PIRATE'S BAY

[Mandy H]

Well my boyfriend and I are off to Tobago, and have just one month until we're on hols! My research is well underway, and on reading through the beaches section of My Tobago, I wondered what the access is like to Pirate's Bay.
Steve, you had an iupdate on this, (which I have pasted at the bottom of this post) but I wondered whether it was out of date or not.

Any ideas anyone? Thanks.

"Following winter storms, a large tree has fallen across the track, not far from the steps leading down to Pirate's Bay. Worse still, the sign saying "No Vehicles" was missing from the bottom of the hill when we visited. Hikers can get past easily, but not vehicles. The track is too narrow to turn around and reversing is white-knuckle stuff. Please don't risk spoiling an otherwise wonderful day!"

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Mandy

To be perfectly truthful with you, that tree was cleared the winter before last. However I haven't updated the warning simply because visitors should NOT drive up that track. I am a VERY experienced off-road 4x4 driver (real mud-plugger), but having once had to reverse down that track (because of the tree) I know how potentially dangerous it can be.

Simply do as every sensible person does and walk up the track. Its a lovely walk and there's absolutely no need to take a vehicle up there.

Have a great holiday.

[Paul T.]

Hi Mandy,

If you do not wish, or maybe are unable to trek up the hill and then down the steps to Pirate's Bay, then there is a man in Charlotteville named Sun Sun (? spelling) who will row you over in his boat for a small fee. He is a very nice guy and it only takes a few minutes. Pirate's Bay is awesome, the view you get as you walk to the bay is fantastic, and I can't wait to get back there in a few months. Steve is certainly right about not driving up there. I can't believe anyone could even back down it.

[Mandy H]

Thanks for your replies - looking forward to the walk, and the views!

We're real explorers so thanks to your website Steve, my research as to which beaches, restaurants, and sights we should visit is being made easy!

The thought of sipping a cold Carib on a deserted beach somewhere really appeals when I sit looking out on a cold morning in the UK!

[Nikos]

I think Pirate's Bay is the best beach I've been in, and it's almost deserted. Fantastic. Just don't count on finding any drinks or food there. Last summer there was a tiny shack that had ran out of beer by mid-afternoon. They probably brought just a couple with them for sale.

[Paul Williams]

Hi Mandy
When we were there last year some of the off duty fishermen from the village brought gear round to the bay and prepared a barbecue of chicken or fish at quite a reasonable price, they did not have any beer sadly only rum punch which was too much for lunchtime drinking so I had to walk back to Lydas bar and collect some cold caribs which were very welcome by the time I had walked back.
We shared these with a really nice German couple who were the only other people on the beach, its a lovely place.
Regards
Paul

[David Watkins]

Nikos,Pirates Bay is nowhere near deserted-at least not this week.There were literally a 100 plus there.there we ghetto blasters blaring,Ithought it was terrible.It seems to have been "adopted" by NA expats and part time residents as "there"beach!As to the track I think it says unsuitable for motors
David

[Tom Purnell]

Oh how I wished we had read your advice about the track to Pirates Bay when we visited there last week! Unfortunately a member of staff at Eastmans restaurant in Charlotteville told us that you could safely drive along the track to the Bay. When we arrived at the track there was no sign and at first it didn't look too bad - but believe me once you've gone up a bit you realise how dangerous it is. The choice you have then is either to carry on and hope you can turn round further up - or to reverse. We chose the former and eventually were able to turn round - but the drive back down was just as scary as the drive up. We only had a saloon car (in the back of which we had two young kids) so were sweating pretty profusely when we could feel the wheels spinning beneath us. I'm glad we didn't try to reverse. We never did get to Pirates Bay!

Later in our stay we got talking to a guy who said he was senior in the Tourism Ministry - he seemed genuine and when we told him about the lack of a sign he said he'd do something about it. Just hope he does.

[Andy D]

I know what you mean Tom,i did the same thing a few weeks ago but thankfully in a 4x4 jeep so a standard saloon car must have been a nightmare!! It was probably the most frightening thing i've ever done and will never attempt it again,put one wheel wrong and basically you're a gonner! We managed to turn and drive very slowly back down where we left the jeep and walked,the bay itself is stunning and well worth the treck,we managed to get a boat back to Charlotville so that saved a hot walk back. Lets hope some signage gets put up to disuade people from driving up there,in my opinion it should not be attempted.

so to sum up: DO NOT DRIVE TO PIRATES BAY! WALK!

[Steve Wooler]

I mentioned above about the time I had to reverse down the hill on the trail to Pirates Bay. It was a total nightmare.

The problem was that another vehicle, driven by a Trinidadian guy, came up behind me. His family (wife and two daughters?) got out of the car and walked down the hill, but insisted on walking down the middle of the track between the two vehicles. So, I not only had to worry about reversing down a narrow bumpy track with a sheer fall on one side, but two idiot girls who kept wandering about the road a couple of metres behind me. This guy didn't qualify for "driver of the year" and the entire half-hour journey was done in two metre hops with him stopping and getting assurance that he could continue from the family. I would have been better off parking by the fallen tree, going to the bay and coming back later. But, I was frightened that if I did that, somebody else might come up, have the same idea and then block me in.

I understand that it is becoming an increasingly regular occurence for people to drive up there and then be unable to turnaround because the only place wide enough is taken by parked cars.

Fortunately, I've recently been informed that a new glass-bottom boat service has started in Charlotteville, running a shuttle service to Pirates Bay. I have asked, but not yet received, details and prices. However, given that its a 2-minute journey, it can't/shouldn't be expensive. That will be by far the best way of getting to the beach.

[Louise I]

Son Son (mentioned in a post above) runs the glass bottom boat service. I don't think there are set times - the price is I think$20 TT (return). If you tell him you want to go he will arrange a time with you. If you don't see him Lyda or Charles and Jane (at Jane's Quality Kitchen) will give him a message.

On a Friday he comes back at lunchtime for some of Lyda's delicious roti..

He also hires beach loungers and snorkelling gear. But don't worry - Pirates Bay is still quiet!

[Steve Wooler]

Thanks for that Louise. At less than £1.70 per head, return, you would have to be made to try driving up to Pirate's Bay (remembering that you still have some 80 stone steps to climb down to get to the beach). I'm also told that if Son Son's not around, one of the local fishermen will soon run you over for a similar sum. You can't miss the fishing co-operative in the very middle of the village - just ask any of the guys hanging around there.

[Bryan Guignard]

I was at Pirate Bay in mid May. Son Son is still there and seems to be doing well. He also does larger tours to the coral gardens for snorkeling. The cost is about $100 TT for an afternoon. Very affordable compared to tour boats in other parts of the island.

As for the trail leading to the bay. Treacherous and downright deadly is the only way to describe it! We drove it in a small Suzuky 4x4! I was sorry we did. The trail was clear of fallen trees and there appeared to be some construction on one part of it. I couldn't tell if it was being widened, reinforced, or simply trench building going on.

Once you reach the top of the stairs there is a small lookout with enough room to turn around and park a couple of small vehicles.

With that said, NO ONE should ever attempt to go up there with a car, or any large vehicle. The trail is just too narrow, and the unfortified edge can easily collapse underneath your wheels. There's no place to go but straight down. It's a near vertical drop of over 100 feet!!

Even in a 4x4 jeep it is EXTREMELY dangerous to attempt it.

Walking is a much better idea. A bit strenuous but well worth the effort. It's barely a kilometer. Definitely the best way to go is by boat. Right across the street from the wharf is a restaurant which is affiliated with the Son Son tour boat (but I didn't see a sign indicating it), and other boats are easy to find.

I've been to almost every beach in Tobago, and Pirate Bay is without a doubt the best one for bathing!