Trinidad Island Sightseeing Tour: Pitch Lake and Chaguanas
Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Trip Type: Full-day Tours
Duration: 8 hours
This 8-hour tour takes you to explore the attractions of Central & South Trinidad. On this guided tour, visit the second largest city in Trinidad - San Fernando plus make stops at the Market, Pitch Lake, the Hindu Temple & Hanuman Statue and the Museum of Pottery. This full-day tour includes entrance fees, a local guide and hotel pickup and drop-off from Port of Spain hotels.
More About This Activity All Full-day Tours →
This 8-hour tour takes you to explore the attractions of Central & South Trinidad. On this guided tour, visit the second largest city in Trinidad - San Fernando plus make stops at the Market, Pitch Lake, the Hindu Temple & Hanuman Statue and the Museum of Pottery. This full-day tour includes entrance fees, a local guide and hotel pickup and drop-off from Port of Spain hotels.Taking in the less-visited southern half of the island, this tour offers an opportunity to see the world famous ‘Pitch Lake’ of natural asphalt together with Trinidad’s most famous Hindu temples and the colorful Chaguanas market.
Your drive leads us through the flat plains of central Trinidad and the rolling hills of the south. Pass through several villages to observe the country life, stopping for a refreshing drink or some fruit on the way – along with a little chat with vendors.
Most of Trinidad's East Indian population is located in Central Trinidad and we see a number of Hindu Temples and prayer flags in the yards of seemingly every house. The first stop is in the town of Chaguanas, where you'll visit a bustling fresh produce market and lively bazaar. Continuing on, visit the largest (85-foot) statue of the Hindu monkey-God, Lord Hanuman, outside of India. A tour of the site including the attached ashram (yoga centre) allows you to learn about interesting rituals and concepts – for example, the tying of a dried coconut to the temple compound fence for sixteen days is said to fulfill your wishes! The gigantic temple is bright-pink and to some resembles a big wedding cake.
Lunch (not included in price) is a typical Trini East Indian curry dish – the roti. You can eat this with your hands - as the locals do - but cutlery can be provided on request.
Next up, visit the small village of La Brea in the deep South of Trinidad where the Pitch Lake is situated. It is the largest of its kind in the world, and looks something like an elephant skin which can be peeled off! Your guide leads us around the site for one hour, making sure we don’t stand up on one of the vertical veins where the pitch is soft and sinking is easy. There are also spots for bathing in the sulphur pools (according to the weather).
If time allows (optional) visit Trinidad’s second largest city, San Fernando, passing rolling hills, sugarcane fields, oil refineries and small villages. Occasionally you can see a Hindu cremation in progress as we drive by. An exceptional panoramic view awaits us from the summit of San Fernando Hill.
Please note: The sequence of stops is flexible according to traffic.
Your drive leads us through the flat plains of central Trinidad and the rolling hills of the south. Pass through several villages to observe the country life, stopping for a refreshing drink or some fruit on the way – along with a little chat with vendors.
Most of Trinidad's East Indian population is located in Central Trinidad and we see a number of Hindu Temples and prayer flags in the yards of seemingly every house. The first stop is in the town of Chaguanas, where you'll visit a bustling fresh produce market and lively bazaar. Continuing on, visit the largest (85-foot) statue of the Hindu monkey-God, Lord Hanuman, outside of India. A tour of the site including the attached ashram (yoga centre) allows you to learn about interesting rituals and concepts – for example, the tying of a dried coconut to the temple compound fence for sixteen days is said to fulfill your wishes! The gigantic temple is bright-pink and to some resembles a big wedding cake.
Lunch (not included in price) is a typical Trini East Indian curry dish – the roti. You can eat this with your hands - as the locals do - but cutlery can be provided on request.
Next up, visit the small village of La Brea in the deep South of Trinidad where the Pitch Lake is situated. It is the largest of its kind in the world, and looks something like an elephant skin which can be peeled off! Your guide leads us around the site for one hour, making sure we don’t stand up on one of the vertical veins where the pitch is soft and sinking is easy. There are also spots for bathing in the sulphur pools (according to the weather).
If time allows (optional) visit Trinidad’s second largest city, San Fernando, passing rolling hills, sugarcane fields, oil refineries and small villages. Occasionally you can see a Hindu cremation in progress as we drive by. An exceptional panoramic view awaits us from the summit of San Fernando Hill.
Please note: The sequence of stops is flexible according to traffic.
« Go Back