Trinidad & Tobago vacation, tailor made

Planet

As an in depth specialist tour operator to Trinidad & Tobago, we take a considered approach to the social, environmental and economic impacts of the vacations we design. To us, this means much more than a simple donation to a charity for each client. We try to build long and constructive involvements with local guides, wildlife lodges and hotels, in the course of which we, and our clients, can make lasting wide-ranging contributions to the wonderful places and people we engage with.

In this itinerary we have selected several hotels and lodges whose documented practices align with this approach.

At Kariwak Village, Tobago, the restaurant prepares food from scratch and uses vegetables and herbs grown in the property's on-site garden where available. The swimming pool uses an ozone-based treatment system, reducing the need for conventional chlorine treatment. The property also has water-efficient plumbing and a grey-water recycling system for use in its flower and vegetable gardens. Kariwak also considers the products used in its housekeeping operations as part of its approach to managing resources and the guest environment.

Mount Plaisir Estate in Grande Riviere is located on a wild beach in a remote corner of Trinidad's North-Eastern coast, which between March and August is one of the largest leatherback turtle nesting sites in the Western Hemisphere. The surrounding forests are also habitat for the Trinidad piping guan, a rare bird endemic to Trinidad. In January 2026, Mount Plaisir was awarded Green Key certification, an international tourism sustainability certification programme coordinated by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). The hotel has introduced measures including turtle-friendly lighting and waste-management procedures, and works with conservation organisations in relation to turtle monitoring and visitor activities.

The itinerary includes visits to Caroni Swamp and Nariva Swamp, both Ramsar Wetlands of International Importance, as well as Bush Bush Wildlife Sanctuary, Pointe-à-Pierre Wildfowl Trust, Little Tobago and Asa Wright Nature Centre. Little Tobago is a protected bird sanctuary, while Asa Wright Nature Centre was established in 1967 as a not-for-profit land trust by naturalists and birdwatchers. Entrance fees for these sites contribute to their operation and management.

People

In Trinidad & Tobago we work with local ground handlers, helping to retain a significant proportion of our operational expenditure within the Trinidad & Tobago economy and supporting employment, including in more remote regions. By incorporating locally owned hotels, restaurants and the services of local guides and drivers into our itineraries, we aim to keep as much tourism expenditure as possible within the local economy, allowing local businesses and communities to benefit from tourism.

We were the first tour operator in the UK to form a partnership with the Rainforest Alliance to work towards the implementation of best management practices in tourism. In practical terms, this has involved working with hotels that have introduced specific social, environmental and economic initiatives within their businesses and local communities.

The best person to introduce you to a country is someone who lives there. Undoubtedly the best way to experience the true magic of Trinidad & Tobago is with a local guide. You can sit back and relax while the guide shows you around and takes care of the driving. They are a font of local knowledge–the islands are small and there is not much that misses their attention. We have known most (if not all) of our guides personally for many years. You will find that most of them are very well known around the islands, especially on Tobago. Locals call out as the car passes, exchange a few words and a drawled “Aaaaall-right!” – the universal greeting on Tobago.