Sightseeing: Region 2 - Lower Caribbean

Our Tobago sightseeing guide shows every notable sightseeing location or feature on the island. Hold your mouse over any location spot to identify it, and click for detailed information.

Region 1 map

Hold your mouse over any Reader Satisfaction Rating (RSR) for further information. Click on the rating to cast your own vote for those sightseeing features that you have experience of.

RSR Adventure Farm & Nature Reserve ***** A 12-acre nature reserve and organic farm located on the Arnos Vale Road on the outskirts of Plymouth. The reserve is noted for its birds, butterflies, iguanas, mangoes and citrus orchards. The reserve is open Monday to Friday, from 7am to 5:45pm. Admission is US$5. In recent years, Ean Mackay, the owner of Adventure Farm, has put considerable effort into attracting birds of every type, and humming birds in particular. It is truly a spectacular experience and no surprise that most of the professional birding guides on Tobago now regularly end their rainforest and other birdwatching tours by taking guests to the Adventure Farm where they can sit and watch, or film, the birds in comfort. Over 50 species of bird are known to reside at the reserve and during our last 20-minute visit, we saw four of the six species of hummer known to live on Tobago - and understand that five of the species are resident there. Truly remarkable and strongly recommended, even if you aren't a keen birder. Further Information: www.adventure-ecovillas.com
RSR Arnos Vale * Arnos Vale is a former sugar plantation. The beautiful tropical grounds of the Arnos Vale Hotel were once rich with birdlife. Visiting the hotel for tea to see the birds used to be a Tobabo 'must'. Sadly, the hotel has suffered serious neglect for some years and "Tea With The Birds" is now a pale and sad reflection of what it once was. Even the birds are going next door, to the Adventure Farm, for their tea.
Arnos Vale Waterwheel * Just a short distance further north of the hotel is the Arnos Vale Waterwheel. This was a sugar factory in times gone by, but more recently a restaurant and museum. The facility is NOW CLOSED**, having been run into the ground by negligent and incompetent owners with total disregard for the importance of this historical site.
Buccoo Buccoo is a small fishing village. The beachfront is the heart of the village and here you can watch the fishermen land and prepare their catch at the fishing cooperative, next to the beach. The only business of interest to visitors is a nice little boutique next to Sunday School that sells an interesting range of batik and craft souvenirs. There are a few small eateries in the village but the only one decent restaurant - the excellent La Tartaruga Italian restaurant which is open for dinner three evenings per week (not Sunday). RSR Buccoo Reef *** You can catch glass-bottom boat trips to famous Buccoo Reef and the Nylon Pool from Buccoo village. Please see the entry in the Region 1 listings for full details. RSR Goat & Crab Races ** A great event, but only held over the Easter weekend. RSR Sunday School *** Nothing religious here – Sunday School is a loud, vibrant street party. It is an ideal way of sampling one aspect of Tobagonian social life. The party starts at 8pm every Sunday evening when the Buccooneers Steel Band orchestra play pan for a couple of hours. However, the party only gets into gear about 11pm when the main sound system kicks in from the main venue, directly opposite the main beach. The music is Jamaican Dancehall with the best soca, hip hop and R+B. Sunday School is a great place for people-watching. It is best to go by taxi and to arrange for the driver to pick you up at a specified time. Do NOT take more than the few dollars (beer and rum are cheap and there's only a few barbecue and snack stalls) and leave all jewellery, expensive watches and cameras at your hotel. Like any crowded situation, the event can be a magnet for pickpockets. Sunday School is also a major 'pick-up' event, so don't be surprised if local gigolos make approaches to the ladies, even when accompanied by their partner.
RSR Fort Bennett * A beautiful lookout point giving brilliant views over both Stonehaven Bay and Great Courland Bay. The fort was built by the British in 1778, to protect the coast from American privateers. The ruins are well preserved.
RSR Grafton Caledonia Bird Sanctuary *** This former cocoa estate evolved into a bird sanctuary after the owner started feeding the wild birds whose forest habitat had been destroyed by Hurricane Flora in 1963. Located near Black Rock village, the sanctuary has nature trails and scenic hiking and the wild birds are fed at the Copra House around 4pm. Trails have been cleared into the bush for nature hikers. There is no admission charge and you are welcome to wander to your heart's content, but to make the most of the sanctuary, go there with a bird watching guide, such as Newton George. You will be totally astonished by the difference it makes.
RSR Kimme Museum *** Professor Luise Kimme is a German sculptor who has lived near the village of Bethel since 1979. Her unique 3-metre-high Caribbean sculptures of dancers and folklore characters, carved out of solid oak and cedar wood, are fascinating and her studio worth a visit. The studio and workshop is only open from 9am to 2pm on Sundays, although visits at other times can be arranged. Further information: www.luisekimme.com
Plymouth * Tobago's second largest 'town', Plymouth has very limited appeal for visitors. However, facilities have improved and expanded quite substantially over the last year or two. Sadly, I must advise visitors against visiting the features mentioned below. They are situated in the same area on the northern side of the town. For many years the only road to the monuments has been the stamping ground of a disturbed individual who watches out for, and harasses tourists, demanding hand-outs. He is variously described by local contacts as a drug addict, alcoholic or 'village idiot'. All I can say is that his behaviour is becoming increasingly belligerent and aggressive. On my last visit (Feb 2010), he threw two punches at my arm, through the open window of my car, because I refused to stop and give him anything, I presume. Although his punches made contact, he caused no injury. As much as I wanted to make the officials aware of the incident, there seemed little point. I frankly doubt whether anyone would even listen. The tourism department is unlikely to even know where Plymouth is! The worst thing is that the offices of the local government representatives are just two hundred metres down the road from this man's 'hang out' - in a quiet street that probably sees less than a dozen cars an hour. Even given the average Tobagonian government official’s grossly inflated opinion of their own self-importance, there is no way that they cannot be aware of this man's behaviour. Yet they do nothing. This rather says it all about law and politics in Tobago. RSR Courland Monument Plymouth's only real feature is the Courland Monument. This striking sculpture commemorates the 17th-century settlers from Courland (now part of Latvia) who settled there. Descendents of these early settlers still retain links with the island through regular meetings. RSR Fort James The ruins of Fort James stand on the headland behind the village. The barracks and cannons still stand, overlooking Great Courland Bay. RSR Mystery Tombstone The village is also noted for the Mystery Tombstone on the grave of Betty Stivens and her baby which has puzzled people for generations. The ambiguous inscription states "She was a mother without knowing it, and a wife without letting her husband know it, except by her kind indulgences to him."