Trinidad Carnival: Itinerary on a Tight Budget or Tight Schedule

So from this post you learned how to cut your Trinidad Carnival budget down to size and still get there and have fun.  This post will show you, in red, what a pared-down itinerary looks like if you're there Friday to Ash Wednesday or Friday to Thursday.

In purple are extra items to squeeze in if you land late Thursday night and/or are limited only on time, not on money (nor energy!).

So: red = what to do on a money budget, purple = what to add into or substitute for that if only on time budget (pick and choose or if your brave AND strong do them all) and "money ain't a thing!" so you can scroll down and read the day and the red words only to get the gist if you are on a very low budget for carnival...get it? got it? good!  Note these are just examples, there are always alternatives. :)

Friday before carnival


AM: arrive in Trinidad or Canboulay Riots Re-enactment, (in the streets 4?am, free) or Silent Morning Boatride

Silent Morning Boatride

***nap here if you went on the boatride; if you landed the night before and your band has an open collection day today you can try and do costume collection in this time period; most bands have it by section though and then all foreigners who arrive this late just pick up on Saturday only***
PM: check in, shower, sleep! (Or, check in, shower, FETE - Girl Power!) or Caesar's Army pre-J'ouvert party (if your flight lands 11pm Friday night you won't be out of the Customs line airport til maybe 2am so forget Caesar's Army unless you want to get yourself to wherever their location is for the season...easier to just walk over to Girl Power assuming it's still by the Savannah or...) OR check in, shower, head into your Saturday fete schedule....

Saturday 

AM: Caesar's Army J'ouvert or Suits or Buenos Dias boatrides (if you're not having someone pick up your costume before you arrive in Trinidad between Thursday night and Friday night...don't bother with this option you will need some of the pre-noon hours to go collect your costume)

AM: Kiddie Carnival parade - noon...walking distance (Savannah) and free, and is an event so you're not sitting in your room - bring camera: REAL mas out there with the kids. lovely costumes!
PM: Costume collection ...if you're keeping track, on the time budget this means you will have had no actual SLEEP so far since arriving in Trinidad Friday, only naps in the taxis to and fro!  Is CARNIVAL!

****nap...next fete runs on island time...****

PM: Scorch Saturday (words cannot express...how wicked this party was in 2012...absolutely worth the PROcess of obtaining tickets!)

*****nap here on the way to Insomnia or back at the rooms after Scorch because the breakfast fetes in the AM start at 4am or 5am!  No full nights of sleep here! Is CARNIVAL!

****PM: (midnight) Insomnia breakfast fete! until 10 or 11 the next day! Open air with a beautiful view by the Mobs 2 Pier, stage show, rhythm section(s) (african-like rhythmic style drumming on small drums and GIANT drum that the guy sits on top of and beats like his heart and soul flow out of him onto the drum head), flag crews with huge flags roaming the crowds, drinks for sale left and right at bars, food for sale all along the outside, daybreak big hoses come out and entire crowd gets SOAKED especially near the front...endless vibes...only thing more endless is the alcohol!

Sunday 

AM: Still at Insomnia! or (if you skipped Insomnia *gasp*) Sunny Side Up all-inclusive breakfast fete or Diamond Vale all-inclusive breakfast fete or Shades breakfast fete or Uber Pramie (Double UP) breakfast fete. All all-inclusive, all vibes!

PM: Nap! (you can accomplish this nap in the car cause it's going to take forever to get back from Insomnia in the insane traffic) or Moka all-inclusive fete $$$ or Brian Lara all-inclusive fete $$$$$ or Valsayn Sanctuary all-inclusive fete $$$ (hope you catching the hint$)

PM: J'ouvert package collection, lime (hang out socializing) on Ariapita Ave strip.  Practicing the fine Trini art of liming is a GREAT relaxing way to spend the Sunday and get to know new friends and catch up with old.

PM: Nap! Is only a couple hours again cause tomorrow begins asap!

Monday 

AM: and I mean 2am - get up, get ready, get out - it's J'ouvert 3AM - 10AM, breakfast included - big trucks on the road with giant sound systems and hundreds of thousands of people dancing in all directions covered in mud, paint, chocolate, masks, and more!

AM: get the mud, paint or chocolate off, shower and get in Monday wear - 11am until is Monday Mas (lunch & Monday wear included in the price of your costume, as are unlimited drinks)

PM: return to room around 8pm or so to sleep for Tuesday or hang out in the streets until whenever cause Monday Night Mas is going on for those who go and even if you don't the big trucks and PEOPLE are EVERYwhere and there is NO silence in Woodbrook for a long time.

Tuesday 

AM: 6:30am or earlier meet your band fully dressed in costume, makeup, etc. if you want your breakfast (included in price of your costume, as are lunch and unlimited drinks) - is MAS...Tuesday Mas

PM: still mas! til midnight (earlier if you're tired)

Wednesday 

AM: early, soon as you get in from Tuesday Mas: pack, double-check for chargers and such. Nap if there is time, if not wait to sleep on the plane
Check out, leave! Leave Trinidad with costume packed and headpiece in hand to stow on the plane and show off to the world you were HERE!

OR

Maracas Beach lime

PM: pack, After Blast, pink & white boatride (sails around midnight), sleep


Thursday

AM: Check out, leave Trinidad with costume packed and headpiece in hand to stow on the plane and show off to the world you were HERE!

- free to be at the beach, food and drink (the BEST bake & shark) sold there, only costs to get a taxi to get there...chill and relax and unwind sore, tired, aching muscles...

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