Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is not the only place where you can experience an amazing carnival filled with music, colourful parades, dancing and incredible street food. The Trinidad and Tobago Carnival, also known as the ‘mother of all carnivals’, takes place every year over two whole days on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.
This year, the carnival is taking place from Monday, March 3, until Tuesday, March 4. While Rio de Janeiro’s carnival is largely focused on samba music, Trinidad and Tobago’s is characterised by steel drums and a steel pan band competition, Calypso and Soca music – a style of music which was born in the dual-island country. The carnival originated during the time of slavery on the island when slaves, excluded from the masquerade balls and festivities of the white plantation owners, created their own parallel celebrations with drumming, dancing, and masquerading.
The slaves rebelled through Canboulay, the burning of sugarcane fields- a symbolic event that marks the start of the carnival and takes place every year during the early hours of Carnival Monday, known as J’ouvert, where participants re-enact the historical burning of sugarcane fields.
The island country not only offers an incredible carnival, but it is also known for its white-sand beaches and crystal-clear waters.
Maracas Beach and Pigeon Point Beach are two of the best beaches in the country.
The island is also widely known for its wildlife including the Asa Wright Nature Centre and The Caroni Bird Sanctuary which are havens for birdwatchers, home to hundreds of different bird species.
Nylon Pool and Buccoo Reef in Tobago feature a shallow, crystal-clear sandbank in the middle of the ocean, perfect for snorkeling and believed to have rejuvenating properties.
Pitch Lake in Trinidad is also the world’s largest natural deposit of asphalt, offering a unique and fascinating experience and Argyle Waterfall in Tobago is a beautiful multi-tiered waterfall surrounded by lush rainforest, great for hiking and swimming.
Trinidad and Tobago have become a popular destination on TikTok, with many travelers sharing that some spots on the islands feel almost surreal.
A TikTok user, alex.cassidy4 even said in a TikTok video: “This is the most beautiful island in the Caribbean.”
“It is so lush, it’s so green. We’ve got the oldest rainforest in the western hemisphere and beautiful beaches like Pigeon Point.”
Trinidad and Tobago enjoys a tropical climate with relatively stable temperatures throughout the year.
Average high temperatures range from 29°C to 31°C, while average low temperatures are between 24°C to 26°C.
The dry season runs from January to May, characterised by lower rainfall and more sunshine, making it an ideal time to visit. The rainy season is from June to December, though temperatures remain warm and pleasant year-round.
This story originally appeared on Express.co.uk
