When Is the Best Time
It's an unforgettable experience to witness almost a million bats flying out of the cave. Each evening at dusk, the bats come out of the cave in a spiral formation that can last for hours. You may think you get hit by raindrops, but this is the bat's pee. We had lots of fun on this trip.
It is one of the most thrilling trips to watch thousands of bats at once and their ability to navigate in darkness.
Weather
The best time to travel to Trinidad and Tobago is the drier season from December to May. Showers occur throughout the year often in the afternoon. During the rainy season, it frequently rains; however, the sky clears up in between. There is often a short break between mid-September until mid-October Luckily, Trinidad and Tobago are south of the hurricane belt and hardly experience any hurricane. The exception was in September 1963 and again in September 2004. Trinidad is more likely to be affected between August and September.
Crowds
The drier season from December to May is also the peak season. Christmas is the worst time of the year. If you are looking for an alternative, it's less busy from October until mid-December.
Tip for Birders
Trinidad is a birders paradise in many dimensions. The ASA Wright Nature Center was established in 1947. Nowadays, it is the most popular bird-watching retreat on the entire Caribbean Islands. Another excellent tour off the beaten path is to oilbirds in the Cumamca Cave. Or watch the Scarlet Ibis in the Caroni Swamp.
Tourism plays a minor role in Trinidad therefore only limited hotels are available. If you plan to visit Trini in the peak season it is recommended to book your stay in advance. We spent an entire week in a guesthouse and got tons of recommendations for our vacation.
Best Months to Visit
Location and Tips
Mount Tamana is 313 meters high the tallest mountain in the central range. Start a walk to the top in the afternoon and on the way back wait for dusk at the "exit" of the cave. It is home to several species of bats with an estimated population of 1.5 million.
While the bats are flying out, you get the impression it starts to rain, but it's the pee of the bats. It is an amazing lifetime experience with thousands of bats around you without touching you.
Put your arm in front of you and you will witness how the bats using echolocation. This is how they navigate in darkness. These sound waves are at frequencies above our hearing. This is called ultrasound.
It hits objects in their environment and the sound is returning to the bats. With the echolocation system, they are able to recognize objects around them.
One Tip: Wear proper shoes! There are venomous snakes in Trinidad often night active. We spotted one next to us on the hiking path on the way back to our car.
- To discover the beauty of Trinidad a guide is recommended. Well marked hikes don't exist. Unfortunately, we only spent almost a week with "our" fantastic guide Emile Serrette. It was an outstanding and adventurous time as well with him that we never forget. More information and booking with Nature Trek TNT.
