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Massage on Mount Irvine beach
 

Out & About

Most visitors to Tobago are expecting beach holidays with lots of sun and sand. Tobago has an abundance of both and no other Caribbean island boasts quite the same range of often near-deserted beaches, varying from the pristine white coral sands of the Caribbean coast to the dark volcanic sands of the Atlantic coast.

By local law, all beaches are public land. However, the law also dictates that you cannot pass across private land to access a beach, other than with the owner's permission.

Nude and topless sunbathing is illegal in Tobago. The practise can cause great offense with some residents and visitors who disrespect these sensitivities may well find themselves chatting to the local constabulary rather than sunbathing. It is similarly important to cover-up when leaving the beach. So, please remember, no nude or topless swimming or sunbathing and cover up when off the beach.

Our Tobago beach guide is presented in six sections, corresponding to the standard geographical regions we use throughout this website. Listing appear in sequential order, in a clockwise direction, starting with the beaches immediately south of the airport.

To make the most of their holiday on Tobago, we would recommend that first-time visitors book an island tour with an established guide. Before committing to a tour, ask how large the party will be. Tobago is not geared towards large coach parties.

After getting your bearings and covering the basics with a knowledgeable guide, we recommend that you hire a car or SUV for a few days. Tobago is easy to drive around and navigation is seldom a major issue, despite the lack of road signs. The island is only 26 miles long and 8 miles wide and the road system primarily consists of a main road around the coastline with just three main roads crossing the island.

Tobago remains remarkably uncommercialised. Do not be surprised to find yourself the only tourists at many sightseeing spots. Plan your tours carefully; dining and toilet facilities are few and far between!

Choosing the best tour guides or excursion operators can make all the difference to your Tobago holiday. A good guide will leave you with memories to cherish. A poor choice may leave you full of regrets, with possible implications for your safety.

There is no legal or mandatory licencing of tour guides in Tobago. The previous voluntary schemes have been abandoned. Personal recommendation is hard to beat, so don't be afraid to take the advice and recommendation of other holidaymakers and the staff at your hotel or holiday accommodation. Our Reader Satisfaction Rating (RSR) are also an invaluable starting point. Please help us to make them even more reliable by casting your own votes when you return from your holiday in Tobago.

Visitors are strongly advised not to buy boat tours from itinerant beach salesmen. They are not boat owners and simply sub-contract the booking to established operators or, more worryingly, persuade a fisherman to take the visitors out. Boats licenced to carry passengers and visit the reef have registration numbers starting with the letters TL. Fishing boats are NOT licenced to carry passengers (so no insurance) or visit the reef and carry registrations starting with TF. So, save money (the salesman’s commission) and deal directly with the reputable boat operators listed in our Boat and Sailing Tours pages.

Tobago tour guides and excursion operators often offer a variety of services. So, the following lists include guides that are mentioned in more detail in the 'Activities' section of this site.

This page details Tobago's most important and popular social, cultural and sporting events and lists those public holidays that overseas visitors might not be familiar with. Wherever possible, we have provided links to the official websites connected with the event. We strongly recommend checking these sites for the latest dates and information.

Sadly, in recent years we have found it increasingly difficult to obtain accurate, reliable information about local events. All too often we find that the information we receive is wrong, or the event cancelled or the dates changed without notification. As a result, this page is no longer updated and so the information detailed here should only be used as an indication of the type of events that may (or may not) be experienced on Tobago.

No major events scheduled.

Harvest Festivals

Harvest Festivals are an important part of community life in Tobago, particularly in the more rural areas of the island. These events originated from the thanksgiving celebrations that traditionally took place after the annual harvest. They now recognise the importance of food in the local tradition. These often-vibrant celebrations normally take the form of a church service followed by a feast. Harvest Festivals take place throughout the island. We have sadly found it impossible to source accurate information about these events and would refer readers to the website link below, which offers an excellent diary of local events.

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