Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad Capital: Port of Spain
Main Towns: City of San Fernando,
Arima, Point Fortin, Chaguanas
Tobago Capital: Scarborough
Nationality Trinidad: Trinidadian
Tobago: Tobagonian
Official Language English
Population: Mid-Year Estimate (June 2025): 1,367,764 (Source: Central Statistical Office)
Electricity: 110 volts/220 volts (+/-6%); 60 Hz
Telephone: 1 (868) + seven-digit local
Geography and Location
Trinidad – Once part of the South American mainland, Trinidad is situated 12 km (7 miles) northeast of the coast of Venezuela, and is separated from it by the Gulf of Paria. Trinidad has three mountain ranges: the Northern Range, the Central Range and the Southern Range. The highest point, El Cerro del Aripo, is 940 metres (3,084 ft) above sea level. About 40% of all land is undeveloped forest and woodlands, although the island is experiencing rapid development. Trinidad’s Pitch Lake is the largest natural reservoir of asphalt.
Total Area: 4,828 sq km (1,864 sq miles)
81.25 km long by 57-73 km wide
(50 miles by 35-45 miles)
Location: Lat. 10.5° N / Long. 61.5° W
Tobago – Tobago lies 34 km (21 miles) northeast of Trinidad. Of volcanic origin, the island is a single mountain mass, although the southwest is flat or undulating and coralline. The highest peak, the Main Ridge, reaches an elevation of about 576 metres (1,890 ft). The coastline is broken by inlets and sheltered beaches, and there are several uninhabited islets.
Total Area: 300 sq km (116 sq miles)
Location: Lat. 11.5° N / Long. 60.5° W
Climate
Trinidad and Tobago has a tropical climate. Daytime temperatures average 31°C (87°F) and are moderated by the northeast trade winds, while nights are a cool 21°C (69°F). The islands have two distinct seasons: dry, from January to May, and wet, from June to December. There is a short dry period around mid-September called Petit Carême. Trinidad and Tobago are just outside the usual path of hurricanes and other tropical storms, but Tobago can experience inclement weather as a result of such weather systems.
Time Zone
Greenwich Mean Time: Minus four hours
In US Winter: Eastern Standard Time
plus one hour (EST +1) In US Summer:
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
There is no daylight savings time.
Government
Trinidad and Tobago follows the Westminster model of government and upholds the traditions of parliamentary democracy it inherited from Britain. The Government is stable. The Head of State is the President, who is elected by an Electoral College of members of the Senate and House of Representatives for a five-year renewable term. Executive power, however, is vested in the Prime Minister and Government, following elections at least every five years. The most recent general election was held in April 2025, with the United National Congress (UNC) becoming the ruling party.
Tobago has its own elected House of Assembly and its seat is in the capital city, Scarborough.
Banking
The financial system consists of commercial banks, trust and mortgage finance companies, finance houses and merchant banks.
Number of Commercial Banks 8
Number of Automatic
Banking Machines 496
https://batt.org.tt/banking-industry/
Standard Bank Hours
of Operation City Centres:
Monday to Thursday – 8 am to 2 pm
Friday – 8 am to 1 pm & 3 pm to 5 pm
RBC and Scotiabank (not mall branches)
8 am to 5 pm
Shopping Centres (Daily):
10 am to 5 pm
Exchange Rate: TT$6.78: US$1
(Aug 2025)
Meeting Places and Conference Centres
Trinidad and Tobago is one of the top five Caribbean meeting and conference destinations. Many hotels have facilities for conferences, including international brands such as the Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre, Hyatt Regency Trinidad and The BRIX, Autograph Collection. In addition, the state-of-the-art National Academy for the Performing Arts (NAPA), South Academy for the Performing Arts, award-winning spots like Coco Reef, Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort and Mount Irvine Bay Resort in Tobago are ideal for corporate meetings and team-building retreats.
Business Hours
Offices: Monday to Friday
8:00 am to 4:30 pm
Government Offices:
Monday to Friday – 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
(City Centres):
Monday to Friday – 8:00 am to 4:30 pm;
Saturday – 8:00 am to 1:00 pm
Retail (Shopping Centres):
Monday to Saturday – 10:00 am to 7:00 pm
Telecommunications
Providers of landline and mobile telephone services are prevalent on both islands, and cable television and internet services are readily available. The more prominent agencies are Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT), Digicel (Trinidad and Tobago) Limited, Amplia Communications and Columbus Communications Trinidad Limited (Flow). With wide coverage throughout the islands, communication is generally easy and wireless internet services are commonplace at hotels, restaurants and other establishments.
International Access Code: 1
Country Code: 868
Media
There is a well-established network covering television, radio, print, electronic billboards and an increasingly strong digital presence. The three daily newspapers are Trinidad Express, Trinidad Guardian and Newsday.
Top News and Media Websites:
- Trinidad and Tobago Guardian
- Trinidad Express
- Trinidad and Tobago Newsday
- Wired868
- Breaking News T&T (FB)
- C.C.N. Television Limited – CCNTV6
- Guardian Media Limited – CNC3
- TTT Limited
- Online Radio Stations
Immigration, Work Permits and Visas
For updated guidelines for travel to or from Trinidad and Tobago, visit the following websites: https://health.gov.tt/ and
https://nationalsecurity.gov.tt/immigration/
Work permits are required for business stays beyond 30 days. Visa extensions can be obtained from the Immigration Office at 3-9 Richmond Street, Port of Spain, while work permits can be obtained from the Ministry of National Security, Temple Court II, 52-60 Abercromby Street, Port of Spain.
www.nationalsecurity.gov.tt
Transportation
Airports – Piarco International Airport is a vital hub for international air traffic in the Caribbean. It is located about 45 minutes from the capital city, Port of Spain and there are non-stop daily scheduled flights to and from major international cities.
Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL), the
national airline, offers routes that include
direct flights to major cities: Fort Lauderdale, New
York, Miami, Orlando and Toronto.
CAL also flies regionally with regular flights
to Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Caracas, Curaçao, Dominica,
Grenada, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Guyana, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, St Maarten, Suriname and Tortola.
International and regional airlines that fly to Trinidad and Tobago include American Airlines, British Airways, Caribbean Airlines, United Airlines, West Jet, JetBlue, and several charter flight companies.
https://www.tntairports.com/
Major Airlines
Piarco Airport
American Airlines 1 (868) 821-6000
British Airways 1 (800) 247-9297
Caribbean Airlines 1 (868) 625-7200
Copa Airlines 1 (868) 669-5189
Frontier Airlines www.flyfrontier.com
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines www.klm.co.uk
LIAT 2020 www.flyliat20.com
Surinam Airways 1 (868) 627-0102
United Airlines 1 (800) 864-8331
WestJet Airlines 1 (888) 937-8538
1 (888) WESTJET
JetBlue 1 (800) 538-2583
Rutaca 1 (868) 625-4324
Venezolana charter airline
https://tntairports.com
ANR Robinson Airport
Caribbean Airlines 1 (868) 625-7200
Approximate Flying Times
to Trinidad and Tobago
London 8.2 hours
New York 4.5 hours
Miami 3.3 hours
Houston 5.3 hours
Toronto 5.5 hours
Seaports
Three ferries connect Port of Spain and Scarborough, Tobago, with one being the Cabo Star, a cargo vessel. Scheduled sailing times are Monday to Sunday, and public holidays.
For information, call:
Port of Spain: 625-3055/623-9353
Extensions 215, 211 or 212
Scarborough: 639-2668/639-2417
https://www.ttitferry.com/
Water Taxi Service
A water taxi ferry connects Port of Spain and San Fernando. Scheduled sailing times are Monday to Friday. Tickets cost TT$15 one way and can be purchased at the Water Taxi Terminal located at Wrightson Road, Port of Spain or Flat Rock, Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando. Free parking is available at both ports.
Departures from San Fernando:
AM – 6:00 / 6:30 / 8:30 • PM – 3:30
Tel: 226-7900 Ext: 212, 211, 206
Departures from Port of Spain:
AM – 7:15 • PM – 2:30 / 3:30 / 4:45
Tel: 226-7900, Ext: 102, 111
https://www.nidco.co.tt/watertaxiservice/
Emergency Contacts
Police/Rapid Response 999
Fire 990
Ambulance 811
Global Medical Response of
Trinidad & Tobago (GMRTT) 811 / 628-2337
Coast Guard 800-0707
The Office of Disaster Preparedness
and Management (ODPM) 511
800-ODPM / 800-6376
Tobago Emergency Management
Agency (TEMA) 211
Port of Spain General Hospital 623-2951
San Fernando General Hospital 225-4325
Scarborough General Hospital 660-4SGH (4744)
Roxborough Health Centre and
Hyperbaric Facility, Tobago 660-4392