Trinidad Southwest Attractions
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The southwest corner of Trinidad centers around the island's second largest city of San Fernando. The area has a high concentration of Indians, both Hindu and Muslim whose ancestors were brought in to work the sugar plantations after the abolition of slavery. A feature of the region are the many colorful religious flags seen in Hindu communities.The area is easy to reach within an hour because of the Uriah Butler/ Soloman Hochoy expressway which speeds traffic south from Port of Spain.
La Brea - Pitch Lake
Pitch Lake is just as it sounds, with a thin skin that gives the lake a solid appearance. In areas sulfur vents bubble up, and in other area are lily ponds. The pitch is mined and exported for use in asphalt.
Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust
The middle of an oil refinery may seem an odd place for a nature sanctuary, but this is one of the best bird viewing spots in Trinidad.Encompassing a lake with a trail around the periphery and an interpretation center near the parking lot, the 25 ha site is part wild birds and part breeding cages for endangered species. The area is protected by the Pointe-a-Pierre Wildfowl Trust.The highlight includes the ability to get close to wild Scarlet Ibises which is much harder or not possible in other sanctuaries. A wide range of wild bird species and the photogenic nature of the overall site make the site a prime visit spot.The trust was founded in 1966 and is a volunteer-run organization.
Hindu Temple in the Sea, Waterloo, Trinidad and Tobago
Overcoming restrictions which prevented him from using sugar cane land for his religion, an Indian laborer Siewdass Sadhu, spent 25 years building a Hindu temple of mud and stone upon mud flats in the gulf of Paria off of Waterloo. Today the temple has been replaced by a more solid structure in gleaming white with simple decorations.The setting of sea and nature makes this devotional site worth a stop.
