Port-of-Spain (Trinidad)

Port of Spain (aka Puerto Espana) is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the country's 3rd-largest city - after Chaguanas and San Fernando. The city has population around 37,000 (metro around 128,000), with daily transient population over 250,000. The port is located on the Gulf of Paria (Trinidad Island's northwestern coast). The city's land area is approx 12 km2 (5 mi2).

Port of Spain serves primarily as an administrative and retail centre and has been the capital of Trinidad and Tobago since 1757. It is also a major financial services centre for the Caribbean, home to two of the largest banks in the area. Port of Spain is the 2nd largest capital city in English-speaking Caribbean and among the largest Caribbean cities. It is also the biggest capital city in Lesser Antilles and southern Caribbean, as well as the most southern Caribbean capital city. Port of Spain was the capital of short-lived West Indies Federation.

The city is home to the largest container port on Trinidad Island and is one of the several shipping hubs of Caribbean, exporting both manufactured goods and agricultural products. Bauxite from Guyana is transshipped at Chaguaramas, about 8 km (5 miles) west of the city. The pre-lenten Carnival is city's main annual tourist attraction and cultural festival.

Port-of-Spain is home to the most successful and biggest stock exchange in the Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago Stock Exchange (TTSE). Nicholas Tower and other skyscrapers are famous throughout the region and dominate the city's skyline. Several of the tallest skyscrapers in the Caribbean are found in Port of Spain.

On June 29, 2016, at the Recognition Ceremony for Cruise Stakeholders (held at Port of Spain cruise ship terminal) was announced that during season 2015-2016 Trinidad received 30,493 cruise passengers from 25 vessels. In the same period, Tobago received 70,298 passengers from 60 ship calls - which was an increase of 115% over 2014-2015 season. The success was attributed to the country's aggressive marketing campaigns, improved shore excursions quality, upgraded berthing facilities, improved piloting services and excellent services by expertly trained Visitor Guides. The passengers' crime-free cruising experience is guaranteed by police presence in downtown shopping zones and other popular public areas.

By annual passenger traffic (statistical data 2019), the Caribbean's top-10 largest airports are:

1. Luis Munoz Marin Airport/aka Isla Verde (San Juan Puerto Rico) with ~9,5 million pax
2. Punta Cana Airport (Punta Cana Dominicana) with ~7,2 million pax
3. Jose Marti Airport (Havana Cuba) with 5,7+ million pax
4. Sangster Airport (Montego Bay Jamaica) with ~4,8 million pax
5. Lynden Pindling Airport (Nassau Bahamas) with ~4,1 million pax
6. Las Americas Airport (Santo Domingo Dominicana) with ~4 million pax
7. Piarco Airport (Port-of-Spain Trinidad) with 2,8+ million pax
8. Queen Beatrix Airport (Oranjestad Aruba) with 2,5+ million pax
9. Pointe-a-Pitre Airport (Pointe-a-Pitre Guadeloupe) with ~2,5 million pax
10. Grantley Adams Airport (Bridgetown Barbados) with ~2,3 million pax

This explains why these port cities are used as seasonal turnaround ports for homeporting (roundtrip itineraries) by many major cruise companies with ship deployments in the Caribbean.

On shore excursions (via bus travel) from the city are visited the Caroni Swamp & Bird Sanctuary (nesting habitat for the Scarlet Ibis/Eudocimus ruber - one of the country's national birds) and the Asa Wright Nature Centre & Lodge (a small resort in Trinidad's rain forest).