Grande Riviere

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Grande Riviere is a village on the north coast of the island of Trinidad, west of Toco and east of Matelot. Grande Riviere is one of the more remote places in Trinidad since it is connected to the rest of the island by a single road which runs along the coast to Toco and then crosses the Northern Range running parallel to the east coast. Grande Riviere is a popular with ecotourists as it provides an important nesting beach for Leatherback Turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) and it is the only place where it is possible to see the endangered Trinidad Piping Guan or Pawi.

Mature leatherback turtles can be seen laying their eggs during the night between March and June, while hatchlings can be seen emerging from the sand between June and August. Because of the many predators of the leatherback turtles, the Grande Riviere Environmental Action Trust (GREAT) runs a program where they collect hatching turtles before they can be attacked by Black Vultures (locally known as Corbeaux), and release them into the ocean after a few days to increase their chance of survival.

There are two hotels located right on the beach. It is possible to watch the turtles hatch or lay eggs from your veranda or cafe, or you can go with a hotel sponsored guide at night who will find turtles and answer any questions you have about them.

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