A Complete Guide For Attending Trinidad Carnival
Want to attend the Trinidad Carnival? Here is a complete planning guide.
HIGHLIGHTS
The biggest carnival in the Caribbean returns in February 2025. The Trinidad Carnival 2025 is one of the most anticipated carnivals in the world. Did you know that 37, 861 visitors (according to the Central Statistical Office - Ministry of Planning and Development, Trinidad & Tobago) attended the carnival 2020 edition? As expected, Trinidad Carnival 2025 will be phenomenal. So, plan to attend for at least a week to have the best carnival experience and attend the best fetes. The official dates for 2025 are March 3rd to 4th.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Highlight
History of Trinidad Carnival
Snapshot of Trinidad and Tobago
Official dates of carnival
Hotel suggestion
How to join Carnival
How to Choose a Mass Band
Map of the route for Carnival
How much is the overall budget?
What is my carnival itinerary?
Trinidad carnival dictionary
Final checklist
Small History
The Trinidad & Tobago Carnival is a two-day parade on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, marking the commencement of the Lenten period of fasting for Christians.
Carnival was brought to Trinidad by the French settlers in the 1700s. The Trinidad Carnival is rooted in the Canboulay. Forbidden from attending carnivals, African slaves held their own parties called Canboulay. After the emancipation of slaves in the 1830s, Canboulay evolved to become what we know as Trinidad Carnival today, a celebration internationally known for its elaborate costume parade and epic fetes.
The Trinidad Carnival is the oldest and largest Caribbean Carnival. If attending a Caribbean carnival is on your bucket list, start with the Trinidad Carnival 2025. You will have an unforgettable freeing experience.
A Brief Snapshot of Trinidad & Tobago
Where to stay
Finding accommodation for the Trinidad Carnival is a real challenge. Look for accommodation around Port of Spain as most of the festivities take place there. Book your hotel/guest room stays at the latest six months before the carnival. As the demand is very high, most of the popular hotels tend to be sold out six months prior to the carnival.
Hotels
Mid-Range Hotels
Ambassador Hotel
Coblentz Inn Boutique Hotel
Chaquacabana Resort
Beach Club L'Orchidée Boutique Hotel
Guest House
Heritage Inn
Chaconia Home
Monique's Guesthouse
Oasis Petrea
Travel Suites Ltd
Savannah Maison
Manuelita Villa
Gingerbread House
Liam's Guest House
Vehicle Rentals
Apartment
Bayville Holiday Apartment
Joining Carnival Tuesday: AKA Playing Mas
To have the best time at Trinidad Carnival, don’t just be a spectator, join the parade and feel the carnival vibe from the inside. Playing mas means when you decide to join in as a masquerader. You play mas on Tuesday Carnival Parade. To play mas, you must join a masquerade band. You select the mas band you want to be part of, register, get your costume, and live your best parade in Port of Spain streets with your chosen band. It is impossible to just show up in your homemade costume and join the parade. If there is only one rule at Trinidad Carnival, you cannot just wear your own costume and join the parade. You must register with one of the bands below.
Here is a comprehensive list of all 2025 Trinidad Carnival Mas Bands (mostly all-inclusive bands)
Pure Carnival
Utopia Mas
Resonate Carnival - All-inclusive
Spirit Mas - All-inclusive
Dream Carnival TT
Escape Carnival Band
Have Ah Time Mas Band
Image Nation Mas
Jam The Band - This is a private band section with Yuma Vibes
K2k Alliance
Mardi Gras TT
Petlemas Carnival band
Resonate Mas - All Inclusive
Secret Mas ( also is a registered band in St Maarten and Anguilla)
How to choose a Mas band?
Select your band based on their costumes. Some groups are wearing very sexy costumes, and others are more conservative. Depending on the band, costumes' price range is in $700 USD to $3000 USD range. Most bands are all-inclusive. With the price of your costume, you will not just get your costumes but also goody bags, food and drinks, bathrooms, security, medical services, and whatever else you may need to make your carnival experience unique and easy. If you are a newbie, choosing an all-inclusive band is the way go to. Remember with the price of your costume, you are paring costume and experience. It is worth every penny.
How does the registration work?
You choose one band you like, register, and put a deposit into the costume you like. That’s it, your registration is complete. For the rest of the payment, it is highly recommended to complete it before your arrival in Trinidad to pick up your costume faster. Check the site of your chosen band and complete your payment as early as possible.
Joining Monday Carnival: aka playing J’ouvert
For the Carnival Monday Parade, you play J’ouvert. J’ouvert symbolizes the start of the carnival each year. It starts early morning around 4 a.m. on Carnival Monday. It’s all about partying with mud oil and paint. Get ready to get down and dirty and join in the fun. Playing J’ouvert has the same concept as Playing mas, with the only exception, you can wear whatever you want. You join a J’ouvert band, once you register with a band, your payment covers a t-shirt or bathing suit outfit, breakfast, alcohol, music, paint, and powder.
Map of The Carnival Road below
Photo credit: ncctt.org
Important Note: Trinidad carnival starts at around 7:00 a.m. and ends at 4:30 p.m. that a full 9 hours and 30 mins. It is important to know that choosing your band will dictate where you start your carnival route. Each band has its own starting point.
Where to get Trinidad Carnival Monday Wear
Once you have registered with a band, and played J’ouvert, you can come as you like on Carnival Monday. You have the option of wearing your own designs or purchasing from a designer. clean up and don our Monday Wear with your best carnival accessories. Get ready to whine up yourself on the streets to the sweet sounds of soca music.
cANYAval
Chandra Maharaj
Chez Zen Mas
Christian Boucaud Designs
Decoteau Designs
FonRose
The Brand Himaya by Nadia Batson
Humzee Designs
Laura Narayansingh
Mariette Collette
MonDiva by J.Angelique
Shanyvo Designs
Sherise Stewart
Vivre by Lorenzo Rhion Rhomany
Attending carnival fetes is a must, the highlight of your carnival experience. The most anticipated fetes tickets such as Soca Brainwash, Ceasar’s Army Ambeach, and Soaka Street Festival tend to be sold out very early. Purchase your ticket as early as possible.
Looking to purchase tickets for fetes and party check this website out: trinijunglejuice.com and www.ncctt.org
What is the Overall Budget?
Trinidad Carnival can be quite costly. It is one of the most anticipated carnivals in the world, so, it is priced accordingly. Again, each penny is worth the experience.
Here is a budget breakdown to help plan your Carnival :
Flight: $400 - $1200usd (depending on dates and location)
Hotel: $500 - $800usd (double occupancy)
Costumes: $700 - $3000usd (depending on backline/frontline and band)
Transportation: $100 - $700usd (depending on if you hire a driver or get a car rental with a group)
Fetes: 500 - $1200usd (depending on how many fetes you choose to attend)What
What will My Itinerary look like?
To help you plan your carnival at its best, here is an itinerary of 8 days/7 nights you can follow:
Day One: Arrive in Trinidad. You will arrive through Piarco International Airport (POS)
Day Two: Pick up your Carnival costume and accessories
Day Three - Four: Fete it up! Get ready to party like there’s no tomorrow. Attending fetes is a must during Trinidad Carnival
Day Five: J’ouvert & Carnival Monday
Day Six: Carnival Tuesday. It’s Playing’ mas time
Day Eight: Departure Flying out from Piarco International Airport (POS)
Some Trinidad Carnival terms breakdown:
Mas Band – A band of masqueraders who participate in the parades
Fete – An organized party.
Playing mas - Joining a Mas Band (Carnival group) and participating in the parades.
On the road – This refers to the parade days.
“Cross the stage” or “cross the Savannah” – Refers to when a band parades finish their carnival route.
Liming (lime-ing) or to lime – People hanging out On de road – same as playing mas, taking part in the carnival parade.
Jump up – Get up and dance.
Final Checklist before you head to Trinidad
Your passport - Make sure you have it, and it’s valid (some countries require you to have at least six months left in your passport)
Visas - Take another look at your flight plan and confirm whether or not you require a Visa
Cash and credit cards - Have some emergency cash with you just in case there are issues with your credit card. Alert the credit card company about your travel, so that they don’t block valid transactions
Medication - Refill subscriptions or bring along any medication you may need
For any Fetes
Summer casual/chic clothing - At most events, men wear shirts, polos, or tee shirts with shorts, or jeans. Women tend to wear rompers, skirts, stylish blouses and vests, short shorts, sandals, sneakers, heels, and wedges
Swimwear, cover-up, sandals - This is worn mainly at “boat ride” parties (party cruises)
Handbags, pouches (fanny pack), wrist-lets
For any beach party beach:
Swimwear, and beach wraps
Slippers
Sunblock
For J’ouvert:
Shorts and/or tights
Comfortable sneakers or boots
Baby oil or baby gel. This helps the mud and paint come off your skin at the end of the party
Plastic shower cap, and bandana
For The Road:
Sunglasses, and sunblock: We recommend (SPF 100). You will be partying in the sun all day long
Comfortable sneakers, and boots
Gel insoles
Carnival stockings
Carnival make-up Pouches (fanny packs), wristlets
Collapsible water bottle
Small portable charger
Portable fans
Medical bracelet
Heading to Trinidad Carnival in 2025 and found this travel guide useful? Tell us in the comment below.