culture and history are a big part of what makes traveling so special. while there’s no denying the awe that natural beauty has to offer, there’s something so unique about discovering the land of a people as well. from quiet little towns, to sprawling cities, they have the potential to transport you to a new world, in another time and place. the caribbean is a great example of blending the wonders of the natural world with the exotic depth of a land steeped in history. in particular, trinidad and tobago offers a unique mix of african, indian, spanish, chinese and other cultural influences. the result is a dual island that speaks from its natural landscapes, and also its food, architecture, music, cultural and religious traditions, and more. take a journey through this soul of the caribbean and discover why its diverse influences make it such a special place to visit.  

Music

music is everywhere in trinidad and tobago. you can find it on the streets, in underground bars and cafes, and it really shines in the numerous festivals and carnivals held throughout the year. trinidad is responsible for the creation of calypso, an upbeat, call and response style of music that incorporates acoustic steel drums, saxophones, trumpets and trombones. it’s since spread throughout the caribbean and perfectly captures the island feel of its surroundings. soca is another popular style associated with the caribbean; being an electronic fusion with calypso, it is a traditional song and dance used in celebrations. one particularly interesting style is chutney, which reflects the Indian cultural influences on trinidad and tobago, creating an exotic fusion of caribbean style music and indian bollywood tunes. if you want to experience firsthand what trinidad and tobago have to offer in terms of music, our next entry highlights the many festivals which put these styles on display.

Cultural Events

this is a country that certainly knows how to celebrate. trinidad and tobago hosts a number of events and festivals throughout the year, with all of them having either an interesting history, or an important cultural significance. the trinidad carnival is undoubtedly the grandest celebration, held on the two days before ash wednesday. take part and you’ll join the hundreds of thousands of others who dance and sing in this giant expression of culture. the capital city comes alive with colour, as festival goers parade in exotic, over the top outfits with a special significance - the outfits were first adopted by freed slaves in the 19th century, as a way to mock the fancy attire of their owners.  

the heritage festival is similar to the carnival celebrations, held during july and august, and is a mix of food, music and dance intended to preserve the distinct cultural traditions of the island. emancipation day honours the end of slavery, and is an important historical event held on the 19th June.  in addition, there’s also the diwali celebrations, a hindu festival that’s been marked as a national holiday due to the large number of the population who follow hinduism. the festival of lights is beautiful when celebrated at such a large scale, held around november each year. other interesting and fun events include an international fishing tournament, jazz and island music festivals and, who would have guessed, an annual goat and crab race held during the easter season. yes, it’s just as wild and crazy as it sounds. 

Architecture

you’ll be stunned at the sheer diversity in the architecture here, born out of trinidad and tobago’s complex colonial history. in 1592, trinidad, originally inhabited by indians from south america, was colonised by the spanish, before being ceded to british rule in 1802. between those two periods, tobago was handed over to settlers from the netherlands, french, dutch and swedes, before finally being granted independence with its twin in 1962. it’s a lot to take in, and all this changing hands has resulted in some impressive buildings in the port of spain with distinct architectural differences.

stollymeyer’s castle is on highlight that’s just as the name suggests - a castle built on an island, complete with towers and parapets. there you’ll find the spanish cathedral of immaculate conception, built by a governor in 1851, or holy trinity church with its anglican history.  there are a handful of other beautiful churches, cathedrals and monasteries as well, each reflecting their unique period of colonial history. just as special are the numerous Hindu temples, as well as a selection of mosques; they’re a  reflection of the modern day influence the islands now receive with its hindu and islamic population. there’s over 200 Hindi temples scattered between the islands, including an 85 foot statue of the hindu god Hanuman, being the largest outside of India. It’s a result of the complex history that allows these islands to display catholic churches, spanish mansions, hindu temples and islamic mosques all in one place; a fusion you really don’t get anywhere else. 

Food

glorious food! definitely one of the best aspects of the diverse cultures that travel lets you encounter. the indian influence on both islands is felt in the architecture, celebrations, and music styles, but it’s certainly present in the food as well. street food presents a blend of island flavours, with traditional Indian spices and dishes, with tasty, light snacks to enjoy whilst wandering between streets. doubles are one of the most popular dishes here; a stew of curried chickpeas served between two indian flatbreads, perfect for a quick stop in between sightseeing. another dish that can only be the result of an island and indian crossover, is seasoned shark meat with chutney served in a flatbread, known as bake and shark. other dishes include balls of brown sugar and dough topped with sesame seeds, pelau, a traditional caribbean stew, crab and dumplings, or homemade roti served on the street. there's a slew of one of a kind dishes that only these islands can offer.