“Younger generations, especially Gen Z, are gravitating toward more mindful, nature-centered experiences,” says John Hadad, co-founder of HADCO Experiences, a family-owned eco tourism company based in Trinidad. “Many are trading in nightlife for sunrise birdwatching walks and even forming birding clubs in urban cities, which is a reflection of their desire to reconnect with the natural world in an overstimulated, screen-heavy era.”
When most people think of Trinidad, they likely imagine the vibrant, chaotic energy of Carnival. The annual event in the capital of Port of Spain is a glorious explosion of music and color, but beyond the city’s soca-fueled celebration lies Trinidad’s wild, untamed coastlines… I recently signed up for a weeklong adventure trek in Trinidad with HADCO Experiences, a locally owned eco-adventure company. The experience, which included moonlit hikes, birdwatching, and chasing bats, completely redefined what a Caribbean vacation could be.
When most people think of Trinidad, they likely imagine the vibrant, chaotic energy of Carnival. The annual event in the capital of Port of Spain is a glorious explosion of music and color, but beyond the city’s soca-fueled celebration lies Trinidad’s wild, untamed coastlines… I recently signed up for a weeklong adventure trek in Trinidad with HADCO Experiences, a locally owned eco-adventure company. The experience, which included moonlit hikes, birdwatching, and chasing bats, completely redefined what a Caribbean vacation could be.
I traded in my usual resort stay for the rainforest, signing up for a weeklong trek with the local eco-adventure company HADCO Experiences. After a quick flight from Miami to Port of Spain and an hour and a half drive, I arrived at Asa Wright Nature Centre. The eco-lodge is nestled deep into the rainforest, far from the hum of traffic, and I immediately felt a sense of peacefulness that would follow me throughout my stay.
Overlooking deep lush forest, Asa Wright Nature Centre is a haven for some of the 18 species of hummingbirds in Trinidad, like white-necked jacobin, tufted coquette, ruby-topaz, all sipping nectar among colourful blooms. While savouring your morning coffee or winding down with a sundown rum punch on the terrace, you might count delicate hummingbirds battling for perch space. Follow the winding trails from the centre and you’ll find rainforest pools tucked beneath cascading waterfalls – cool, mineral-rich, and shaded by towering green.
How could a little bowl or bottle of sauce cause such a stir? “Trinidadians love pepper sauce, and you’ll find it on every table in every restaurant,” says Warren Sinanan, the general manager of HADCO Experiences, a Trinidadian ecotourism company with a collection of eco-hotels and sustainable travel activities. So you’ll definitely want to sample the popular condiment when you travel here. (Be warned, though, you might get hooked and need to make room in your luggage for a giant bottle of pepper sauce, like I did!).
While the Caribbean is home to a wealth of wildlife-rich islands, few destinations offer such a fascinating blend of biodiversity as Trinidad. Located just off the coast of Venezuela, this storied island comes equipped with a truly diverse array of native species, with both Caribbean and mainland South American wildlife thriving across its borders—and for a thorough immersion into the vibrant fauna of Trinidad, it’s tough to find a better destination than Asa Wright Nature Centre.
Nestled on the northeastern shores of Trinidad, in the coastal village of Grande Riviere, Mt Plaisir Estate Hotel is a boutique, beachfront eco-hotel whose star guests aren’t your regular celebs. Each night between the beginning of March and the end of August, scores of endangered leatherback sea turtles (as many as 600) heave themselves up the sand here to lay their eggs.
Nature Walks; Sensory Meditation: Mindful nature immersion, like forest bathing, birdwatching, and guided meditations, enhances connection with self and surroundings. Hotels: Mt Plaisir Estate Hotel (Trinidad) – Leatherback turtle beach nesting night walks…HADCO Experiences at Asa Wright Nature Centre (Trinidad) – Guided biodiversity walks in a private nature reserve.
Specializing in immersing vacationers in a peaceful natural setting is Trinidad and Tobago-based HADCO Experiences. The company offers forest bathing, guided nature walks and birdwatching tours, with participants invited to spot some of the 470 species that make their homes in destination’s nature reserves.
The Informed Traveler is a weekly travel podcast dedicated to bringing you the latest travel news trends and destination ideas. They headed to the Caribbean island of Trinidad to speak with one of the co-founders of HADCO Experiences, John Hadaad. HADCO Experiences is Trinidad and Tobago’s leading Destination Management and Hospitality Company that offer immersive travel experiences that highlight the twin islands’ rich biodiversity, cultural heritage and natural beauty.
John Hadad, co-founder of HADCO Experiences, calls the trend “a natural evolution of sustainable and experiential travel which encourages travelers to engage with nature while promoting conservation from a new perspective.” HADCO Experiences, a lodging and adventure tour operator, hosts night walks at Trinidad and Tobago’s Asa Wright Nature Centre that allows visitors to observe nocturnal animals such as snakes, bats, tarantulas and more.
Located on stunning island perfect for experiencing Caribbean culture, the Asa Wright Nature Centre is a paradise for nature lovers, birdwatchers, and eco-travelers in Trinidad and Tobago. Nestled deep in the lush Arima Valley of Trinidad, it offers an immersive experience in one of the Caribbean’s most biodiverse regions with a tranquil retreat seamlessly blending sustainable tourism with scientific research.
