The name of the island Trinidad means “Trinity” in Spanishand stands for the three outstanding mountains on the main island, Tobago is derived from the word tobacco. The two islands together cover an area of around 5,120 square kilometers.

Time zone

The time difference between Germany and the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago is -4 hours.

Geography

The main island of Trinidad is crossed by three mountain ranges, the smaller island of Tobago is also marked by mountains, has many forests and sandy beaches. While many other islands are of volcanic origin, Trinidad & Tobago were once part of the American mainland.

History

Trinidad is the earliest inhabited island in the Caribbean and, like Tobago, was originally inhabited by Indians with South American roots. On July 31, 1498, Columbus reached Trinidad and named it after the three towering mountain peaks. The island of Tobago, also discovered by Columbus, became the object of many quarrels and changed hands over 30 times by the 17th century. The island state used to be a slave center and the largest allied military base in the Caribbean during World War II. In 1958, Trinidad and Tobago gained independence from Great Britain and celebrates its national holiday on August 31st.

Flora and fauna

According to best-medical-schools, Trinidad & Tobago keep a colorful flora open: countless orchid species are native to the islands, as well as tropical trees and plants in abundance. The large, forest-covered part of the sister islands is also home to a multitude of animals, including a plethora of frogs, armadillos, a multitude of rodents and dazzling butterflies. The very special thing about the two islands is definitely the bird life – it is most impressive, especially because of the large number of hummingbirds.

Business

Nowadays, sugar and cocoa are grown in Trinidad. However, Trinidad’s economy is dominated by the oil and gas industry. Trinidad and Tobago is also the world’s largest exporter of ammonia and methanol. Forestry concentrates on the procurement of teak, but does not clear the rainforest. Of all the Caribbean islands, Trinidad is the most industrialized. The Trinidad and Tobago dollar is used to pay .

Population

The population is called Trinidadian or Tobagonian, depending on their sense of belonging. The term Trinbagonier also exists as a mixture of the two names. The islands have around 1.3 million residents, who are strongly mixed with descendants of Africans or Asians, especially Indians.

Religion

The majority of the population , around 60%, is Christian, a quarter are Hindus and 6% are Muslims.

Language

Almost all Trinidadian and Tobagonians speak English, but because of its proximity to Venezuela, Spanish is very common as a second language.

Food and drink

The cuisine of the sister islands is mainly characterized by African and Indian influences. Fish dishes, dumplings and curry sauces are common. The national dish of Trinidad is callaloo. As a kind of soup, it consists of taro leaves, okra and coconut milk. Other popular dishes are the rice dish Pelau, with caramelized chicken, bake and shark (a deep-fried fish in flatbread also baked in fat and numerous side dishes) and doubles, a warm dish made from two flatbreads and a little chickpea curry. In addition, pastels are traditionally created for Christmas (filled bags made of corn dough, wrapped in soharee or banana leaves). On Tobago Crab and dumplings, i.e. crab meat with a kind of dumpling, are very popular.

Entry

To enter Trinidad and Tobago, travelers must be able to show a passport that is still valid for 6 months. In addition, the exact address of the stay must be indicated on the entry form and a return or onward flight ticket should be presented at all times. No visa is required for stays of less than 90 days.

Medical advice

Current information on vaccinations can be obtained from your family doctor or on the website of the Center for Travel Medicine (CRM).