myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Just returned from Tobago and made a visit to Pigeon Point. My first visit was pleasant 2 years ago, my second visit nine months later a little less appealing, but this year.... well..I know it was carnival and a holiday but I didn't expect the crowds there almost on top of each other looking for a space on the sand for their towels and loungers. The showers that worked 3 years ago are broken, the whole place looks uncared for and in need of repair, the ice cream parlour was no longer there and all in all not the picture postcard place I remember from my first visit. The fence at one point had been broken and provided an easy entry for anyone who might risk the wrath of the guards. Considering that they charge for visiting I feel they should upkeep the place to a higher standard. My advice is DONT BOTHER going there, give it a miss, after all Tobago has a wealth of beautiful bays and beaches.

I have read such a wide variety of opinions on Pigeon Point on this fantastic Web site -- going on nearly a year -- it would be impossible now not to go and see it for myself.
My interest in this stretch of sand is quite insatiable.

I was there back in Jan this year and it was pretty OK. Showers were working, not a lot of people, great beach. Only thing is that we waited far to long for the food at small Caribbean snack shop (although it was worthy.

Hi Jean

We have also just returned and agree totally with your comments on Pigeon Point. The day we went it was packed. It was almost impossible to find shade and the attitude of the person i/c loungers left a lot to be desired. The best part was the red snapper lunch from the local cuisine outlet which was worth the wait! As you say better bays to go to.

Pat

I was there in late Jan. this year.

I think that those of you who think that Pigeon Point is crowded must have been there when a cruiseship was in, which is really NOT a good time to be there. That is the time when you feel like a sardine and prices all of a sudden go up.

However, on any other day it is a very enjoyable place!

A little tip on the Caribbean food outlet: if you order your food in advance (like say an hour before you actually want to eat and when nobody is cuing up) the when you get hungry you just go up there, and wait max 5 minutes to get your delicious food while all the other people think that you must be a preferred guest

Mariann

There was not a cruise ship in on the day we went or we would not have gone there! The area is definitely not the picture postcard place it used to be as Jean original said. I believe it is in the process of being sold to local government (which is probably the reason that money is not being spent on upkeep at the moment).

Pat

We stayed for 2 weeks in February and Pigeon Point was very nice and not overcrowded at all when we visited. It is unique in its setting with a very spacious beach and beautifull views on the reef. Always something to see and look at. Negative: the hustlers who want to sell something.
We visited Englishman, Pirates, Speyside and Mt. Irvine, Stoneheaven etc. all have there own charm.

Rob

To know the latest about the sale of Pigeon Point see the following article from Tobago News ...


http://www.thetobagonews.com/index.pl/a ... id=1777094


Regards

Thank you Paul for that bit of info. It is a beautiful part of a beautiful island and such a shame that the people who live there don't go there because of the prohibitive entrance fee. Let's hope that the government can reclaim it and give it back to the island. Two years ago I was stopped from walking along the shore line when I reached the jetty. I did not know at that time that the jetty was never the property of the company running the Pigeon Point site. The manner of the "guards" was almost threatening and I am a slightly built pensioner- I would not have liked to have crossed them if I had been a young male! Let's hope Pigeon Point becomes accessible for all.

Hi Jean

Hopefully the sale will go through OK.

The main thing is to let the local businesses in there to ply their trades.

Keeping my fingers, toes, arms, legs and eyes crossed !!

Regards

A further update from the Tobago News can be found here:-


http://www.thetobagonews.com/index.pl/a ... id=1860339


A positive step in the right direction for Buccoo/Bon Accord and Pigeon Point?

Regards

Hiya,

I have just come back from Tobago this morning, since staying in Castara. My advice to you about whether to go to pigeon point all depends on what you like, If white sands and turqoise sea with a resort on the beach and coctails are your kind of thing then you will most probably love pigeon point but if you prefer the quiet stress free Tobago life then stick to the beaches like Castara and Englishmans bay, Pigeon point is a one of a kind beach on Tobago and many of the locals are against the beach for many reasons including the drug smuggling problem. Tobago is a beautiful place and we are hoping to for a third time next Easter as well because it is so good for the family.

I agree Emma although I was not aware of drug smuggling there.

At the insistence of my family I went back to Pigeon Point recently.

You still have to pay and put those ridiculous pink dayglow wrist bands on which always go round my ankle as a form of protest.

It is still pretty depending on which angle you are looking from. Get the angle wrong and you could see plastic bottles and cans littered all over the place, a building falling into the sea or the stump of a sawn off palm tree.

There was a floating jetty washed up on the beach and alot of other potentially dangerous debris (i.e.; broken glass).

The fence along the strip is an eyesore and has been broken in places and in a state of poor repair.

Erosion of the beach is so bad in places that some of the old shops are beginning to fall into the sea.

The daftest aspect of Pigeon Point is that Pizza Boys have a monopoly on food at grossly inflated prices ... erm, let me clarify, it was not food ... complete and utter indigestible slop that will leave an unpleasant after-taste at both ends of your anatomy for days.

I asked a guard if there was anywhere else to eat and he responded by asking me if I mean't "within the compound"? ... I nearly cracked.

The Rum Punch in the next door bar was like Cranberry Juice.

Need I say more? ... apart from the fact that you have to pay for all this !!!!!

Regards