very seriously, and dance and jump all night long in parades, wearing colorful elaborate costumes, and playing local Pan, Calypso, and Soca music.

During our time here in Trinidad we took to the streets to join the locals in their festivities, as well as hiking into the majestic jungle, swimming in waterfalls and discovering hidden beaches, not accessible by car. Trinidad, you are a jewel of an island with your own unique personality!