People sometimes are aware of and
visit only one attraction at a particular location and never visit the other attractions
or activities that are available at that location. There are times when parents are
planning a vacation, their children complain, by asking, "What is there to do or
see?". Our Area Summary Page provides a quick summary of the recreational activities,
attractions, places of interest, in various areas of Trinidad, particularly those
locations that are often used for vacations. The listing of locations is organised in
alphabetical order and to get more information on any recreational activity or attraction
in that location, simply click on the activity. The listing also provides the meaning of
the various place names in Trinidad. In addition to the initial listing there is another
listing lower on this page that gives other non-english places names in Trinidad,
particularly East Indian, Amerindian, African, Spanish and French place names.
If you are looking
for places to stay, visit our Accommodations Page.
In the early part of Trinidad history, the Amerindian tribe, the Kalinago had a
settlement in this area. The name, Salybia, is thought to be derived from Chaleibe, their
name for Trinidad.
The city of San Fernando got its name when Governor Chacon named it San Fernando de
Naparima in honour of the infant Prince Ferdinand of Asturias, who later became King
Ferdinand VII of Spain
Other non-english Place Names in Trinidad on this web site
Arouca
An Amerindian name that was originally Arauca
Anglais Road
Anglais is the French word for "English" and it is believed that
this area in Cumana Toco is named after the English who attempted to create a settlement
in the area in 1631, while Trinidad was still a Spanish colony.
Barrackpore
The name arose from the East Indian individuals who settled in the area
Basse Terre
A French place name meaning Loose or Poor Earth
Bejuecal
An east indian word meaning place of the
Bamboo reeds
Biche
Named after the French word for “beast”
because it was first started as a settlement for hunters.
Bonasse
This village in Cedros
is believed to have been named after the French word meaning
"nice".
Bonne Aventure
A French name meaning good adventure
Buenos Ayres
A Spanish name meaning Good Air
Calcutta Settlement
Named after Calcutta in India
California
Although in other parts of the world, the name
California is usually associated with areas of Spanish influence, it is believed that in
Trinidad the name arose because of the Amerindian sub-tribe, the Kalipuna,who settled in
that area. To learn more about the Amerindian sub-tribes see the section on Cleaver Woods Museum.
Cap de Ville
An area in
Point Fortin named after a French estate owner
Monsieur Cap de Ville
Carapichaima
Formed from two Amerindian words. Chaima was the name of an Amerindian
tribe while their settlement was called Carapa
Carenage
Named by the French because of the careening of boats in the bay to clean
their bottoms
Champs Fluers
A French name meaning a field of flowers
Chandernagore
This place name has East Indian roots and
is a corruption of the name Chander Nagar which mean place lighted by the
moon
Chaguanas
This area derived its name from the Amerindian tribe, known as the
Chaguanese, which inhabited the area.
Cocorite
Named after the Cocorite trees that were in the area
Couva
An Amerindian place name
Cumoto
An Amerindian place name
Cunupia
Some say that this is an Amerindian place name
others say that is named after the Spanish word “conupia”, which when
translated means “canopy”
Dalley Village
Located in Santa Flora, this village was
created in 1948 and named after Christopher Dalley who was the joint
managing director of Trinidad Petroleum Development Company (TPD),
the company that created the village
D'Abadie
A French place name after a French Creole
estate owner
Embarcadere
A French word that means wharf or shipping place
Fondes Amandes
Located in St Anns this is French for
Almond Grove
Galera
This peninsula in Toco
is a Spanish word for a type of sailing ship called a Galley
Galeota
This peninsula in
Mayaro is a Spanish word for a type of galley
Guaico
An Amerindian word that was taken from the river that runs thru the area.
Guapo
A Spanish name after the river in the Point Fortinarea which they called Beautiful River
Guayamare
An Amerindian place name for an area after
Rampanalgas
Guanapo
An Amerindian place name meaning place of grass
Hindustan
This place name was given because of the East Indian inhabitants
Huevos - A Spanish
place name meaning Eggs
Icacos
An Amerindian name for a village in
Cedrosafter the shrub icaco which is today known as fat pork
This area in Moruga is named after a
trail that was used for
centuries by the Guarahoon Indians who visited Trinidad, travelling in their
dug-out canoes across the channel from Venezuela. See
also Petit Cafe
Kernahan Village
Named after an Irish family that
lived in this area of Manzanilla
L'anse Noire
A French place name meaning
Black Cove.
Las Cuevas
A Spanish name arising from The Caves in the area
La Lune
Originally a Spanish name,
La Luna, meaning the moon because of the beauty of the moonlight on
the water in this area of Moruga.
La Tinta
A Spanish name meaning inky for a bay on
Chacachacare.
La Puerta
- A Spanish name meaning The Door.
Laventille
A French name given to the area because it was considered The Vent (La Ventaille) through which the winds blew
Los Attajos
A Spanish name, meaning the shortcut
Los Bajos
- A Spanish place name meaning The Lowlands
Los Iros
A Spanish name meaning The Rocks
Maracas
A Spanish name arising from the musical instruments, The
Maracs
This intersection on the Moruga Road was
named after Ma Matilda who
owned land adjoining the Fair Field and New Fancy Estates and allowed
passage through her land, thus reducing the journey of persons travelling
from Moruga to
Princes Town.
Monos - A Spanish place name meaning
Monkeys
Morne
Bleu
A
French name meaning Blue Mountain
Mucurapo
An Amerindian place name that according to Anthony De Verteuil was
originally Camocorabo and the Spanish changed to Cumucurape and meant The Place of
the Silk Cotton Tree
Mundo Nuevo
- A Soanish place mane meaning New World.
Naparima
An Amerindian place name meaning either
Large Water or Father of the Waves
This area in Moruga is within the section
known as Indian Walk. It
is so named because women did brisk trade selling edibles to the travellers
at this location.
Point Radix
Under the Cedula of Population of 1783, a
French immigrant with the surname Radix was granted all of the northern
headland of Mayaro Bay. Over time the headland came to be called Point
Radix.
Point Gourd
This name for an area in Chaguaramas is
derived from the original Spanish name of Punta Gorda (Fat Point) which the
French called Pointe Gourde and the English changed to Point Gourd.
A Spanish name given by Governor Chacon after St John the Baptist
San Raphael
A Spanish place name that is also spelt
San Rafael. It is named after a Catholic saint who is considered the healer
of wounds.
Sangre Grande
A Spanish name meaning big blood because of a battle between
Spanish
colonists and Amerindians
Sangre Chiquito
A Spanish name meaning little blood
Santa Cruz
A Spanish name meaning Holy Cross
Santa Flora
A Spanish name
Savonetta
This place was originally
called Savanetta by the
Spaniards and is the Spanish word meaning “small savanna.”
Sierra Leone Road
An African name because many freed slaves from Sierra Leone
lived in this area of Diego
Martin.
Tacarigua
An Amerindian place name
Tompire
An Amerindian place name for this area on
the outskirts of Cumana
Tortuga
A name given by the Spanish settlers because of the many land tortoises
that were found in the area
Tre Roche
A French place name meaning Three Rocks.
Tunapuna
An Amerindian place name derived from the
words "Tona" meaning water and "Pona" mean on.
Tumpuna
An Amerindian place name
Turure
An Amerindian place name
Valencia
A modification of a Spanish place name arising from a planter, Valentia,
who had an estate in the area
Vessigny
A French name as a result of the Corsican settler Simon Paul Vessiny who
opened a sugar estate in the area
Vistabella
A Spanish name meaning good view
Yarra
An Amerindian place name
If the information you are seeking is not on this page, use the search
box below to search this site. When searching, you do not need to enter the word
"Trinidad" in your search.
All photographs (unless otherwise stated) are the property of Brian
Ramsey. None of the photographs may be reproduced without the express written
consent of Outdoor
Business Group Limited
and Brian Ramsey.
