myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Hi - I am really impressed by the information on this site and the helpful advice. So here I am looking for some.

I will be in Charlotteville on a Seabourn cruise stop from 1000 to 1800 in early December.

I'm travelling with an elderly relative who is quite frail. On my own, I'd be sea kayaking (complete beginner) or snorkelling (experienced) but that wouldn't really be the kind of thing my relative would or could enjoy.

Any ideas of what we might be able to do together and who to contact ? I was wondering whether the trip to Little Tobago (glass bottom boat etc) would be an option ? If so, who would I contact for details ?

Alternately, relative could stay onboard and get cosy with a book, and I could do my thing around Charlotteville. Any recommendations as to who I could contact there for kayaking/snorkelling or combination of the two ? Any suggestions as to snorkelling sites within easy reach of Charlotteville by water taxi or shanks mare ?

Many thanks.

Hi Graham,
the glass bottom boat trip could be done. They run from the Bluewaters Inn in Speyside which is about a 15 minute taxi ride away, you book the tours in the BWI car park.

There is a jetty so you will be OK getting in and out. The Little Tobago walk will be rather difficult. The walk is short but very steep in places. Last year my wife who is normally pretty fit was recovering from an illness and she found it very difficult.

There is good snorkeling at Pirates Bay just outside Charlottville you could walk to there, I think it will take about 25 minutes.

Hope this helps
Kevin

Dear Graham

We are going i think, on the same trip as yourself but earlier on in November.

I don't know if you have travelled with Seabourn before but they will arrange for taxis and cars to pick you up at different ports. Also they say in our cruise that depending on weather conditions they may have a marina day which is great fun. They open up the marina on board the ship and you can use all their equipment.

I would suggest either going on the glass bottom boat trip as you enquired ( water can be a little choppy sometimes here, so if your relative is not too good on little boats i would think twice!) or try to hire a taxi and do a small island trip. You will then see a lot more of Tobago including the rain forest and waterfalls. If you arrange for a two hour drive around, you can then safely deposit your relative back on board and still have time to either use the marina or go for a swim.

Unfortunately the stop isn't long enough to really see the island, it really is a gem.

If you hire a taxi, ask the driver to stop at certain places for you, he will know the best areas for a swim or snorkel, go to Englishmans Bay if you have the time - it is a lovely beach where the rainforest meets the sea. You can swim, snorkel and sit in the shade - this way both of you will have a lovely time. It is also safe enough for your relative to paddle their feet.

Kind regards

Sara

Hi Graham

Welcome aboard!

The first thing I have to say is that with only eight hours in Charlotteville you're going to have to be VERY selective in your plans. It’s either a choice of an island tour – which will no doubt be arrange by Seabourn – or snorkelling/kayaking, but not both.

To be perfectly frank, I doubt whether either will be totally suitable for a frail elderly relative. Tobago’s roads are hilly, narrow and twisty and there is a total absence of roadside (i.e. toilet) facilities, which may/may not be a problem. You need to be a good traveller in these twisty bumpy roads. To be totally honest, I don’t know what I would suggest for her.

Your own requirements are a little easier. The islands only proficient sea kayak expert is resident in Charlotteville. Clark Weissinger of Tobago Sea Kayak Experience is THE man when it comes to kayaking. He normally includes snorkelling within his trips.

You could then nip over to Speyside (15 minutes by taxi) and the Blue Waters Inn and go on a glassbottom boat to Little Tobago with some snorkelling over Angel Reef afterwards, if weather conditions permit. The afternoon boats leave at 2pm so it rather cramps your style with Clark – and not forgetting lunch at Sharon & Pheb’s, which is directly opposite Clark’s premises on the beach.

Looks like it’s going to be a busy day!

Thank you all for the fast response and even more for the excellent advice and suggestions.

Based on this, I think I will concentrate on the sea kayaking/snorkellling option for me and see if I can find a Seabourn crew member with an offshore day who would be willing to be a companion for my relative on a short taxi tour (in return for the trip, lunch and a generous tip, of course !).

Steve, I will be contacting Clark in the next couple of weeks to make a booking - thank you so much for the recommendation (thought - he might also be able to set up the arrangements for my relative, hmmm?).

Tony, we have indeed sailed on Seabourn before (lucky us), but not on this route (obviously !). I hope you will post a trip report here and on the Seabourn board at http://www.cruisecritic.com because I note there seem to be a lot of people planning for this voyage, although at different dates. So all will be anxious to hear your experiences and opinions, and adjust plans accordingly.

Of the various ports of call, I know Barbados, Grenada and Mayreau quite well. But the Orinoco Delta and Ciudad Guayana (Puerto Ordaz) are new. I am thinking that a land excursion to Canaimo National Park might be the best bet for us, but only if offered through Seabourn. The local tour guides seem a bit scatty judging by the reports.

Kevin and Steve, do you think Clark would take a novice kayaker to Pirates Bay for a snorkelling stop (I have my own gear)? I am really as interested (more probably) in being under the water than on top of it !

Thanks again, and cheers

Graham

Hi Graham

The best way to get to Pirate's Bay for snorkelling is by local fishing boat. There's always fishermen hanging around the shorfront near the fishing cooperative, so it's never difficult to find someone to take you on the 5 minute trip across - or a 20 minute walk up the hill and down some 70 steps cut into the hillside.

Clark would certainly take a novice - Jill had never been in a kayak before her trip out with him. However, he's not really someone to operate as a water taxi service. The best thing is to email him and discuss it. He could plan a nice outing, kayaking around the bay with snorkelling stops at Pirates Bay and Lover Beach - he knows the best spots.

Steve - that's exactly what I had in mind - a kayaking trip that would venture beyond Man O'War Bay with snorkelling stops (current and weather conditions permitting of course !)

Hi Graham

Just for your information: There's several other bays - the biggest being Hermitage Bay, Cambleton Bay (with Lover's Beach) and Pirate's Bay that are inset into the huge Man O'War Bay. Unless you are very expert, I don't think Clark would take you outside Man O' War - the tides and surge up there, at the junciton of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, are serious stuff.

Thanks Steve,

That's very helpful to know - big seas and surge are not for this novice !

Cheers

Graham