Merikin Heritage Tour | Saturday 25 July 2026
Merikin Heritage Tour | Saturday 25 July 2026

Merikin Heritage Tour | Saturday 25 July 2026

Join the National Trust of Trinidad and Tobago for the Merikin Heritage Tour, a guided full-day experience exploring the Company Villages, Devil’s Woodyard Mud Volcano, and Merikin culture and cuisine.

 

Taking place on Saturday 25 July 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., this tour invites participants to learn about one of Trinidad and Tobago’s important freedom stories through community, landscape, food and memory.

 

Participants will visit the Company Villages established by American soldiers over 200 years ago, tour Devil’s Woodyard Mud Volcano, and experience Merikin culture and cuisine.

 

The Merikin story is central to understanding freedom, land and community-building in Trinidad and Tobago. National Archives material describes the Merikins as formerly enslaved African-Americans who joined the British naval service as Colonial Marines during the War of 1812 and later settled in Trinidad. Many were granted 16 acres of land in south Trinidad, and the settlements were organised according to the companies in which they had served.

 

The National Archives also records that seven historical signs were installed in the six Company Villages near Moruga to tell the story of this community. The signs explain that the Merikins were formerly enslaved African-Americans who served as Colonial Marines and were granted land in south Trinidad after the War of 1812.

 

The tour also includes Devil’s Woodyard Mud Volcano, which the National Trust identifies as a Natural Heritage site located on Hindustan Road in Princes Town. Local accounts connect the site’s name to its dramatic 1852 eruption, which reportedly brought down trees and frightened nearby villagers.

 

Together, these stops help tell a fuller story of heritage: freedom, settlement, land, faith, foodways, geology, oral tradition and community memory.

 

Visitor information

Date: Saturday 25 July 2026
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Meeting point: Mille Fleurs Heritage House
Cost: Members TT$350 | Non-members TT$400
Lunch: Included in the tour package; no lunch opt-out option

 

Accessibility notes:
This is a full-day tour with travel, outdoor stops, possible uneven ground, sun exposure and mud volcano terrain. Participants should be comfortable walking short distances outdoors. Persons with mobility concerns should contact the National Trust before registering.

 

What to bring:
Comfortable closed-toe walking shoes, water, sun protection, insect repellent, light rain protection, personal medication, cash for purchases, and a fully charged phone or camera. Participants should dress respectfully for community and cultural visits.

 

Membership CTA

National Trust members receive the discounted rate of TT$350 for this tour. Become a member to enjoy member pricing and support the preservation of Trinidad and Tobago’s heritage.

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