Arima Loop

This short trek explores the town of Arima. It is sometimes called “The Royal Chartered Borough of Arima” and was settled as far back as 1757 but received its chartered status on August 1st 1888. The town derives its name from the Amerindian word for water.
I started this trek from the Public Service Transit Corporation (PTSC) Arima Transit Hub. This is located along Hollis Street at 10.63871°N and -61.28323°W. I proceeded heading west to Woodford Street at 10.63867°N and -61.28354°W. I continued walking north along Woodford Street and turned heading east along Broadway at 10.64144°N and -61.28341°W.
You might consider making a stop at the historic Arima Dial located at the intersection of Broadway & Queen Streets at 10.64158°N and -61.28166°W. Follow Queen Street heading south back to the Arima Market and the Lord Kitchener Statue located along Hollis Street at 10.63901°N and -61.28152°W. I continued walking along Lord Kitchener Avenue heading south. This was formerly known as Pro Queen Street and only recently renamed this year. This street skirts along the eastern side of the Arima Savannah. This is a vast green space that hosts many sporting activities throughout the year such as tennis, cricket, soccer, track & field, jogging, walking, and cycling. There’s also a lot of street food being sold every evening along this area. Many of the Venezuelan migrants sell (vastly over-priced and poor quality) Venezuelan Street food in carts along the sidewalk here most evenings.
I turned heading west along Robinson Circular located at 10.63529°N and -61.28199°W and then turned south heading along Railway Road at 10.63554°N and -61.28457°W. You must be extremely careful walking along this section of Railway Road because the sidewalk disappears quickly, the road surface is not great, and cars, buses, & maxi taxis all use this main road into Arima. Also note, when crossing even marked pedestrian crossings, you should wait and ensure that traffic comes to a complete stop before proceeding. The common misconception in Trinidad is that drivers have complete right and priority on the roadways.
You’d walk heading east along Lord Kitchener Avenue at 10.63144°N and -61.28702°W. The road connects here with O’Meara Road North and the Priority Bus Route heading west. This road winds its way back to the Arima Savannah at Robinson Circular. It is not essential but can be done just to increase the distance of the loop.
I repeated Robinson Circular and then turned north heading along Railway Road at 10.63554°N and -61.28457°W. I turned heading east along the Eastern Main Road at 10.63732°N and -61.28521°W. There’s a life-sized statue of Hyarima located at 10.63715°N and -61.28487°W in an enclosed greenspace next to the Arima Velodrome. It is said that Hyarima was a warrior and a leader of the indigenous peoples of Trinidad. He escaped from slavery under the Spanish encomienda system in 1625 and went into the Arima Hills. He spent his life protecting the indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands from the European colonizers. He also fought to preserve indigenous cultures and customs.
I turned heading north along King Street at 10.63849°N and -61.28372°W. Again, this leg doesn’t have to be done. I did it to increase the distance, get some elevation, and visit the gravesite of Lord Kitchener in the Santa Rosa Public Cemetery along King Street at 10.64340°N and -61.28479°W. King Street begins a very steep but short ascent at Longden Street at 10.64481°N and -61.20501°W. You can continue up to Holy Cross Chapel at 10.64841°N and -61.28545°W. I turned heading south-east along Woodford Street at 10.64608°N and -61.28529°W.
Woodford Street winds its way back into Arima and leads right back to Hollis Avenue. Along the way stop by the Santa Rosa Roman Catholic Church at 10.64326°N and -61.28308°W. There’s a small green space just opposite the church and mass is held most evenings. Along Woodford Street you’ll find a lot of street food, fast food establishments, and bars. There’s the “drag brothers” shopping area as well. I just returned to the starting point of the trek.
Happy Trails.