Located in the East-West Corridor of Trinidad, Tunapuna is a bustling market town and commercial hub. It was the birthplace of the influential Marxist C.L.R. James and the ragtime pianist Winifred Atwell. Tunapuna is renowned for its annual carnival, which showcases traditional steel band music and stick fighting.
Things to do in Tunapuna
A short drive east of Tunapuna is the Eddie Hart Savannah, a public recreational area with sporting fields that are illuminated at night. It’s renowned for its food truck scene, with everything from burgers to wontons and ice cream on offer. Also nearby is the Millennium Lakes Golf Course, which offers superb views of the Trinidadian Northern Mountain Range from its 18 holes.
Tunapuna is an attractive base for exploring the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain, which overlooks the Gulf of Paria. Learn about the island’s fascinating history at Fort George, a 19th-century landmark that was designed to protect the British colony against the Napoleonic fleet. Exotic plants from around the world are showcased at the Royal Botanic Gardens, which was established in 1818 on an abandoned sugar plantation.
Nature lovers can visit the Caroni Bird Sanctuary, an extensive mangrove wetland that provides habitat for both native and migratory species. Join a boat tour to explore its maze of waterways while keeping your eyes peeled for caimans, cocricos and the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago, the scarlet ibis.
Getting around Tunapuna
Tunapuna is around 20 minutes’ drive from Port of Spain and the same distance from Piarco International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the Caribbean and North America. Buses connect to Tunapuna while renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.