myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Hi everyone, as a new user of the forum, let me first say thanks for all the helpful information on the site. Having all this info at hand makes me much more comfortable when traveling someplace new. My fiance and I are looking forward to our vacation in Tobago in early May.

I am currently booking a few tours with Peter Cox and Newton George in Tobago, but I am also very interested in the El Tecuche mountain hike offered by a few tour services on Trinidad. Before we head back to the states, we are spending one full day in Trinidad, and I was really hoping to find a guide for this trip. Unfortunately, we are having trouble finding a guide to take just 2 of us, they like a minimum of 4 people.

My questions are...has anyone here gone on this hike? Should have a guide, or would it be reasonable/ safe for us to go it alone if we can't find a guide? I would prefer someone with a good knowledge of the mountain to show us the way, but if I can't, I still really would like to go. Thanks

-Isaiah

Hello Isaiah

Welcome aboard!

Your question is a not something I have any personal knowledge of and I can't immediately think of anyone that can help, but I'll ask around. In the meantime, hopefully our happy (other moods of reader are available) band of readers will hopefully have suggestions.

I haven't a clue either ... but you could ask Ancle George of the Naturalist Beach Resort, he arranges a few tours over in Trinidad and has friends that can arrange sleep-overs ... he took me over there a few years ago and it was fantastic.

Regards

Check

http://www.islandhikers.com

and contact them. They should be able to give advice.

I do not recommend to try the hike by yourself without a guide. Also be aware that most of the hikes in the northern
range are quite demanding in terms of distance and climate.

Cheers,

Andy

Thanks for the responses everyone.

I am currently working with Caribbean Discovery Tours. They want a minimum of 4 people on the hike, but I am trying to make a deal with them in case they can't find 2 more people to go. They've been really good at responding to my questions so far, so I'm crossing my fingers. If it doesn't work out, I'll definitely be contacting others that you suggested.

I agree that going it alone probably is a bad idea, I've pretty much ruled that out after your responses. Many thanks again

Hey, I've hiked and mountain biked Trinidad's second highest point , El Tucuche, a few times it's defintely worth a visit. As recommended Caribbean Discovery Tours offers excellent guiding services. Also Island Hikers and Trinidad Backpackers.
As for the safety factor that y'all have been discussing.......I was robbed at gun point at the base of El Tucuche after a mountain bike ride a few years ago so good advice on the not going alone idea! We got lost and ended up somewhere we should'nt have ended up!!
Other than the getting lost factor at the top of El Tucuche the flora and fauna radically changes to Elfin Forest and a knowledgable guide makes the experience even more exciting.
Have fun.