Trinidad Carnival
February 15th to February 22nd, 2023.
Trinidad and Tobago Carnival is an annual event held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday in Trinidad. This event is well known for participants’ colorful costumes and exuberant celebrations. There are numerous cultural events such as band-launches, fetes, stick-fighting, limbo, calypso, Soca competitions, steel pan competitions, and more in the lead-up to the street parade on Carnival Monday and Tuesday. It is said that if Trinidad is not celebrating carnival, then they are preparing for carnival. Traditionally, the festival is associated with calypso music, with its origins formulated in the midst of hardship for enslaved West and Central Africans. In recent years Soca music has replaced calypso as the most celebrated type of music.
The week before carnival is called carnival week and that’s when the most of the fetes occur. The most popular fetes are usually held from Carnival Wednesday to Carnival Sunday. However, the “feting” starts long before… as early as Boxing Day (December 26th). Carnival in Trinidad is considered by many to be the greatest street parade in the world; the greatest show on earth.
Tobago Cool Down
After Carnival, most folks need a break to wind down and recover, and they do this by hitting the beaches of Tobago. On Ash Wednesday, the day after Carnival is over, it is customary to visit Tobago for a couple of relaxing days. It should be noted that tickets for the period after Carnival sell out the year before.
What’s included in your Trinidad Carnival experience?
Included in our Ultimate Trinidad Carnival 2023 experience which is designed to get the most from your visit. You can customise your experience by logging into your Soca Islands account.
Accommodations
Your choice of single, double or triple occupancy rooms at the Courtyard Marriott, and single, double, triple or quad rooms at the Chancellor Hotel or the Hotel Normandie or Xanadu Tropical Resort. We also offer accommodations in the form of guesthouses and private homes.
Airport Transfers and Ground Transportation
Pick-up from and, drop-off to Piarco International Airport (POS) only. We arrange daily transportation (private or group) from your accommodation to the events on your itinerary. Additional transportation services are available on request.
Remember, you need to book your flights separately.
Backline Carnival Costume
Choose between YUMA or Rogue. Frontline upgrades are available and costume pickup and delivery are included.
J’ouvert Morning Experience
Arguably the best J’ouvert experience in the world.
Island Tour
We give you a taste of the natural wonders Trinidad has to offer.
Meet and Greet and beach lime
Get to know your fellow Soca Islanders who will be jumping alongside you for the week. We also carve out some time for heading to the beach.
Photography
Professional photos by our group photographer who will be with us for all the events and the street parade.
Fete Tickets for Trinidad Carnival 2023
The following events are included with our ultimate Trinidad Carnival experience:
- AM Beach
- Tribe Ignite
- Phuket
- AM Bush*
- Soca Brainwash**
- Spillover
- Sunny Side Up Breakfast Party
Please note we at Soca Islands do not represent nor are we part of the committees for these events. The fete list is subject to change.
This itinerary has been crafted by our team with one idea in mind: to inspire you. Every aspect can be customised to your specific needs, budget and your interests, from duration to accommodation and activities.
DAY 01: Arrival in Trinidad, meet and greet
You arrive on the beautiful island of Trinidad to begin your week of fun and no sleep. After we get you settled in, we gather the group together and create lasting friendships.
Day 02 to Day 05: Fete after fete after fete
We party… we gather the crew and party like it’s 1999. Here’s to team #nosleep.
- AM Beach – a premium drinks and breakfast inclusive party on Tyrico Bay.
- Tribe Ignite – a drink inclusive event.
- Phuket All-inclusive – a premium drink and food inclusive event.
- AM Bush – an alternative J’ouvert experience (paint party)
- Soca Brainwash – a premium drink and food inclusive event.
- Spillover. a cooler cooler event.
- Sunny Side Up Breakfast Party
Day 05: Maracas Beach lime
It’s time to take a small break after days of intense partying. We head to Maracas Beach for some bake and shark and, to relax for a bit before we party through the streets of Port of Spain… starting with J’ouvert which starts at 4 a.m. the next day.
Day 06: J’ouvert morning experience and Street Parade day one
Look how de sun now “raising” up. We head out early on Monday to party with mud oil and paint. After that, we head back to our accommodations to change into our Monday wear and join the band of our choice on the road.
Day 07: Street Parade day two
Today we put on our full costumes – feathers, headpieces, backpacks, and more – and continue the party through the streets of Port of Spain.
Day 08: Depart Trinidad
We hug, cry and say our goodbyes, while reflecting on the memories created during the past seven days. We drop you off safely to the airport so you can catch your return flight. The tabanka is real.
Trinidad Carnival Payment plan.
Initial Deposit: 15%
Final Payment due on or before December 15 2022
Soca Islands provides you with the most flexible payment plan making it super easy and affordable to book your Grenada Spicemas experience by asking for payments in three installments. Your 15% deposit is due upon booking, followed by 35% of the total cost due 30 days after booking. The remaining 50% due 60 days before your trip.
For bookings made between 90 and 60 days before the start date of the experience, 50% of the total cost of the experience must be paid upon booking.
Bookings made between 60 days and 30 days before the start date of the experience, 100% of the total cost of the experience must be paid upon booking.
Trinidad & Tobago travel information.
Time Zone: GMT -04:00
Currency: Trinidad and Tobago Dollar. 1 USD = 6.80 TTD
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is the southernmost island in the Caribbean archipelago. Located just off the north-eastern coast of the South America mainland, the twin island Republic is home to international greats such as Miss Universe 1998, Wendy Fitzwilliam; Cricket Legend, Brian Charles Lara; and Carnival, the Greatest Show on Earth.
The capital city, Port of Spain, is the business centre of the Caribbean, housing the headquarters for a number of local businesses, a myriad of restaurants and nightlife entertainment like no other. The sister isle of Tobago is a stark contrast to Trinidad. Considerably smaller in size, Tobago is well-known for its coral reefs, pristine blue waters and white sandy beaches,the smaller island is perfect for leisure activities and an immersive experience with nature.
Trinidad & Tobago is warm and sunny year-round, with an average daily temperature of 28 C/ 85F, dipping to 22C/75F in the evenings. There are only two “seasons” in Trinidad & Tobago; the dry season (December – May) and the rainy season (June to December). During the Rainy Season, you can generally expect sunny mornings and early afternoon showers.
The islands are located outside the Hurricane Belt, making it a haven for yacht owners throughout the region. The water temperature year around is 24-29C/75-82F, encouraging water activities year-round including, surfing, world-class diving, sport fishing, kite surfing and paddle boarding.
How to get around in Trinidad
The most popular ways to get around are via the island’s taxi and maxi-taxi services. These are widely used among locals and tourists alike and provide an authentic island experience. A number of bus routes are available, generally operating from Port of Spain to Arima, Chaguanas, Diego Martin, Petit Valley, and San Fernando. You can catch one at a marked bus stop or by flagging it down along the main roads. Public transport is extremely affordable in Port of Spain. You can also rent your own vehicles, for a flexible way to travel around the island.
Where to stay in Trinidad?
Finding accommodation for Trinidad Carnival will be one of the hardest things you ever do. It is one of the most demanded carnivals in the world, therefore accommodation prices are high, and unfortunately, availability is low.
You should aim to look for accommodation around Port of Spain as most of the activities are there. Everything takes place all around Port of Spain.
The most popular hotel option on the island is the Hyatt Regency. There is also the Hilton Hotel, Courtyard by Marriot, Brix by Marriott, and Radisson Hotel. These hotels can go for around $650US a night and are usually sold out about six months prior to Carnival.
There are also some smaller boutique hotels that are worth looking at like the Chancellor Hotel, Hotel Normandie, or the Kapok Hotel. Another great option is to hire a villa, house, or apartment with your friends and split the cost.
For a more economical option, book a little further out. For example San Juan, Tunapuna, Diego Martin or Trincity where you can actually find many great places to stay for less. There are quite a few carnival concierge services that will have accommodation included in packages too.
Things to do in Trinidad
The twin islands of Trinidad and Tobago, located off the coast of Venezuela, are a lesson in contradiction: large and small, industrial and pristine, developed and not. However, they are part of the same country, share the same spirit, and exist in harmony.
In Trinidad, the oil and gas industry are a big part of local life, with sightseeing tours revealing mangrove swamps sitting beside smokestacks. In the capital, Port of Spain, highlights include the House of Parliament (the Red House), the Magnificent Seven (a string of colonial houses located on the border of the Queen’s Park Savannah), Queen’s Park Savannah, Maracas Bay, and the Royal Botanical Gardens.
The southern end of Trinidad is home to Pitch Lake, which draws travelers with its title of world’s largest natural asphalt deposit, while Chaguaramas Boardwalk is also worth a visit for walking, cycling, and swimming. Trinidad is a bastion of untouched Caribbean landscape, ringed with white-sand beaches and dotted with coconut palms.
In Scarborough, considered the capital of Tobago, island landmarks such as Pigeon Peak and Fort King George are easy to access on day trips, while both islands offer plentiful opportunities for birdwatching, with the Asa Wright Nature Centre and the Caroni Bird Sanctuary being top choices for naturalists. And of course, there is the water—sail, swim, dive, and snorkel. Buccoo Reef is a favourite for getting to know the Tobago’s underwater eco-system via a glass-bottom boat or through your own snorkel mask.