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ECO-TOURS Trinidad: The Naturalists' Paradise
 | DAY 1:
Arrive at Piarco International Airport Welcome and transfer to hotel
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| DAY 2:
AM.
Zoological & Botanical Gardens / Hibiscus Nursery: Your
tour begins with a short visit to the Emperor Valley Zoo, where a wide variety of local
and foreign wildlife is on exhibit. For sheer tropical beauty, a visit to the Botanic
Gardens is a must, Its abundance of flowers and trees tells the story of a garlanded area
that is manicured with loving care, pruned with taste and thus displaying its bloom with
delight. After leaving the Botanical Gardens, a visit is made to the Hibiscus Nursery
nearby where visitors can see rare hybrid Hibiscus blooms.
P.M.
Caroni Swamp and Bird Sanctuary: A combined trip by car and
boat into the Caroni Bird Sanctuary. A delightful way to relax while enjoying the peace,
tranquillity, and natural beauty of this mangrove reserve. A unique opportunity to see the
evening nesting of our national bird - the Scarlet Ibis - and other bird life, as well as
various species of swamp life!
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| DAY 3:
Visit to Asa Wright - Lunch included. A scenic highway drive
east of Port of Spain through residential, agricultural and industrial districts,
con-tinuing onto the Blanchisseuse mountain road, which takes you through our tropical
rainforests, and several cocoa, coffees and citrus estates. Upon arrival at Asa Wright
Nature Centre you can explore the many nature trails with unique opportunities to see for
yourself the variety of our flora and fauna. For those who prefer a less active day one
can relax in the cozy comfort of the recently restored estate house and admire the view
from the verandah.
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| DAY 4:
Day at leisure.
Optional: Shopping Tour.
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| DAY 5:
Port of Spain / Maracas Bay / Saddle Drive: Your tour begins
with a drive around Port of Spain and passing all main points of interest including:
Presidents House, Queen's Park Savannah, Botanical Gardens, National Museum and Art
Gallery, Emperor Valley Zoo, Cathedrals, Mosques and Temples. Your journey continues east
past the city lookout onward into the tranquil Santa Cruz Valley where you can stop at a
flower nursery and/or Waterville Estate. From there we'll take you over the
"Saddle" of the island's Northern Range where spectacular views abound en route
to Maracas Bay, Trinidad's most popular beach. Your return trip to Port of Spain will
include a short drive through residential and shopping areas.
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| DAY 6:
Two Plantations - Lunch included. Nestled in Trinidad's
Central Range is the La Vega Estate, where you discover the Caribbean's largest and most
impressive collection of exotic and ornamen-tal plants. The tour then continues to the
cocoa-producing San Juan Estate, originally developed in the mid-l9th century and still
operated by descendants of the founder. The main product of the plantation is now, as it
has been in the past, one of the finest cocoas in the world. Trinidad cocoa is known as a
'fine flavour' of which the 'San Juan FSA' mark is the most sought after and is only used
in the manufacture of the most expensive chocolates and confectioneries. The plan-tation
also grows coffee, grapefruit, oranges, bananas of all types, avocados and tropical
flowers.
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| DAY 7:
Wild Fowl Trust/Pitch Lake - Lunch included. Your drive south
takes you into the Pointe-a-Pierre oil refinery which has as its paradox an impressive
wildlife sanctuary. The sanctuary houses some very rare birdlife including species such as
the New Zealand Shelduck. Laysum Teal and Marble Teal. The tour proceeds to the Pitch Lake
at La Brea. This is the largest natural deposit of asphalt known in the world which has
been processed and exported for over 1 DC years. History tells us that Sir Walter Raleigh
stopped here to caulk his ship. This is a unique opportunity to visit the asphalt museum
as well as take a guided tour to the Lake. Your return trip may include a short stop at
San Fernando's landmark - the Hill.
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| DAY 8:
Transfer to Airport for return home. |
GROUP TOURS PRICE INCLUDES:
| Twin Room Sharing |
| Full Breakfast each day |
| Airconditioned Bus Service |
| Lunch as indicated |
| Porterage at Airports & Hotels |
| Entrance fees as per itinerary |
| Service Charge & Taxes |
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