Exotic Plants and Gardens Of TrinidadSeven (7) Day Package
Day 1:
Arrival into Trinidad. Meet & Greet and transfer to resident hotel.
Day 2:
Following breakfast your day begins with a visit to the Botanical Gardens
and an orientation of the City, then on to the Kairi Blooms (Anthurium Nursery).
This will be followed by a short visit to the private garden of Mrs. George
Bovell, which is adjacent to the Kairi nursery. Depart for Asa Wright Nature
Centre, see fruit trees, crop cultivation and bromeliads during the one hour
drive through the tropical rain forest. After a delicious buffet lunch featuring
local cuisine and the 'fruit' of the Nature Centre you will have a short nature
walk and tour of the herb gardens before returning to your hotel.
Day 3:
Early morning departure for the home of Dr. & Mrs. Stuart Millar whose
well-manicured garden features a wide variety of local plants, shrubs and fruit
trees. Then continue through the Maraval Valley and over the 'Saddle' into the
Santa Cruz Valley to Undercover Vegetables, a thriving commercial enterprise.
Then continue along the scenic drive with spectacular viewsthrough the Northern
Range North to Maracas Bay, Trinidad's most beach. Time permitted here for
swimming. Lunch here is Trini picnic style: Shark & Bake, Boil Corn and Corn
Soup. Return after lunch to hotel for rest of afternoon at leisure
Day 4:
Following a brief drive along the Eastern Main Road highlighting the ribbon
development of the area you a visit to Rita Barrow's Garden in Valsayn featuring
a wide variety of Crotons and ornamental plants. Depart Valsayn for Central
Trinidad, for La Vega Estate, home of a wide range of Heliconias and South
American Exotics. Lunch today is at the private home of Willard and Shalini
Steele in Tortuga. Be charmed by the hospitality of this couple, whoser home
offers a fabulous view of the West Coast of Trinidad and a garden with Fig
trees, Bamboo and Coconut Palms. After lunch depart for the Caroni Bird
Sanctuary to view the abundance of swamp life and vegetation and experience the
spectacular flight of the Scarlet Ibis as they return to roost at sunset. Return
to hotel.
Day 5:
This morning visit the Horticultural Society Flower Market (open
Thu/Fri/Sat) where there will be the opportunity to meet and interact with some
of the Society's members. Then depart for the historic and scenic Chaguaramas
Peninsula which was a US Naval Base during World War II. Here you will have the
opportunity to walk through semi-deciduous and tropical evergreen areas of the
forest here where you will see varied flora and fauna: leaf cutting ants nes,
many varieties of humming birds, scaled pigeons and even Howler monkeys. Lunch
today at Crews Inn Marina Restaurant, one of the largest marinas and hub of
Trinidad's thriving yachting industry. After lunch we will stop at one or two of
the shopping malls where you will spend an hour or two. Trinidad is known for
its ceramics, local clothing and designers and handicraft - both in terms of
affordability and quality.
Day 6:
Today we will visit the University of the West Indies and in particular The
Herbarium and Arboretum where there is a 50 year old collection of art by an
Englishman on the subject. Then you will proceed out to Arima to visit the home
and garden of Sharon Laurent which features orchids, ornamental plants, citrus
and fruit trees and anthuriums. Lunch at Valpark Chinese Restaurant before
proceeding to the home of Judith Procope in St. Augustine. Complete your day
with a vist to the Orange Grove Estates, where 200 acres of Anise is grown for
the French liquor company Pernod. Return to hotel.
Day 7:
Today you return home. Depending on flight time of return flight you will
have morning or day at leisure.
