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Local Links |
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Links to Birding in TnT |
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Fotos: |
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Blanchiseusse to Paria |
Macqueripe
to Las Cuevas |
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adventure is knocking at your door
The club has a bountiful supply of
experience and have been to Paria waterfall, Madamas Gorges,
Rincon waterfall, Habio waterfall, Mermaid Pools, camping out at
Matelot, camping out at Chacachacare,
Warning: Complainers will be thrown off the nearest precipice.
more |
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Northern Coast |
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Bake and Shark
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Bake and Shark is found at beach shacks
and street stalls throughout the island. Maracas Beach is famous for its
many food booths specializing in the street food delicacy. Part of
its appeal is the variety of go-withs,
you can add any of dozens of toppings, such
as tamarind sauce, coleslaw, mango chutney
to sliced cucumbers. "Bake" is a catchall term for several types of
bread, grilled or fried. |
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Marianne River & 3
Pools |
Trek or kayak along the
Marianne
river to 3 pools, about an hour up the riverbed. The path
includes getting into the river in places which can get up to waist deep. Begin
by taking the path to the right of the road just before the bridge ignoring the
No Entry sign. you will know when you reach the gorgeous 3 pools. the first is
12m across with a water-slide created by the current running over smooth rock.
The 2nd pool is very deep with boulders rising out of it. Here you'll want to
enjoy the natural jacuzzi formed by the rushing stream against the rock tub.
The third pool is surrounded by tall cliffs and caves with Avocat Falls above.
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Birding on Arima-
Blanchisseuse Road.
The road from Asa Wright down to the sea at Blanchisseuse is 19
kilometres of birding, Tanagers and Trogons, Toucans and Manakins, Cuckoos and
Jacamars to name just a few. The highest Point of this road where it passes from
the leeward to the windward sides is about 2,000 feet above sea level and is
know for high elevation birds such as Speckled and Blue Capped Tanagers, and is
good for migrant Warblers.[
more at fatbirder] |
Paria Waterfall
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Past the Arima-Blanchisseuse Road at the 12 1/2 mile-post,
eastwards for about four (4) miles (6.4 km), lies Brasso Seco. The Paria-Morne
Bleu Road and the Sansi Trace are located along this route. A (60 degree) trail
at the 4 3/4 mile-post signals the entrance to the forest. The trail is good and
clear with no turnings off, and it winds towards the north. The route takes one
past the Jordan River and over a hill. The beach is an hour away. A (2) minute
walk leads to a wooden bridge over the Paria River. A five (5) minute walk up
the right bank of the river brings one to the spectacular waterfall. |
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The North coast is visually spectacular. It
is the least varied of the coastlines of Trinidad. It consists mainly of a
series of cliffs and headlands interspersed with beaches.
Just
two roads cross the hills to the north coast: from Port of Spain
to Maracas Bay, and from Arima to Blanchisseuse.
A narrow coastal road connects the two.
Leaving Port of Spain: Begin by circling the Queen's Park
Savannah to Saddle Road, in the residential district of Maraval. After a few miles the road
begins to narrow and curve sharply as it climbs into the
Northern Range and its undulating hills of dense foliage.
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Maracas |
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A scenic 45 minute drive over the mountains from the capital
Port of Spain. The beach itself is located in a sheltered bay with a
mile of peach coloured sand set against the backdrop of a rainforest
covered mountain range. You may also want to take some time to wander
over to the fishing village located near the hotel and watch the daily catch come in.
Maracas Beach is one of the most
beautiful, but crowded, beaches on the island of Trinidad. Unlike many
of the northern beaches of Trinidad, Maracas Beach is protected by a
deep bay and provides some of the best bodysurfing on the island.
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Places to Stay: Blanchisseuse |
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FantaseaResort.com
Private beach resort in Blanchisseuse |
lagunamar.com/ Laguna Mar Beach
Resort 628-3731 * Blanchisseuse
on the outskirts of the village of Blanchisseuse, the property extends
from the golden sandy beach of Blanchisseuse Bay up into the rain forest
of the Northern Range. There is also a 3-bdrm villa to rent. |
| Northern Sea View Villa
North Coast rd & Wilson /Trace 669-3995 [4 units] Opposite Marianne
Beach 2 bedroom apartments |
| Surf's Country Inn
North Coast Road 669-2475 [4 rooms] Overhanding the surfer's beach with
a restaurant |
Second Spring on the Sea 669-3909
[4 apartments] set in a beautiful tropical estate, on a point
overlooking the Caribbean Sea. Each apartment is decorated in local
style are equipped with a kitchenette. The rooms have their own terrace
overlooking a view of the ocean. |
Camping on the banks of the Marianne River
There is a private land owner who allows camping on his property for a
small daily fee. Potable drinking water is available |
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Places To Stay:
Maracas |
maracasbay.com/ Maracas Bay Hotel
669-1643 *
Maracas Bay
32 room hotel located right on Trinidad's most beautiful and popular
beach. Get the bat update at
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| Trinidad Maracas Bay Hotel
Limited Maracas Bay, Maracas, Trinidad -
(868) 669-1914 |
Tyrico
Just east of Maracas Bay is Tyrico Bay with a beach about 900 m long and fine
grayish brown sand. Like Maracas it offers good sea and sun bathing with waves
reaching to .80m. It is also popular for overnight camping and is just 45
minutes away from Port of Spain. A life guard service is provided from 11 am to
5 pm daily. Portable toilets, a parking area and a well maintained beach add to
the comfort of visitors to Tyrico Beach.
Fort Abercromby: Just east of Maracas Bay, this fort's
lookout is known for a tree that grows horizontally rather than vertically.
Las Cuevas
Las Cuevas Bay is less crowed with full facilities with smaller waves for easier
swimming. The water is clear and provides excellent swimming with waves reaching
to .82m.The name "Las Cuevas" is derived from the Spanish word for caves and
there are many caves to be discovered inland. The service facilities
located at the top of the cliffs, include a snack bar, car park, tables,
benches, changing rooms with showers and toilets. Lifeguard services are
provided between 10am-6pm
Approximately 8 km east of Tyrico or about 1 hour drive from Port of Spain.
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Blanchisseuse
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Blanchisseuse Bay. This beach is about 14 mi
(23 km) after Maracas; just keep driving along the road until
you pass the Arima turnoff. Narrow,
palm-fringed beach with few facilities but plenty of allure.
The coastal and rain-forest
views here are spectacular. In the small
town is an old English style church perched on a point overlooking the
bay with a few fishing pirogues
Particularly
fun is the lagoon and river at the east end of the beach
allowing you to swim in fresh water.
Local fishermen may offer to take you out in their boats to
further explore the undeveloped coastline.
Getting There: North Coast Rd., just beyond Arima
turnoff |
Beyond
Blanchisseuse
there is 30km of coast before the road begins again in
Matelot.
The area can only be reached on
foot, following trails which dip and climb through lush forests of old coffee,
cacao and citrus estates. In between there are some
fabulous wild beaches and magnificent coastal views.
Paria Waterfall & Beach: The trail to this deserted beach and
refreshing waterfall begins where the North Coast road ends, at the suspension
bridge across the
Marianne River.
Go beyond the Arima-Blanchisseuse Road at the 12 1/2 mile-post,
eastwards for about four (4) miles (6.4 km), lies Brasso Seco. The
Paria-Morne Bleu Road and the Sansi Trace are located along this
route.
A (60 degree) trail at the 4 3/4 mile-post signals the entrance to the forest.
The trail is good and clear with no turnings off, and it winds towards the
north. The route takes one past the Jordan River and over a hill. There
is wooden bridge over the Paria River. A five (5) minute walk up the
right bank of the river brings one to the spectacular waterfall.
The trek can take two to three hours each way, depending on the weather and the
hikers’ level of fitness.
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Tours |
Kayaking
At the Marianne river mouth at
Blanchisseuse, kayaks are available for rental every day, all year.
Northern Sea View Villa's Eric
Blackman 669-3995 rents kayaks and leads tours to 3 pools, Avocat Falls and
Paria [4 hours]
Not too far upriver there is an
enchanted area known as Three Pools which also would require more
difficult portage than most are willing. Kayaking in this area is best
towards the end of the rainy season as the water level is high enough to
allow paddling for the entire trip. During the dry season there are
parts of the river where the low water level requires walking the
kayaks. Highlights include towering stands of bamboo a variety of bird
life including spotted sandpipers, kingfishers, gray kingbirds and
striated herons.
Another kayaking opportunity in the
Blanchisseuse area is the Yara River. This river is immediately after the
village of La Fillette and at the entrance to Blanchisseuse. Starting
from the river mouth presents a slight difficulty as it is surrounded by private
property with holiday homes but it is possible to walk along the edges of the
properties to get to the river mouth. Kayaking along this river is best towards
the end of the rainy season as the water level is high enough to allow paddling
for the entire trip. |
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Paria
Beach and Waterfall Hike by caribbeandiscoverytours.com At the
intermittent appearances of the ocean, Seabirds, Hawks and Ornate Hawk
eagles float in the down drafts .We descend to the spectacular expanses
of isolated Paria beach. Swim in ocean or in waterfall and river pool. a
few minutes beyond the shore.Return same day. |
rei.com/adventures/trips/latin/caribbean.jsp
Day 5
After breakfast we head out toward Sangre Grande and onto our bikes for
a short warm-up ride to the base of Mount Tamana, a hill formed by
uplifted coral reef. An intricate system of caves has been carved by
running water over thousands of years and is now home to millions of
bats. We enjoy lunch before starting our steep hike up to Tamana’s
summit where we are treated to spectacular views. Then it’s off to the
mouth of Tamana Cave! Those wanting to can enter and explore the cave
where thousands of bats nest. |
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geodyssey.co.uk/trinidad/holiday/walking.htm
The best trek on the island, the
24 mile trail from Brasso Seco to Matelot, is the focus of this highly
recommended trip. The trek itself can be covered in a comfortable 3
days. There’s time to enjoy pristine beaches, bathe at the waterfalls,
and savour impressive coastal views, or to take side trails inland. The
route follows several old Spanish ‘bench trails’ and there is a strong
sense of the island’s forgotten past. Your guides may recount stories
from local folklore, or pass on their knowledge of local ecologies and
plants’ healing properties. |
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