Skip to content

Taking The Scenic Route: Driving Up North Coast Road In Trinidad

This post contains affiliate links to trusted partners. If you purchase through these links, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Maracas Beach
Maracas Beach

Would you like to save this?

We'll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later! Privacy Policy.

This subscribes you to the Jessie on a Journey email list. You can unsubscribe at any time.

My trip to Trinidad & Tobago was sponsored by the Trinidad & Tobago Tourism Board. I was not required to write about the trip, nor was I compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.

When driving from Port of Spain to Maracas Beach on the north side of Trinidad, taking Saddle Road, more commonly known as North Coast Road, provides a scenic escape from the city.

The narrow road immerses you in lush vegetation while providing aerial views of the Caribbean Sea, rainforest and nearby islands.

There are many lookout points to stop for photos, although be careful about parking because there aren’t really designated lots.

Make sure to also stop off at Maracas Lookout for the best view of all, as well as to sample “Trini Treats,” like coconut fudge, cilantro-brined fruits, sweet, spicy tamarind balls, and fried dough coated in crystallized ginger (kurma), from local vendors.

For an idea of what you’ll see, here are some iPhoneography shots from my journey.

Tip: If don’t have a car when you visit Trinidad and Tobago, hiring a local guide and driver is a good idea. I recommend Mr. Nick of Sensational Tours (Email: [email protected]), as he can take you on this scenic drive as well as show you the best Trinidad has to offer based on your personality and likes.

View1
View333
View555
View666
Maracas Lookout
Maracas Lookout
Trini Treats at Maracas Lookout
Trini Treats at Maracas Lookout
fruit chow
Pineapple Chow and Mango Chow at Maracas Lookout. These sweet and spicy treats are made by brining fruit in water, salt, pepper and cilantro.
maracas beach
Maracas Beach
maracas beach
Palm tree at Maracas Beach
shark and bake
Shark and Bake, a typical Trinidad & Tobago street food popular at Maracas Beach. It features a hearty piece of fried shark on fried bread, topped with fixings like lettuce, tomato, salad, cucumbers, cilantro, hot sauce, garlic and tamarind.

Have you ever visited Trinidad?

About Jessie Festa

Jessie Festa is a New York-based travel content creator who is passionate about empowering her audience to experience new places and live a life of adventure. She is the founder of the solo female travel blog, Jessie on a Journey, and is editor-in-chief of Epicure & Culture, an online conscious tourism magazine. Along with writing, Jessie is a professional photographer and is the owner of NYC Photo Journeys, which offers New York photo tours, photo shoots, and wedding photography. Her work has appeared in publications like USA Today, CNN, Business Insider, Thrillist, and WestJet Magazine.