Away from the city one finds oases of peace and calm and the beauty of Mother Nature. The island lies close to the South American mainland, to which it was once joined and with which it shares much of its wildlife. In the national swamp reservations in the west of the island there are cayman alligators and the elegant scarlet ibis. Plant life in the rain forest covering the uncultivated part of the island is lush. Trinidad's most amazing natural feature, however, is the Pitch Lake - 100 acresof tar soft enough to swallow you, should you spend too long standing on it.

Twenty-two miles, Trinidad's small sister island of Tobago offers a striking contrast in landscapes and people. Tobago provides a much more relaxed introduction to the Caribbean. The pace of life here is slower; away from the established, but not crowded, resorts at the western end of the island are plenty of secluded coves and bays where you can idle away the hours in the water and the sun in classic Caribbean fashion.