Walking Distances from Coco Reef

[Michelle Savage]

I am travelling to Tobago for a week in June this year with my boyfriend. One of the main purposes of the trip is for Raymond to have kite surfing tuition - he is a keen kite surfer and wind surfer - but to please me, we are also going to stay in a nice resort! After much deliberation, I think we have settled on Coco Reef.

We are on a slight budget (both in our mid-twenties) so to counteract the cost of Coco Reef, we are keen to eat out at local restaurants to bring down costs and are also keen to either cycle or walk in the surrounding area to avoid the cost of car hire (we may well hire a car for one day to explore the island).

I have a few questions which I was hoping you could help me with:

1. Is it possible to walk from Coco Reef to Mount Irvine Bay (one Kite surf centre is located here - Cool Runnings). If not, how long would the cycle be? How much roughly for a taxi?
2. I understand Pigeon Point is walkable (again the second kite surf centre has an office here - the main office being at Hilton Hotel beach - which is not walkable?).
3. Is it possible to hire bikes near the hotel?
4. Is it possible/safe to walk to a variety of restaurants at night from Coco Reef or do you need a car/taxi for these purposes?

Many thanks!

Michelle

[Steve Wooler]

Hello Michelle

Hopefully these answers will help:

1) Mount Irvine Bay is not within walking distance of the Coco Reef. I guess that cycling would take a hot 30 minutes. A taxi will cost you about US$11 each way.
2) You should be able to walk from the Coco Reef to World of Watersports on Pigeon Point in about 20 minutes. No, it is not walkable to the Hilton (taxi about same as to Mt.Irvine).
3) Bikes can be hired from Sam’s (?) at the junction of Pigeon Point Road – just a 5 minute walk from the Coco Reef. Sorry, but I don’t know the cost but perhaps you would let me know if/when you find out.
4) There are several good restaurants within a 5-10 minute walk of the Coco Reef – the most interesting (in order of distance) being Dillons, Pelican Reef, Panache, Café Coco. All the others in the Crown Point area are within a 20 minute walk. Just check out our Restaurants section and look for those under Crown Point.

Enjoy!!!

[Wanda]

Hi Michelle

At Xmas my step daughter and her partner, Pete, came out to Tobago with us. Pete is a kite surfer and found out that the best and safest place to kite surf was at Pidgeon Point. The windsurfing centre right at the end of PP and also does kite surfing tuition, there were a few kite surfers there most days showing off their prowess!! It's all to do with getting the right wind direction and speed apparantly and PP is the place to go. Have a great time.
Wanda

[Steve Wooler]

That's interesting, Michelle.

We spent four days reviewing a luxury condominium (Ocean Air) on the Tobago Plantations (Hilton) development. The owner and two friends who were staying with her are keen and advanced wind surfers. They travelled to Pigeon Point every day for the wind surfing. However, my understanding was that THE place to be for kite-surfing was immediately opposite their apartment, in Little Rockly Bay. I can confirm that there was always between 4-9 kite surfers strutting their stuff along the beach between Lambeau and the Hilton Tobago. I assume they probably do basic tuition at Pigeon Point (although I've never seen kite surfing off PP personally) and then move down to the Atlantic coast for the "real" stuff. I can confirm that the waters off PP would be safer, but the winds less predictable. It would be interesting to hear from other readers who can confirm/correct the situation. If in doubt, email World of Watersports and ask for their comments - they have outlets at both of these spots.

Wanda - there is little in the way of accommodation or dining in the Rockley Bay area. The very basic Ocean Point Apartment Hotel is the nearest to the kite surfing area. The Inn On The Bay is 5 minutes away and could be a good choice. However, your own transport is essential anywhere in that area as nothing will be within walking distance.

[Michelle Savage]

Thanks Wanda, Steve.

Wanda - it would be great to know if Pete has any contacts etc. as Raymond is keen to see if anything can be arranged before we get there. Did Pete have lessons too?

We've heard a few conflicting reports and apparently where the best wind is depends on the time of year/time of day so I think it is possible to kite surf at both Pigeon Point and the beach at the Hilton.

Franck at Cool Runnings e-mailed me and they say they're first lessons often take place at the Hilton followed by lessons at Mount Irvine Bay and Ostra at World of Watersports confirmed that they do lessons at the beginning at the Hilton, with the latter half of the lessons taking place at Pigeon Point. I guess a lot depends on level of kite surfer too. He's also a keen windsurfer too, so one way or the other we should be ok!

We decided to go ahead and stay at Coco Reef in the end as it looked so nice and I'm sure we'll figure out transport issues when it comes to it.

Thanks

Michelle

[Wanda]

Hi
Sorry for late reply, just got back from Tobago!!
Pete was in contact with Cool Runnings before we left and then had long chats with the guys at Pidgeon Point. He is a fairly experienced kite surfer having learnt his art in New Zealand!! However, he did think that Pidgeon Point was by far the safest place especially for learners. Kite surfing is different from windsurfing with the harness and all and can be quite dangerous. Its probably a good idea to book lessons before you go so you are all set to make the most of your time in Tobago. Cool Runnings are well known and reputable so they look like a good bet.

We did visit the beach at the Hilton this holiday and saw one guy out there on his own. The speeds at which he was travelling were quite something else and it was obviously not his first time.

Have a wonderful time.
Wanda