The Best Places for Island Hopping in the Caribbean — From the BVI to the Bahamas
Trinidad and the Gulf of Paria
Just off Trinidad’s western coast, the Gulf of Paria hides a small archipelago of quiet green islands. Chacachacare, Monos and Gaspar Grande are the best known — lush, low-lying and perfect for short day trips. They feel a world away from Port of Spain, even though they’re only a quick boat ride from the mainland (we recommend hiring a professional tour guide).
These islands carry a different kind of island-hopping energy — less polished, more adventurous. They’re places where you can picnic under the trees, swim in calm water and spend a day with nothing but the sea around you. It’s a side of Trinidad that even many travelers don’t know exists, with names like Centipede Island.
Of course, there’s Tobago, too! With an easy shuttle on Caribbean Airlines.
Karen Udler is the Deputy Travel Editor of Caribbean Journal. A graduate of Duke University, has been traveling across the Americas for three decades. First an expert on Latin American travel, Karen has been traveling with CJ for more than a decade. She likes to focus on wellness, luxury travel and food.
