Manzanilla Coconut Road

The road from Manzanilla south to Mayaro runs for more than twenty kilometres with the Atlantic on one side and a continuous coconut estate on the other, the palms planted in rows right up to the road so that the drive is a long tunnel of trunks and fronds. Nariva swamp lies inland behind them. The beach along this stretch is long, brown-sand and Atlantic, with strong surf, and vendors sell coconuts and fried fish at pull-ins.

The landscape

• The coconut estate - continuous plantation running the length of the road.
• The Atlantic beach - over twenty kilometres of open surf beach alongside.
• The roadside vendors - coconut water, fried fish and bake sold at pull-ins.
• The swamp edge - Nariva lying immediately inland of the plantation.

When to go

January to May is driest. Weekends bring day trippers to the beach. The road floods in places during heavy rain.

Practical notes

Surf and currents on this coast are strong; swimming needs care and there are no lifeguards along most of it. The road floods at the Nariva end. Facilities are sparse.

Nearby

Nariva Swamp is inland, and Mayaro is south.