The City of San Fernando is the largest city in Trinidad and Tobago, directly followed by Port of Spain and the second largest municipality after Chaguanas. It’s situated in the south west of the island. The city is surrounded in the north by the Guaracara River, the south by the Oropouche River, the east by the Sir Solomon Hochoy Highway, and the west by the Gulf of Paria. Locally, the Trinidadians refer to San Fernando as Sando. As of latest measurement San Fernando has a population of 75 thousand people.
San Fernando is built on the San Fernaando Hill and can be easily reached from domestic destinations such as Port of Spain, Chaguanas and other cities North and Central via the S.S Erin Road and Southern Main Road. Once in the city there’s bus connections available, as well minivans (Maxi Taxi) and car rentals. San Fernando is a city of medium size, local sightseeing’s can be easily explored.
San Fernando sightseeing include the San-Ferando Hill and San Fernando Mission, though experiencing the city itself can be considered sightseeing as it offers many shopping areas such as High Street, it’s main shopping street, as well Gulf City Shopping Complex, the largest mall in the Southland area which is covered by a suburban Gulf View. Nightlife and restaurants can be found in the city center, a few good ones include Soong’s Great Wall Restaurant, Jenny’s Wok and the Golden Dragon. All of the restaurants serve local and international cuisine. After a meal, dance the night away in popular clubs such as Sting and The Edge, unless of course, you prefer cozier night spots and smaller crowds proceed to Horace’s, Richie’s, Tree House, TGIF or Uncle Sam’s.
If you are from the United States, you do not need a visa to stay in Trinidad and Tobago for a maximum of three months. You do need your return ticket and valid passport to gain entry. You will need other permits, such as student permits or working permits, if you are not visiting as a tourist.
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago’s capital, is also the country’s most developed city. It is located in the northwest coast of the main island, Trinidad. The name “Port of Spain” originated during the time Spanish colonists set up a port in the area in 16th century. The Spaniards named the place “Puerto de los Hispanioles,” then finally “Puerto de España.” The latter can literally translate to Port of Spain. The capital city is home to 49 thousand people according to the latest measurement.
What makes Trinidad and Tobago fun is that the country is a melting pot of races and, to some extent, of interests. Lively Port of Spain offers extrovert-attracting fun with its annual carnival. For those who do not want to party, they can retreat to Trinidad’s natural resources for inspiration. Bird-watching is a definite must-do especially for tourists who want to photograph something beautiful or something unique. For extroverts and introverts alike, you can experience East Indian culture through temples and dishes in this Caribbean setting. The murder and overall crime rate can, however, be daunting. So make sure you do not stray away from the crowd or flaunt expensive stuff.
You can enter Trinidad and Tobago through various airlines including American Airlines, British Airways, and Caribbean Airways. You can get around Port of Spain via bus or mini-bus. Mini-buses are also called maxi-taxis. The average temperature ranges from 68 degrees Fahrenheit to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. However, a sweltering 100 degrees Fahrenheit and a cool 50 degrees Celsius have also been recorded. Protect your skin from the equatorial heat with sun block.
If you are from the United States, you do not need a visa to stay in Trinidad and Tobago for a maximum of three months. You do need your return ticket and valid passport to gain entry. You will need other permits, such as student permits or working permits, if you are not visiting as a tourist.
