Usually the first step a cruiser takes is shopping for necessities. The local area betwen the marinas in the west and Port of Spain in the east provides many excellent places to shop for food and supplies. Most are just a short Maxi-Taxi away or can be reached by one of Jesse's weekly shopping trips. Farther afield to the east and south of Port of Spain are a number of places to find that unique item needed for a project or to explore the varied shoppiing Opportunities.
Getting Around Trinidad
There are a great number of options to get out of Chaguaramas. They are all accessible and safe.
Jesse's - Members Only, Maxi Taxi and Tour Services
Jesse James, besides being a wonderful person and advocate for the cruising community, runs a tour and taxi service. His tours are great and should not be missed, especially his "Taste of Trini Tour". He will also arrange for a car and driver to take you any place you need to go and does regular trips to the various shopping malls and stores.
Public Bus - both Maxi Taxi and larger buses
The maxi taxis frequent the Western Main Road in front of the marinas on the north side of Chaguaramas Bay. They come by often and will pick you up and take you into town. Ask the driver to let you out where you need to stop and it is customary to say hello to the fellow passengers. Fares run about 5 TT Dollars (the exchange is about 6.7 TT$ to the US$) or slightly more to Port of Spain.
The Maxi-Taxis are generally air-conditioned 12–25 seat minibuses operate with similar set routes (like route taxis), departing downtown Port of Spain from City Gate; San Fernando from near King’s Wharf; and lower Scarborough opposite the port. Hopping a maxi provides a true Trini experience, and is one sure way to get a feel for Trini culture, lingo and their flamboyant personalities. Many play music (sometimes very loudly). Bright colour bands indicate service areas:
© MEP Publishers, Getting around T&TT, Discover Trinidad & Tobago
Larger buses also ply the same route but much less frequently. You need to purchase a ticket before you enter the bus. It is good practice to get a few tickets and keep them with you in case you need to take the bus. They can be purchased at many of the small stores in the marinas for about 2 TT$ (2026, exchange rate 6.7 TT$ to the dollar ). More information on Routs and Costs can found - Here.
Returning to Chaguaramas you can catch the bus at the main bus terminal in Port of Spain (ask for directions) or along the way out on the road. At busy hours the buses are often full out of Port of Spain so you may have to wait. You may be approached by a private car offering to take you. They are picking up passengers to make a buck. Ask the price before entering, but it is usually close, to slightly more than the Maxi fare.
Taxis
There are taxis in Port of Spain that are good for short distances, but are much more expensive.
Uber like services
Uber does not operate in Trinidad and Tobago, having officially left the market. However, there are several local, reliable, and safe ride-sharing alternatives available
- TT RideShare: Generally considered the most popular and reliable local alternative to Uber. It covers most of the East-West Corridor and Port of Spain, with 24/7 service, although availability may be lower late at night.
- DeliverMe TT: A highly rated,, safe, and professional service offering 24/7 on-demand or scheduled rides. They are known for airport pickups, corporate travel, and, in some cases, using larger vehicles.
- inDrive:inDrive: A global, app-based service that allows you to negotiate your fare directly with drivers.
Rental Car
Rental cars can be had in Chaguaramas for about 25 to 35 US dollars a day. They are not in excellent condition but will get you around. If you smell a whiff of diesel in the trunk, it is because cruisers often use the cars to bring jugs of fuel from nearby gas stations.
A good local car rental is in Power Boats: Newton Joseph. He has clean, reliable, good working order vehicles at competitive rates. Convenient location too, as they are right here in Power Boats, Chaguaramus. Phone - 377-9709 or 782-7740.
Personal Safety - Separating Fact from Fiction
With all the misinformation about, it is necessary to mention personal safety. Cruisers read in the news about the awful crime in Trinidad. But, seldom noticed by cruisers, it is largely isolated to a few regions that are not frequented by cruisers, and times of day where cruisers are not out and about. Crime directed at cruisers has been very low to nonexistent. Yes, it is important to avoid some areas, but this is true in most cities.
A good summary report on security is available from the US Department of State, Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC) web page on Trinidad and Tobago - see link (search for Trinidad to get most current Advisory). It mentions the areas to avoid as Laventille, Sea Lots, Cocorite, Beetham, the Interior of Savannah, Downtown Port of Spain (after dark), Ft. George (after dark), and all beaches (after dark). None of these areas is frequented by cruisers.