Caura Valley is all about its river landscape and outdoor activities. Pool Number 1 and Pool Number 2, near the abandoned pump house, are popular spots for a “river lime.” Along the winding access road, you can picnic or swim in the clear waters of the Caura River. The pools and spots along the road offer different perspectives on the valley: the named spots by the pump house on one hand, and the river and access road as part of the natural experience on the other.
Caura Valley: Pools, River and Access Road
Caura Valley is accessible via Caura Royal Road, which branches off Eastern Main Road. This gives you a specific reference point for getting there, without suggesting a particular journey time. Since the access road is winding, it’s worth checking current local conditions before setting out.
If you plan to swim in the Caura River, you should also check local conditions. Picnicking, swimming and “river lime” are different ways to enjoy the river landscape of Caura Valley; they do not imply a set itinerary.
Mount St. Benedict and the Cultural History of the Area
Mount St. Benedict is home to Benedictine monks. In 1912, three monks from the Benedictine monastery of San Sebastien in Bahia, Brazil, settled there. Led by Abbot Dom Mayeul de Caigny, they came to the foothills of Trinidad’s Northern Range.
Another cultural connection in the area around the destination is Lopinot. Spanish-speaking workers employed on cocoa plantations near Lopinot gave rise to cultural figures such as Papa Ghun, described as one of the early performers of parang.
Trinidad and Tobago in a Wider Context
For geographical context: Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, northeast of Venezuela and south of Grenada. The country covers 5,128 square kilometres and consists of the two main islands of Trinidad and Tobago, along with 21 smaller islands. Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two main islands. Trinidad and Tobago offers a wide variety of experiences, from Tobago’s rainforest and coral reefs to Trinidad’s Carnival traditions.
Tobago is home to the Main Ridge Forest Reserve. It covers 3,958 hectares of tropical rainforest, including lower montane, lowland and xerophytic rainforest. The Main Ridge extends lengthwise across about two-thirds of Tobago; the British established the reserve in 1776. Its rainforest provides a habitat for the rare White-tailed Sabrewing (Campylopterus ensipennis), endemic to Tobago.
Buccoo Reef is another example of what Trinidad and Tobago has to offer: it is home to tropical fish and its coral reef is vibrant with colour. You can explore it by glass-bottom boat or on a dive; check the current availability of tour operators beforehand. In Trinidad, the major street parade of Trinidad Carnival takes place on Carnival Monday and Carnival Tuesday, with dates that change each year. The pre-Carnival season there also includes steelpan limes and competitions leading up to Panorama. At seasonal, locally organised pan-yard limes, you can chat with locals and listen to live steelpan music.
Discover more destinations: Piarco, Saint Augustine, Trincity, Arouca, Kelly Village, Saint Joseph, Tacarigua, Rio Claro-Mayaro.
For the broader travel overview: Trinidad and Tobago.
