The lookout
The bay from above.
Grueslayer — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Grueslayer — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Chris Fitzpatrick — CC BY-SA 3.0 · James Roberts (Jampp… — CC BY-SA 3.0 · James Roberts (Jampp… — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Grueslayer — CC BY-SA 4.0
Maracas Bay on Trinidad's north coast is a long sandy beach between palms and the green hills of the Northern Range. It is the best-known beach in Trinidad and fills with families at weekends. The North Coast Road climbs over the mountains from Port of Spain to reach it, with many bends and lookouts over the sea and the bay below. The beach runs for more than 1.5 km. The bay is famous for bake and shark, fried shark in fried bread with sauces, which local lore says was born here, and some stalls have served it for more than 30 years. From the lookout you see the blue bay between two forested headlands, then go down to the sand and palms. At one end of the beach are a small river, an old jetty and a wooden footbridge. The beach has changing rooms, toilets and showers. The bay is 14 km in a straight line north-east of Port of Spain, about 45 minutes by car. Entry is free. Lifeguards are on duty in the daytime, and the current can be strong, so swim between the flags and watch for red flags. Leave nothing in the car.
The bay from above.
Fried shark in fried bread.
Sand and palms between headlands.
North Coast Road, Maracas Bay, Trinidad
Swim between the flags while lifeguards are on duty; the current can be strong.
At weekends, so go on a weekday if you can.