The music has slowed. The party is over. You want to go from the brisk to the serene. What to do?
Here's our Top 5 list.
1. Head to the beach
The rewards for taking the 11km (7 miles) drive across the Northern Range to Maracas Bay include some of the most gorgeous views of the island's rain forest and surf-washed beaches. Maracas Bay is the first in the chain of bay on the north coast and is Trinidad's most popular beach. Stop for a swim and a bit of sun worshipping or try the popular shark and bake - fried dough stuffed with seasoned shark fillets, also fried, and topped with a variety of every imaginable condiments.
2. Pick out local trinkets
Port of Spain is Trinidad's capital city. It serves primarily as a retail and administrative centre and has been termed the financial centre of the Caribbean. The day after Carnival, locals and tourists descend onto the capital city to stock up on music collections and island memorabilia and the many artisans take their wares to the streets don't disappoint. As with all city shopping, it is best to head downtown with flat, comfortable shoes and without flashy jewellery. Searching for bargains? Try Frederick Street, but if you choose to explore the side streets, do so with someone you know.
3. Sample paradise
Pen in a visit to Tobago (Trinidad's less energetic but serenely beautiful sister) in your after- Carnival agenda. Visitors call Tobago paradise and once there it is easy to see why. Check out the beauty of the underworld in Speyside (diving does not get better than this), the mouth-watering curried conch and dumpling at Store Bay, the spectacular view from Fort George, the rapid gush of the three-tiered Argyle Waterfall or a glass bottom boat ride to see the most amazing coral formations.
4. Explore a national park
The Caroni Bird Sanctuary, a mere 25-minute drive from the capital of Port-of-Spain, is made up of thick vegetation, a series of small canals and lakes, and fascinatingly diverse fauna. Head out in the late afternoon, guides will take you on a smooth, two-and-a-half-hour, outboard motor-driven boat ride six miles down the swamp to watch the national bird, the scarlet ibis, come home to roost. On either side of the swamp is a complicated web of mangrove inhabited by crabs and reptiles, crustacean life, and 186 species of birds, including herons and the humming bird. Along a few spots in the swamp, mangrove vine joined overhead to form a shady arch. Ah.Yes.Paradise!
5.Feed your soul
From the visual to the performance arts, the island's artistic energy transcends Carnival. View the work some of the region's best visual artists at any of the galleries dotting the suburbs of Woodbrook and St Clair. The national museum too boasts a treasure chest of history and is a feast for the eyes. Situated at the top of Frederick Street in the country's capital city, it is easy to get to from most Port of Spain hotels. The country's popular performance arts centre, Queen's Hall, offers a wide variety of productions encompassing all genres of the arts. Call their box office to get more details at (868) 624-1284. www.patronsofqueenshall.com
