Chacachacare, Caribbean island in Bocas del Dragon, Trinidad and Tobago.
Chacachacare is the westernmost island in the Bocas del Dragón, located off Trinidad and Tobago, covering approximately 360 hectares. A lighthouse sits at its highest point, offering views across the Caribbean Sea toward the mainland.
Christopher Columbus reached the island in 1498 and named it Port of Cats after mistaking howler monkey calls for wildcat sounds. The location later became a medical isolation facility and served an important role in the region's healthcare history.
A Hindu temple established in 1945 continues to operate on the island, providing a space for religious ceremonies and gatherings.
Visitors can only reach the island by boat from Trinidad, with organized tours departing regularly for those wanting to explore and camp. Plan ahead, as conditions on the island are basic and self-sufficiency in supplies is important.
Until 1984, the island housed a leprosy colony where French Dominican nuns cared for isolated patients. These remains of this medical chapter are still visible in abandoned structures scattered across the island.
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