TOBAGO
The more serene of the siblings, Tobago is home to the oldest protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere. It really is the last of the unspoilt Caribbean. Once you behold her beauty, you will understand why Tobago was Robinson Crusoe's isle - and why our European settlers fought over her ownership more than any other Caribbean island. This strip of elongated land, just 41 by 14 kilometres, abounds with natural allure - palm-lined beaches, lush rain forests and pristine coral reefs teeming with rich marine life.

Contrasts of rolling hills against wave-beaten shores create a stunning backdrop for the island's unequalled beauty. The South (Windward) Coast is washed by the dark green, wave-whipped Atlantic and is lined with vibrant fishing villages, while the North (Leeward) Coast provides Tobago with some of its finest beaches.

In the main, the eastern landscape of the interior rises steeply into tall peaks and rolling hillocks, providing shelter for the oldest protected forest reserve in the Western Hemisphere. A perfect complement to bustling Trinidad, Tobago is a true jewel of the Caribbean Sea, whose sparkle will live in your memory long after you have left her shores.

OUR LANGUAGE
The official language of Trinidad and Tobago is English, although we do have segments of the population, which, mostly through culture and heritage, speak other languages, including "patois", a slang version of French that provides a window to our island's former French colonial days. Since Trinidad is located just about 7 miles away from Venezuela, there is also a growing Spanish-speaking contingent in Trinidad. Many young "Venezolanos" are sent by their parents to Trinidad to learn to speak English. Some families whose ancestors were brought here as indentured labourers (from India or China) have elders who still speak their mother language and pass down the skill to their children.

Nevertheless, every Trinbagonian speaks English and you will find our charming accent one of the easiest to understand - it's singsong like and full of flavour - just like our people!

OUR PEOPLE
Trinidad and Tobago's population figures now stand at about 1.3 million. Most Trinbagonians are of African or Indian descent, comprising 40% of the population each, while the rest of the ethnic mix trace their history back to European, Chinese or Middle Eastern ancestry. This diversity is reflected in the religious mix as well - Christianity is the largest faith, followed by Hinduism, Islam and the traditional African faiths. 

OUR HISTORY
Trinidad and Tobago was "discovered" in 1498, when the Italian explorer, Christopher Columbus, landed on our shores. In reality, we were already "found" and occupied by the indigenous Amerindian tribes of the Arawaks and Caribs.

Trinidad remained in the hands of the Spanish from the 15th Century until the British captured it in 1797 - we then became a British colony in 1802. Tobago, by contrast, was ruled at one time or other by a myriad of European powers, including the Spanish, Dutch, French and British. Tobago, too, was decreed a British colony in 1814, and the Crown enjoined us administratively in 1889. Trinidad and Tobago achieved independence from England in 1962 to become the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

OUR GEOGRAPHY
Trinidad and Tobago are the most southerly isles of the Caribbean archipelago. Trinidad, still possesses vast tracts of rich rain forests, with our highest peak El Cerro del Aripo, located in our Northern Range, ascending to a height of 940 metres above sea level. In contrast, you will find flat lands, mostly agricultural, in the Central Plains, while Southern Trinidad is full of gently undulating hillsides.

Tobago's Eastern Interior rises steeply into tall peaks with lower lying lands that include a protected reserve area. Tobago's topography consists mainly of volcanic rock, which is in stark contrast to its Caribbean blue waters. Together, our twin islands measure 2000 square miles.