Trinidad Carnival
February 26th to March 05th, 2025.
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.
Tour Outline
- Day 1: Arrival Trinidad
- Day 2: Fete #1: AM Beach – Meet and Greet – Fete #2: Tribe Ignite Drinks-Inclusive
- Day 3: Cultural Activity – Fete #3: Phuket All-Inclusive
- Day 4: Fete #4: Am Bush – Fete #5: Soca Brainwash
- Day 5: Fete #6 Sunny Side Up – Spill Over (Soca Islands Event)
- Day 6: Carnival Street Parade Day One (Monday Wear)
- Day 7: Carnival Street Parade Day Two (Full Costume)
- Day 8: Depart Trinidad or Tobago Cool Down
What’s Included
- All activities mentioned on the itinerary inclusive of entrance fees.
- Fete tickets: AM Beach, Tribe Ignite, Phuket, AM Bush, Soca Brainwash, Sunny Side Up.
- Group transportation (Private transport is available).
- Arrival and departure airport transfer.
- Accommodation in double rooms. Single occupancy option is available.
- Backline Carnival Costume (you have the choice to upgrade to a frontline costume).
- Costume pickup.
- Photography.
Trinidad Carnival Group Itinerary
Wednesday February 26: Arrive in Trinidad
Arrive in Trinidad and transfer to your chosen accommodation. The day is yours to enjoy as you please. Be sure to get some rest though as we head out before the break of dawn the next day to attend your first event.
Thursday February 27: AM Beach All Inclusive – Meet and Greet
Get ready to kick off your Carnival season with a bang at your very first fete at 5 am. AM Beach is a highly anticipated annual beach event that brings together music, culture, and the ultimate party experience in a picturesque coastal setting. In the evening, you’ll have the chance to connect with your fellow Soca Islanders and get to know the individuals with whom you’ll be celebrating for the next seven days.
Friday February 28: Cultural Activity – Phuket All Inclusive
In the morning we’re in for a fantastic three hours. You’ll have the chance to master stilt-walking, unleash your inner fire-breathing dragon, and even learn to play the incredible national treasure – the steelpan. In the evening we attend Phuket, an event that promises an amazing experience, complete with delicious food and drinks, a mix of DJ beats, and live entertainment that will keep you grooving all night long.
Saturday March 01: AM Bush – Soca Brainwash
Very early on Carnival Saturday morning, we’re off to A.M.BUSH, known as one of the most desired events in Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. In the evening, we the biggest global Soca DJ festival in the world created and hosted by DJ Private Ryan. Get ready for a fantastic event that not only includes scrumptious food and drinks but also boasts multiple stages with a line-up of amazing DJs.
Sunday March 02: Sunny Side Up – Maracas Beach
Today we attend another early-morning fete – Sunny Side Up. This is one of the top premium food and drink events where everything is included. Later in the day we take a trip to Maracas Beach to recharge while enjoying Trinidad’s famous bake and shark. We will also be doing a photoshoot on the beach.
Monday March 03: J’ouvert – Carnival Monday (Monday Wear)
Prepare to be on the road all day, starting with J’ouvert morning celebrations, followed by day one of the two-day Carnival street parade. Monday wear is used for the street parade and has to be purchased separately. Alternatively, you are free to wear anything you please.
Tuesday March 04: Carnival Tuesday – Tuesday Wear
Today we take to the streets of Port of Spain, the capital city of Trinidad and Tobago, to showcase our elaborate and intricately designed costumes featuring feathers, beads, sequins, and vibrant colours. Today is a day of exuberance, creativity, and cultural pride. It also marks the last day of the Carnival Celebrations.
Wednesday March 05: Depart Trinidad
Savour your last morning in Trinidad. Depending on your departure time, you might have a few hours for some last-minute shopping or a final dip in the sea. Bid farewell to the island as you head to the airport for your departure.
Trinidad Carnival Payment plan.
Initial Deposit: 15%
Final Payment due on or before November 30 2024
Soca Islands provides you with the most flexible payment plan making it super easy and affordable to book your Trinidad Carnival 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.
Accommodations
Here’s a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
Kapok Hotel
Located 5 minutes’ walk from Queen’s Park Savannah and from Ellerslie Plaza, Kapok Hotel features a swimming pool, garden and a sun terrace. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout. The rooms offer air conditioning, sofa, seating area and flat-screen cable TV. All rooms come with a fridge and coffee maker. The apartment also features a fully-equipped kitchen. Guests at Kapok Hotel can enjoy breakfast, lunch and dinner in the on-site restaurants. There is also a shop in the lobby.
Hololo Haven
Open, light-filled room with balcony in a modern, beautiful, safe and secure building overlooking Port of Spain and the Gulf of Paria, replete with AC, TV, Wifi, closet space, and contemporary bathroom. Three (3) minutes from a grocery store and close to dining, shopping and entertainment. Guests have shared access to the garden and lobby which is equipped with a seating area and an amazing view!
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.