Trinidad and Tobago’s local name, TNT, is well deserved.  A vibrant mix of many cultures, this island nation off the coast of Venezuela explodes with colour and cosmopolitan chic.

On Trinidad thousands flock to Port of Spain for Carnival – which every year in February brings even more sparkle to the country’s capital as dazzling floats, steel bands and local people in exotic costumes process through its historic streets and open spaces.

Swaying to the calypso beat they pass beneath high-rise towers, temples, colonial houses, bazaars, markets, mosques and cathedrals – a striking reminder of the country’s cultural diversity.

Trinidad – area 1,980 square miles - has its slower side, too. In the north beautiful beaches dominate, along its east coast coconut groves and wetlands stretch to the horizon, and dotted throughout the sleepy south fishing villages rest peacefully amid unspoilt beaches.

The island’s northern mountains are a separate world, their forested peaks a tantalizing challenge to intrepid hikers. Its centre, a patchwork of productive fields, is largely given over to farming.

Twenty miles to Trinidad’s north-east, lies Tobago. Covering just 116 square miles, this idyllic, palm-fringed island is famed for its tranquillity and calm waters. Regarded as the last unspoilt Caribbean paradise, it is home to a huge variety of wildlife, including 100 different mammals and 70 reptiles, exotic birds and flowering plants.

With its enchanting northern beaches, relaxed fishing villages and the world’s oldest rainforest, Tobago is everyone’s idea of what a tropical island should be.

The sunny country’s currency is the Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD). Most banks, shops and tourist facilities accept American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa credit cards. ATMs are available in the main centres.