MARACAS BAY BEACH

The popularity of this beach stems from its beauty: white sand and azure, crystal-clear waters, palm trees galore, have made Maracas Bay one of Trinidad's best-known postcard landscapes. When you arrive, on the right-hand side of the road you'll find cabins for showering and changing, as well as a supervised parking area (charge $2 for parking and $1 for use of the cabins). On the left-hand side of the road is a sandy beach supervised by lifeguards and dotted with a multitude of straw huts offering drinks and, above all, the famous bake & shark. It's a far cry from the tranquility of the wild beaches further east, but who cares? Here, friends and family come in search of entertainment. Reggae sound systems are set up here and there, street vendors come and go, and the golden youth of Port of Spain show up - in fact, everyone does, with the entire capital relocating to this large but crowded beach on weekends and public holidays. During Carnival, this beach is naturally chosen as the main spot for "Ash Wednesday", the day of rest after two days and nights of partying. Beware: like most beaches on the north coast, it's invaded by sandflies at sunrise and sunset. Beware of bites, very painful to bear and difficult to avoid at these times. To make the most of this beautiful beach, we advise you to come during the week to avoid the crowds.