Maracas Bay

Maracas is the beach Trinidadians drive over the mountains for at the weekend, a wide curve of pale sand on the north coast enclosed by steep green hills where the rainforest comes almost to the shore. The drive itself, up and over the Northern Range on a twisting road with a lookout on the way, is part of the ritual. The other part is the food: a row of huts at the back of the beach serves bake and shark, a fried flatbread stuffed with seasoned fried shark and a battery of sauces and toppings you assemble yourself, which is as close to a national dish as a beach snack gets. The surf can be lively, there are lifeguards, and on a Sunday the whole bay fills with families, music and the smell of frying.

What you actually see

• The beach and bay - the broad sand curve backed by forested hills.
• Bake and shark - the fried sandwich from the huts, assembled with your own toppings.
• The North Coast Road lookout - the viewpoint on the drive over the range.
• Weekend liming - the Trinidadian beach-day scene at its liveliest on Sundays.

When to go

January to May, the dry season, for the most reliable weather. Weekends are the full experience but also the busiest; weekdays are far quieter. The surf and currents are stronger in some conditions, so swim near the lifeguards.

Honest expectations

The North Coast Road is winding and can be slow, with occasional landslip repairs. On Sunday the bay is packed and parking fills early. Currents can be strong and there are drownings most years where people swim away from the guarded zone, so stay within it. Facilities are functional rather than polished.

Nearby

Las Cuevas beach is further along the coast; Port of Spain is an hour back over the range.