Trinidad
Last updated: 27 January 2026
Overview
Trinidad is the larger of the two main islands and most visiting yachts focus on the northwest corner around Chaguaramas Bay, where marinas, boatyards, and marine services are concentrated. Northeast trade winds give generally reliable conditions, and Trinidad’s position below the hurricane belt means many crews use Chaguaramas as a base for storage and refit during the summer months.
Attractions
Chaguaramas on the northwest peninsula is the main base for visiting yachts on Trinidad, with several marinas, boatyards, and chandleries covering most repair and storage needs. Long‑stay crews use the area for haul‑out, refit, and hurricane‑season lay‑up, with road access to nearby shops and services.
Port of Spain, the capital, is usually visited from Chaguaramas by taxi or bus and is used mainly for markets, hardware, and other city services. Most visiting crews leave their boats in Chaguaramas rather than trying to moor close to the busy commercial waterfront.
Caroni Bird Sanctuary in the Caroni Swamp is a popular late‑afternoon trip from Chaguaramas, known for boat tours through mangrove channels to see the national bird, the Scarlet Ibis, coming in to roost at sunset.
Notes for mariners
Chaguaramas Bay and nearby inlets offer the best natural shelter on the island, but the area can be busy with commercial and boatyard traffic. Currents around Monos Island, at the island's most nort-eastern point, are strong and passages transiting this area should be planned with this in mind.
Places to stay
Below are the most popular and highly rated places to stay, based on feedback from the noforeignland community:
Anchorages
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Chacachacare | 4.6 ★ |
Review summary: Chacachacare offers a peaceful anchorage with good protection from various wind directions. The bottom is sandy and the holding is reliable. Visitors can explore ashore, observing local wildlife and scenery. Keep in mind, some beach rubbish may be present.
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Grand Riviere Bay | 4.0 ★ |
Review summary: Anchoring at Grand Riviere Bay is a suitable option for breaking up the sail from Trinidad to Tobago. Visitors find the bay well-protected. Swell may find its way into the harbor.
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Scotland Bay | 4.0 ★ |
Review summary: Scotland Bay is known for its peaceful atmosphere during the week. Visitors enjoy clean waters for swimming and the presence of marine life like fish and turtles. The location becomes busier on weekends with an influx of local boaters and party boats.
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Chaguaramas Bay | 3.6 ★ |
Review summary: Anchoring at Chaguaramas is protected, but requires space for swing due to tidal currents. Visitors appreciate the helpfulness of locals and the opportunity to see marine life like fish and turtles, although pollution is frequently mentioned. Weekends may involve noise from nearby party boats.
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Marinas
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Peake Yachts Dock | 3.8 ★ |
Review summary: Staying at Peake Yachts Dock allows for convenient hotel accommodations and services with helpful staff widely noted by visitors. The marina offers a shuttle service to local amenities, enhancing its utility for those spending extended time in the area.
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Moorings
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Tardieu Marine Moorings | 2.7 ★ |
Review summary: Moorings at Tardieu Marine are available, though a careful choice might be necessary. An inspection and interaction process is in place.
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Boatyards and services
Below are the most popular and highly rated boat services, based on feedback from the noforeignland community:
Boatyards
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PowerBoats | 4.8 ★ |
Review summary: PowerBoats offers a range of marine services, including maintenance and upgrades, as confirmed by available Reviews. The yard is well-organized, assisting visitors with contractor coordination through the yard's office. Friendly and professional staff contribute positively to visitors' experiences.
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Coral Cove | 2.5 ★ |
Review summary: Coral Cove offers monohull crane services, with skills demonstrated by their crane operator. Facilities include available water and electricity at 220V. While a hotel and pool accompany the marina, toilets reportedly need more attention in terms of cleanliness.
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Chandlers
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Dumore Enterprises Ltd | 5.0 ★ |
Review summary: Dumore Enterprises Ltd provides a selection of stainless steel hardware, including metric-sized nuts, bolts, pins, rivets, and screws. This chandler offers competitive pricing and quality products suitable for marine applications.
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Peakes Chandler | 5.0 ★ |
Review summary: Peakes Chandler offers a wide variety of products at competitive prices. Specific examples include a 2000 TTE dehumidifier. Visitors should verify operational details before visiting, as explicit service capabilities and customer experiences were not extensively covered by the available reviews.
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Budget Marine Trinidad | 5.0 ★ |
Review summary: The chandler offers a good selection of marine goods. Large purchases, such as anchor chains, are delivered to boats at the yards. This service facilitates the acquisition of bulk items without logistical challenges for the buyer.
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LP Marine & Industrial Supplies | 5.0 ★ |
Review summary: LP Marine & Industrial Supplies offers a variety of general chandlery goods. The staff is recognized for being helpful, and the prices are noted to be competitive. Visitors should verify details through recent Reviews for any changes or updates.
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Majestic Coatings | 5.0 ★ |
Review summary: Majestic Coatings offers custom paint mixing services for boats, specifically providing AWL Grip colors. The service is available for those completing paint jobs, as indicated by the personalized assistance from staff.
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Boat services
| Dynamite marine | 5.0 ★ |
Review summary: Dynamite Marine performs thorough and precise service with transparency about their work process. They handle tasks such as replacing Volvo seals, cutlass bearings, and revitalizing rudder and steering systems. Their services also include replacing under-maintained components like seacocks, ensuring comprehensive maintenance capabilities.
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| Southern Supplies Limited | 5.0 ★ |
Review summary: Providing painting supplies, industrial tools, and tarps, Southern Supplies Limited is noted for its quality items. Customers report favorable pricing, distinguishing this service from traditional chandlery options. The store offers a solid range of products useful for boat maintenance and repairs.
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| Trinidad Rigging | 5.0 ★ |
Review summary: Trinidad Rigging offers professional rigging services. Chris Monderoy and his team are known for their punctuality and transparency, providing clearly itemized quotes. Visitors can expect efficient service, with some reports of tasks like forestay replacements completed in as little as 15 minutes.
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| Evolve Marine & Energy | 5.0 ★ |
Review summary: Evolve Marine & Energy specializes in marine installations and provides Victron system commissioning and maintenance services. The team is recognized for their expertise in troubleshooting, installation, and authorized warranty repairs. Lloyd and his team offer knowledgeable support and reliable service to visiting vessels.
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| Classic Yacht Services | 5.0 ★ |
Review summary: Classic Yacht Services offers fiberglass work and paint services. Reviews highlight the application of Coppercoat to yachts. The service is noted for high-quality craftsmanship, especially in projects involving glasswork and hull coating.
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| Superb Sails & Canvas | 4.7 ★ |
Review summary: Superb Sails & Canvas provides quality canvas work and sailmaking services. Projects include bimini tops and cushion recovering.
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Yacht clearance
This table summarizes first-hand reviews from sailors who have checked in to this part of Trinidad and Tobago.
Ports of entry offices
| Chaguaramas Immigration and Customs | 3.8 ★ |
Review summary: Checking in and out at Chaguaramas requires dealing with extensive paperwork, sometimes duplicating commercial vessel procedures. Visitors often experience friendly interactions with staff. For financial transactions, the nearest ATM is located at Peake chandlery, which is important for handling fees.
Place marker mentions: check in steps, required documents, fees or payments, opening hours, departure requirements, cruising permits, visitor visa requirements and official inspections.
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Useful yacht clearance links
- Tobago Tourism Agency: Arrival and departure procedures for yachts
- https://visittobago.gov.tt/go-plan/yachting-guide