Trinidad measures 1,864 square miles. Tobago measures 116 square miles. The islands sit seven miles apart at their closest point. Caribbean Airlines operates the domestic air bridge between Piarco International Airport in Trinidad and A.N.R. Robinson International Airport in Tobago. Flight time is 20 minutes. The airline schedules approximately 15 flights daily in each direction. Fares range from 300 to 800 Trinidad and Tobago dollars for a round trip depending on booking timing.
The Port Authority of Trinidad and Tobago runs two vehicle ferries on the inter-island route. The conventional ferry T&T Spirit takes approximately two hours and 30 minutes. The fast ferry takes 90 minutes. Both depart from the Port of Port Spain terminal in Trinidad and dock at the Scarborough terminal in Tobago. The ferry schedule changes seasonally. During peak periods the service runs twice daily in each direction. During low season it may operate once daily or skip days entirely. Vehicle space requires advance booking weeks ahead during December, Easter, and Carnival periods. Walk-on passenger space is generally available with same-day purchase. Adult round-trip fares cost approximately 100 Trinidad and Tobago dollars for economy class.
Public transportation within Trinidad consists of route taxis, maxi taxis, and the Public Transport Service Corporation bus system. Route taxis are shared sedans painted white with colored bands indicating destination. A route taxi from Port of Spain to San Fernando costs 20 Trinidad and Tobago dollars and takes 45 minutes to one hour depending on passenger stops. Maxi taxis are minivans seating 12 to 25 passengers. Red band maxis serve Port of Spain to eastern destinations. Yellow band maxis serve Port of Spain to western destinations. Green band maxis serve south Trinidad routes. Brown band maxis serve Tobago routes. Maxi taxi fares from Port of Spain to Chaguanas cost 7 Trinidad and Tobago dollars. PTSC buses charge lower fares but run less frequently and stop at more locations. A PTSC bus from Port of Spain to Arima costs 5 Trinidad and Tobago dollars.
Private taxis operate without standardized meters. The driver states a fare before departure. A private taxi from Piarco International Airport to central Port of Spain hotels costs 150 to 200 Trinidad and Tobago dollars. From Port of Spain to Maracas Beach the fare is 120 to 150 Trinidad and Tobago dollars one way. Most private taxi drivers expect payment in cash in Trinidad and Tobago dollars. Ride-hailing applications operate in Trinidad but service availability is inconsistent outside Port of Spain and San Fernando.
Car rental agencies at Piarco International Airport and in Port of Spain require drivers to be 25 years old minimum. Daily rates for compact vehicles start at 350 Trinidad and Tobago dollars including mandatory insurance. International driving permits are not legally required. Foreign licenses from most countries are accepted for visits under 90 days. Trinidad has a left-hand traffic system. The Churchill-Roosevelt Highway connects Port of Spain to the east coast. The Uriah Butler Highway connects Port of Spain to San Fernando. The Solomon Hochoy Highway extends from San Fernando toward the southwestern peninsula. These highways are four-lane divided roads. Rural roads in Trinidad's Northern Range mountains are single lane with frequent curves and limited visibility. Signage is inconsistent. GPS navigation systems often lag behind recent road construction or misidentify street names.
Tobago's road network centers on the Claude Noel Highway running from Crown Point Airport through Scarborough to the northeastern coast. The Windward Road continues along the eastern shore. The Northside Road serves the northern coastal villages. Road conditions in Tobago deteriorate faster after heavy rain. Potholes appear frequently on secondary roads. The distance from Crown Point to Scarborough is nine miles and takes 20 minutes. From Scarborough to Speyside on the northeastern tip is 27 miles and takes one hour.
No rail passenger service operates in Trinidad and Tobago. The government suspended the last commuter rail line in 2010. Water taxis operated by the National Infrastructure Development Company run across the Gulf of Paria from Port of Spain to San Fernando. These catamarans carry passengers only, no vehicles. The journey takes 50 minutes. Service operates on weekdays only with multiple morning and evening departures timed for commuter schedules. Adult one-way fare is 15 Trinidad and Tobago dollars.
Pedestrian infrastructure in Port of Spain includes sidewalks on major commercial streets but coverage is incomplete in residential areas. Traffic signals sometimes lack pedestrian crossing phases. Walking between attractions within central Port of Spain is feasible for distances under one mile. The Brian Lara Promenade offers a car-free pedestrian zone. Outside Port of Spain pedestrian facilities are minimal. Most roads lack dedicated sidewalks. Street lighting is absent on many secondary roads.
Bicycle rental for tourism purposes is not widely established. A few operators in Tobago near Crown Point rent bicycles by the day. No protected bicycle lanes exist on major roads. Cyclists share roadways with motor vehicles. Terrain in northern Trinidad includes sustained climbs over the Northern Range with elevation changes exceeding 300 meters.