Mayaro, Trinidad and Tobago | Summer 2025
When city life in Port of Spain feels too fast, the perfect escape lies on Trinidad’s east coast. A drive to Mayaro and Manzanilla offers something different: warm beaches, endless coconut groves and the kind of quiet country life that feels worlds away from the city. For couples, it’s the ultimate weekend reset—two days of fresh air, scenic drives and sunsets that stay in your memory long after you return.
Arrival in Mayaro
The trip began late in the evening, driving south and east until Port of Spain’s noise faded into open road. After a few hours, the coast came into view, and Mayaro’s salt air was the first sign that the weekend had officially begun.
A last-minute booking landed us at Moondrop Beach Resort, a cozy set of self-contained apartments just steps from the sea. These are not luxury hotels but bring-your-own apartments, fully equipped with the basics but meant for travelers who prefer the freedom to cook, stock up at the nearby supermarket and settle in like it’s a second home. For that first night, dinner was simple: a quick trip back out for KFC, then winding down with the night breeze and the sound of waves beyond the compound.
Slow Morning by the Sea
Morning in Mayaro begins without rush. Sunlight filters through coconut trees, the pool glistens just outside and the beach is only a short walk away. The sea is warm, surprisingly warm and its sandy bottom shifts with every wave. Unlike many American beaches, where cold water can be a shock, Mayaro’s embrace is gentle and soothing.
Couples can simply drift in the water, wander the sand barefoot, and let the sea breeze fill their lungs. Mayaro moves at its own pace—slow, soothing and always welcoming.
Driving South on the Guayaguayare–Mayaro Road
No trip to Mayaro is complete without a drive south. The Guayaguayare–Mayaro Road winds past coconut groves, open farmland and quiet rural homes. It’s a world apart from Port of Spain, green stretching as far as the eye can see, punctuated by roadside stalls selling fresh coconuts and clusters of land crabs scuttling across the roadside.
The drive eventually ends at the BPTT checkpoint, the last point accessible before the road is restricted. But the journey itself is the reward, vast landscapes, fresh country air and the simple joy of exploring a side of Trinidad few visitors see.
Nariva Swamp: Nature’s Playground
On the return north, a stop at the Nariva Swamp showcases Trinidad’s wild side. Covering over 60 square kilometers, this is the island’s largest freshwater wetland and a UNESCO-recognized Ramsar site. It’s home to manatees, red howler monkeys, caimans and hundreds of bird species, including the colorful blue-and-gold macaw.
Standing at its edges, the swamp feels alive, dense with mangroves, whispering with bird calls and untouched by the rush of modern life. It’s one of the most important ecological sites in Trinidad and yet it sits quietly along Mayaro’s roads.
Sunset in Manzanilla
As the day eased on, the drive carried us north to Manzanilla Beach, a stretch framed by endless rows of coconut palms swaying gently in the breeze. Unlike Mayaro, where the waves came in strong and frequent, the water here felt noticeably calmer, rolling to shore with a softer rhythm. The sea isn’t the postcard shade of blue but the beach holds its own kind of beauty—wide, rustic, and unpolished in the best way.
A boardwalk lines part of the coast, perfect for an evening stroll, while colorful murals of village life bring local culture right into the scenery. When we visited, the beach was almost empty, quiet except for the rustle of coconut trees and the hush of waves.
Evenings in Mayaro
Nights in Mayaro carry a different kind of rhythm. Most shops close by 7 or 8 PM, so evenings are quieter than in Port of Spain. Dinner often means something cooked in the apartment kitchenette or picked up early from the junction.
But the quiet is never empty. On some nights, it’s filled with the sound of music from nearby vacationers, dancehall and soca beats carrying across the compound, mixing with the sea breeze. It’s an unexpected balance: Mayaro slows down early, yet the joy of togetherness lingers into the night.
A Weekend of Country Calm
Two days in Mayaro and Manzanilla offer more than just a beach break. They deliver a taste of Trinidad’s countryside life…drives past coconut estates, mornings by the sea, evenings without city lights and landscapes that feel timeless. It’s the kind of trip where the car is as essential as sunscreen, where the journey is as meaningful as the destination and where couples can reconnect in the simplest, most authentic way possible.
For couples looking beyond nightlife and shopping, Mayaro and Manzanilla reveal a different side of Trinidad. A slower, quieter and endlessly open. It’s proof that paradise isn’t always across the ocean; sometimes it’s just a scenic drive away.
