This is the life

In a previous post, entitled ‘Trinidad & Tobago – Why A Must Visit’, we focused on the twin island republic with an allure that captivates travellers world-over. If you haven’t had the chance to check that out, I’d recommend giving it a read to catch up on the spellbinding mix of culture, cuisine, and natural beauty that these islands present.

Perfect Caribbean Sunset

But even with its vibrant festivals and bustling streets, there’s more to explore around the edges of Trinidad & Tobago. The magic doesn’t stop at the shores of these main islands. A cluster of smaller islands sprinkled in the surrounding seas captures the essence of Caribbean tranquility and is locally known as ‘DDI’ or ‘down d’ islands’.

These islands — Chacachacare, Monos, Huevos, Gaspar Grande (also known as Gasparee), and Centipede Island (or Little Gasparee) — offer not just a quick escape for adventurers looking to swim or fish, but also an experience rich in the traditions of local camaraderie called ‘liming’, which is the islanders’ term for gathering with friends.

Seems like Go West controlled the sunset too

This is an experience that both my fiancé and I reveled in when she visited my homeland for the first time during in March 2023. And I have to say, it’s not just about seeing these islands, but living the moments through the pristine lens of one of the best boat charters around.

A personalized approach to exploring the DDI vastly enriches the experience. After all, choosing something that resonates with you, especially when it comes to travel, is part of the joy. That’s the strategy I leveraged when selecting ‘Go West’, a charter company that understands the art of customizing the island experience. I did a thorough search since this was the first time my fiancé was seeing my homeland- it was make or break.

But within a few minutes of speaking with Leanna from the super couple Fabio & Leanna who own and actively engage in the tours, I realized this was going to be amazing.

All part of the package

Leanna is a true romantic and gave me great ideas for a surprise, when to message her, what add ons I should and even should not take. It was refreshing to not have a ready made package pushed down my throat We decided that we’d take a walk on the marina, I would introduce Leanna as a friend, and then there’d be a photographer around, 24 Frames Production, just ‘dreevaying’ who would ask us if we wanted some pictures on a random boat. (I asked for the photo shoot session add on to preserve the memories.) Then this seasoned sailor named Fabio would say “you can come on board and take picture here” Elaborate? Yes. Worked? Absolutely!

Ummm…who’s driving?

We never felt like we were on a paid charter but like we were invited by good friends to take a sunset cruise. Leanna and Fabio interacted with us during the cruise but still gave us our space. The result was fantastic photos, unforgettable memories and an experience we are eager to have again and again. We were even highlighted on their account which you can see here.

Perfect end to a perfect day

A few things to keep in mind if you would like to create this memory:

Flights:You would need to fly into Trinidad’s Piarco Airport. Flights are east to come by.

Stays: A variety of accommodation in the Port of Spain or West Trinidad is available

Go West: Contact them to arrange for a similar spectacular experience.

Bon Voyage!