myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

We're thinking of visiting in April, and have a couple of questions...

How easy is it to go from BWI to see turtles laying their eggs on the beach - how would we get there/back in the middle of the night?

We are vegetarian (i.e. don't eat meat or fish) - how much choice of food are we likely to see? Would we be better off self catering?

Cheers

Paul

Good evening Paul. Laying season is more around Late February to June. I have seen them as far as late July. I assume when you say turtles you mean Leather Backs. The place to see them is not Tobago but Trinidad either on Mayaro or better still in Grand Rivere. There is a small hotel/guest house there where you are guaranteed to see over a 100 every night during the laying season. It is phenominal. I can't remember the name maybe Steve remembers. I'm sure if you do a search on the web it will come up. Use Gran Rivier and hotel. If you can't find it, ask and I will check up on it for you.
Any of our rough water beaches in Tobago can lead to a chance siting. Turtle Beach Hotel is a good place to start but there is no guarantees in Tobago. In my 3 and a half years at BWI we have had 2 leather backs come up on the beach. What we do have though is 2 turtles ( a green and a hawksbill ) that live in our bay and can be spotted almost everyday. In fact you can swim with them. Where they lay I have no idea.
As far as vegetarian food is concerned we have one vegetable dish every night on the menu. With enough notice we can put something together for you every night. If you have any other questions, just feel free to keep asking.
Duane

Hi Paul,
I was over staying in the BWI last November, while not a veggie my wife does not eat a lot of meat and she had the vegetarian option a couple of times and she said they were quite nice and it changed regularly.

On the turtle front, we were there out of the laying season but I did see them quite a few times while out diving which was great. I think most of the nesting is on the caribbean side anyway so you may not see too much at BWI.



Regards
Kevin

Saw Turtles laying eggs on 4 occasions in May staying at the Rex Turtle Beach.

They also did veggie food

Paul, re veggie food...

You HAVE to visit the Kariwak, superb food for us grass grazers there and the staff are fantastic. One visit my girlfrind, son and I had Sweet potato & tomato soup, Zuchinni & Parmesan, curried banana, rice, cauliflower, coconut cream pie, macaroni cheese, ice cream, few drinks inc cocktails for tt$340. Lovely!

Store Bay Beach facility has loads for the veggie to have (Dhal roti a must!).

La Terreza was great (limited options but great food).

Tobago is nowhere near difficult for the veggie, although you may get offered a lot of eggplant!

Can anyone suggest some UK tour operators who offer BWI?

I was looking at Hayes & Jarvis but they seem to have stopped doing it...

Hi Paul,
I always book direct but I recall Virgin book will book a package to BWI.

Regards
Kevin

Regarding Duane's reference to turtles laying in Grand Riviere, details of the hotel can be found at http://www.legrandealmandier.com

We stayed there a couple of years ago and "100 every night" is no exaggeration.

Hotel accom is "rustic" (mosquito nets, no aircon, only 40 watt bulbs so as not to distract the turtles as you are right on the beach.)

Ooops, Le Grand Almandier was the hotel next door (there are two hotels at Grand Riviere.

The one we stayed at was Mt. Plaisir Hotel http://www.mtplaisir.com/.