Welcome to Trinidad and Tobago
Travel to Trinidad on a concert tour of Trinidad and Tobago. Trinidad is the larger of the two main islands that make up the modern day country of Trinidad and Tobago and discover one of the Caribbean’s most dynamic and musically rich cultures. Above all, perform in remarkable venues and share your music with local people.
Trinidad is the birthplace of steel pan music; the steel pan orchestras of the island are among the most talented in the world. Other musical styles such as soca and calypso originate from Trinidad as well. While on tour, your ensemble will learn about Trinidad’s varying musical traditions during a workshop led by a renowned instructor.
Trinidad is also known for its diversity. People from many parts of the world have settled on the island over the centuries, bringing varying religions, cultures, and musical traditions there. Trinidad’s culture today is wonderfully dynamic, which fosters an environment of acceptance and respect.
Enjoy a concert tour of Trinidad and Tobago. Immerse your choir, band, or orchestra in all that the island has to offer as you share your music with local people.
Itinerary
Check in to your hotel and take time to relax and refresh.
Rehearsal can be arranged this evening.
Tonight, a welcome dinner of local specialties is served as your tour manager previews the days ahead.
Begin your first full day in Trinidad with a guided tour of Port of Spain.
Next, travel to Maracas Bay via Boissiere Village, Maraval, and the North Coast Road. Enjoy breathtaking views of the Paramin Hills, the rainforest-covered Northern Range, and the Caribbean Sea.
Arrive in Maracas Bay, where a delicious lunch of mouth-watering “Bake & Shark” is served. Spend the afternoon enjoying the bay’s secluded and breathtaking beaches.
Dinner will be served tonight at a local restaurant.
Embark on a guided tour of some of Trinidad’s most important Indian cultural sites. Visit the Siewdass Sadhu Shiv Mandir, or “Temple in the Sea”, on the western coastline of the Gulf of Paria, and the Indo-Caribbean Museum.
Next, visit Hanuman Murti, the highest murti, or humanized statue of a Hindu deity, in the Western world.
A traditional lunch of Roti will be served to your group.
Tonight, your ensemble will join a local choir from Port of Spain to perform a friendship concert at the Little Carib Theater in the heart of the city.
Following the concert, enjoy a delicious dinner.
Today, enjoy a visit to the famous Gasparee Caves, a series of naturally-formed underground passages and caves on a small island off the coast of Trinidad. Cruise the waters off of Trinidad’s northwestern peninsula to Point Baleine, a former whaling station, where your tour guide will take you to the magnificent limestone cave system of the “Big Cave”.
From there, travel by boat across Scotland Bay to Monos Island for a swim and a picnic lunch served on a secluded beach.
Tonight, your ensemble will perform a public concert in MovieTowne, a popular dining and shopping destination in Port of Spain known for great musical entertainment.
Dinner will be served at a restaurant in MovieTowne following your performance.
Today, embark on a visit to the Lopinot Valley, one of Trinidad’s most picturesque areas. Visit the valley’s 18th century estate and gardens that have been beautifully restored.
This evening, perform a concert alongside a local group at NAPA, the National Academy of Performing Arts. This modern performance hall is a fabulous setting for sharing your music.
Dinner is arranged for your ensemble to complement your performance schedule.
This morning, your ensemble will be treated to a workshop about the music of Trinidad and its influence throughout the Caribbean and the world. Professors from NAPA will lead the workshop.
Lunch is served.
Later, transfer to a traditional panyard, where you will be treated to dinner accompanied by steel pan music.
Return home with wonderful memories of your concert tour.
Concert Tour Highlights
Friendship Concerts
Our friendship concerts are a featured experience on our tours and are at the heart of our mission to foster cultural connections through music. We benefit from a vast international network in the choral world built over our thirty years' experience of helping choirs share their music both in the United States and abroad. Your choir will share a venue and a concert program with a host choir from the region. Your singers will have the chance to hear their host choir's repertoire (often showcasing local musical styles) and to share your own repertoire in turn. Fellowship time usually follows the friendship concert, giving both choirs the chance to mingle and enjoy the camaraderie of creating cross-cultural connections through a shared love of music.
Indo-Caribbean Culture
There are deep-rooted historical ties between Trinidad and India that can be seen in the island's modern culture. The central region of the island is home to many locations that are sacred and culturally significant within the Indo-Caribbean community. The Siewdass Sadhu Shiv Mandir, or "Temple in the Sea", is located on the western coastline of the Gulf of Paria. Nearby is the Indo-Caribbean Museum, the only one of its kind in the Caribbean, where precious artifacts and literature collected from 1845 are displayed. Another sacred site is the Hanuman Murti, which, at 85 feet in height, is considered to be the highest murti in the Western world. During your tour, you will also get a chance to experience Indo-Carribean cuisine, such as a traditional lunch of Roti, an Indian/Caribbean specialty.
Panyard
For a true taste of “Trini" culture, you must visit a pan yard. Here, you will be invited to have a hands-on experience with various pan instruments. Each panyard is alive with an atmosphere that will take you back in time to the origin of the steel band. While visiting a pan yard, you'll be treated to a short history of the evolution of the steel pan, the national instrument of Trinidad & Tobago, and a scintillating performance by the yard's resident steel band.
Gasparee Caves
The Gasparee Caves are a natural system of limestone caverns formed by millions of years of mild acid rain and erosion on the island of Gaspar Grande. During your excursion, enjoy cruising the waters off Trinidad's northwestern peninsula; revel in panoramic views of lush, green mountains; and experience the thrill of tropical birds in flight. At Point Baleine, a former whaling station, discover the magnificent limestone cave system of the “Big Cave”, where the acoustics are outstanding.