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.
Many of the beaches within this popular region are within reasonably comfortable walking distance of most holiday accommodation in Crown Point, Bon Accord and, to a lesser degree, Canaan. To give a sense of scale, we would mention that it is around a 20-minute walk from Sandy Point to the far end of Pigeon Point, walking via Store Bay.
Kilgwyn Bay and La Guira Bay are located immediately south of the Tobgo airport. They consist of a long stretch (1.4Km) of sandy beach with very shallow, warm waters leading out to Flying Reef, a popular Tobago dive site. The beach can be accessed by walking or driving past the Sandy Point Beach Club. Follow the road, parallel to the runway, until it becomes a dirt road. The beach is then a short walk. There are grape trees for shade. The beach shelves very gradually and is normally very calm, so great for kids.
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Originally an Amerindian settlement, Sandy Point is perched on the most western point of Tobago, at the end of the runway into Crown Point airport, this relatively quiet white sand beach is bordered by palms and sea grapes. Refreshments and facilities are available at various beachfront hotels. The beach is very narrow and a bit rocky. Swimming is limited and the area subject to strong currents.
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Store Bay is one of Tobago's most popular public beaches. Being within walking distance of a large number of hotels, guesthouses and holiday apartments, Store Bay is invariably busy. It is one of the few beaches with a lifeguard. There are changing rooms and toilets and a variety of small shops, restaurants and vendors, including several very well-known crab 'n' dumpling vendors. The beach is relatively small (240m) but the waters are sheltered and good for swimming. Trips are available from the bay to Buccoo Reef. The problem with Store Bay can be the number of beach vendors vying for business. A firm but friendly "no thanks" will get rid of most, but there are always the few who spoil it for everyone.
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Coconut Bay is a private picture-postcard 150m beach that belongs to the Coco Reef Resort. The small bay is protected by a rock breakwater to prevent high seas destroying the beach, as in did in late 1999. The sea-wall may not be a thing of great beauty, but it has become a mini-reef and presents guests of the hotel with a wonderful and safe snorkelling experience. The only access to the beach is via the hotel. Admission to the beach, facilities and restaurants is available to the public, but charges apply.
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Cable Bay is so-called because the main electricity and telephone cables from Trinidad land at this beach (although you will not be aware of this). The beach is located right at the bottom of Pigeon Point Road and borders Coconut Bay. This small (100m) yellow sand beach is reasonably sheltered, but becomes rocky further out. It is popular with local children.
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The peninsula of Pigeon Point boasts some 2Km of beautiful white-sand beach and is home to the famous thatch-roofed jetty that has become an internationally recognised signature for Tobago. It is Tobago's most-visited visitor attraction.
The peninsula became the property of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) in late 2005 and was renamed Pigeon Point Heritage Club. An entry fee of TT$20 (US$3/£2.50) per person (children aged 6-12 half-price and children under 6 free) applies.
Having paid your entrance fee, you will be granted access to a stunningly beautiful coral sand beach with calm, gentle protected waters and a bar and cafe. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for hire and there are toilet and changing facilities.
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The Bon Accord Lagoon is fringed by mangrove wetlands and an important habitat for many species of bird. The only access is by boat. A small spit of white coral-sand beach known as No Man's Land has become a popular venue for boozy beach barbecues.
onward to Region 2 and Buccoo Bay.....
Our Lower Caribbean region covers some five miles of coastline between Buccoo and Arnos Vale. This stretch of coast includes some of Tobago's most beautiful sandy beaches and present visitors with lots of opportunity for safe swimming and some of the best snorkelling on the island. Very few holiday accommodation properties will be within walking distance of more than one beach, so a self-driven rental vehicle is strongly recommended and will help you explore these wonderful beaches.
Protected by Buccoo Reef, Buccoo Bay has a long narrow white-sand beach and excellent swimming. The 1Km beach becomes very narrow and parts of it are inaccessible at high tide and at the far end is Marion's Rock and the overgrown ruins of a villa where Princess Margaret was supposed to have stayed (when she also coined the name 'Nylon Pool' as the waters were as clear as her 'nylon stockings').
You may also see the horses from Being with Horses once or twice a day, as they make their way along the beach and then back through the water. There are toilet facilities at the Buccoo Integrated Facility but when they are closed, you can ask at the Sunset Bar to use theirs. There is a lifeguard tower and lifeguards who supervise the main part of the beach daily and there are some vendors who sell food and drinks. During the main holidays, there is also a waterpark in the bay. The swimming is good and the beach is generally uncrowded but can get busy at weekends and local holidays.
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Grange beach is part of Mount Irvine Bay, but separated from the main beaches. Known locally as The Wall, this beach will be evident to most visitors as it will be their first view of the sea after passing the notable Buccoo Junction traffic lights and Mount Irvine golf course. The beach is only a relatively short 250m in length, but it is truly beautiful with soft golden coral sand. It offers excellent swimming when the seas are calm and brilliant surfing when the seas are running higher.
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Also known as Little Courland Bay, the main beach in Mount Irvine Bay is split into two sections, separated by a rocky outcrop that can generally be clambered over, particularly at low tide.
Often referred to as the 'hotel' beach, the smaller southern end of the beach is located directly opposite the Mount Irvine Beach Hotel. It features an excellent beach bar, belonging to the hotel. Although only 100m in length, this beach offers excellent swimming and shade.
The larger (150m) more northerly section of the beach offers the Mount Irvine Beach Facilities with changing rooms, toilet facilities, a snack bar and ample parking. The swimming is possibly not as good as at the hotel section. Both beaches are popular with surfers from December to March and can become crowded (by Tobago standards).
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Mount Irvine Back Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches on Tobago. It is very secluded, relatively small and very quiet and you will invariably find it deserted, not least because access to the beach involves a bit of a scramble down the cliffs. The main access is via a dirt track opposite Gleneagles Drive, about 400m after the Mount Irvine Beach Facilities. The beach is around 475m long, separated by a couple areas of black volcanic rock.
There have been a issues at this beach, probably due to its isolated nature. We advise holidaymakers to only go there in groups of at least 4-6 people and, preferably, in the company of a knowledgeable local.
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Grafton Beach in Stonehaven Bay is one of our favourite Tobago beaches. In fact, we spend more time on this beach than any other during our annual trips to the island. The beach is around ½ml/800m long (at low tide) and provides me with a wonderfully energetic daily constitutional walk whenever I'm staying in the area. The sea at the southern end of the bay can be boisterous for swimming, but the northern end, in the lee of the Black Rock peninsula, is totally sheltered and suitable for swimmers of every level. The snorkelling is not bad either. The centre of the beach is dominated by the Grafton Beach Hotel and its sister hotel, Le Grand Courlan. These hotels have an excellent, if expensive, bar and restaurant, directly on the beach and open to the public. Grafton beach is one of the three beaches in Tobago where the endangered giant Leatherback turtle comes ashore between March and June to lay their eggs which will hatch around three months later.
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Turtle Beach in Courland Bay is famous as a nesting site for giant leatherback turtles, which breed there between March-August each year. The northern end of the beach is dominated by the Turtle Beach Hotel (Rex Resorts). There is an excellent parking area, with direct access onto the beach but no other facilities, opposite the YMCA complex, halfway between Black Rock village and the hotel. Access can also be gained from Fort Bennett or any of the side streets in Black Rock village. The beach is over a mile (1.7Km) long and excellent for walking, although sections of the southern end feature outcrops of the black volcanic rock that gives the adjacent village its name. For more information on the turtle watching, we recommend that visitors have a look at www.sos-tobago.org.
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There are two bays with three small beaches just north of Plymouth village. These beaches are nearly always deserted and only used by locals. Finding the way to them is not easy, but access is basically from the old track that leads through Plymouth village to Arnos Vale bay. The larger of these Plymouth bays is known as Plymouth Back Bay - and should not be confused with Mount Irvine Back Bay. The second notable beach is Lover's Retreat.
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Arnos Vale Bay has a relatively small (200m) beach bordering the derelict Arnos Vale Hotel. There is public access via a small track though the woods on the left of the hotel entrance. The swimming is normally good at Arnos Vale beach and the snorkelling recognised as the best on the island. Sadly, since the hotel closed the beach is unpatrolled and generally deserted. A number of tourists have been robbed, with threats of violence. We can no longer recommend this beach, except to larger parties.
The Mot Mot Trail is an un-surfaced track along the coast between Arnos Vale and Culloden. It was the original coast road/mule track, many years ago. It makes a beautiful walk for anyone staying in the area. There are a number of hidden coves and beaches that can be accessed from the trail, although you will probably need to be accompanied by a knowledgeable local to find them.
onward to Region 3 and Culloden Bay.....
The coastline between Arnos Vale (Region 2) and Bloody Bay covers a straight-line distance of around 10 miles; a really fascinating 15-mile, 45-minute drive. There is very little in the way of visitor accommodation, restaurants or other facilities along this beautiful stretch of coast, other than at Castara or, to a lesser extent, Parlatuvier. However, it is undoubtedly the most beautiful stretch of coastline in Tobago.
Anse Fromager is a rocky stretch of coast accessible from the unmade Mot Mot Trail – the original mule track used to bring sugar from Culloden to the Arnos Vale plantation. There are a few hidden sandy coves, but access is down relatively steep cliff trails. It is unwise to attempt them, unless accompanied by a local with good knowledge of the immediate area, due to the risky consequences should visitors fall or injure themselves in this beautiful, but remote, area.
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Culloden Bay is a small rocky bay with a 75m sandy beach and a wonderfully unspoilt reef ideal for snorkelling. Follow the signs for the Footprints Eco Resort, but drive past the hotel entrance.
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A wonderfully unspoiled reef, ideal for diving, but the bay has no beach and is only realistically reachable by boat.
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King Peter's Bay is a very, very remote always-deserted bay with a 150m dark-sand beach. The bay is relatively open to the elements and the breakers can be quite spectacular when seas are running high. The beach has been badly spoilt in recent years by inconsiderate locals and tourists who have left behind their picnic leftovers and drink bottles. Very few beaches on Tobago are maintained, so please always take your refuse back to your hotel or villa for disposal.
King Peter's Bay is accessed via a 3-mile steep, narrow badly-deteriorating track leading off the main North Side coast road. There are no passing points on this track. If you meet another vehicle, one of you will have to reverse a considerably distance over dangerous and difficult terrain. Not recommended!
In recent years, there have been incidents of visitors being intimidated and robbed while visiting this beach. All things considered, we STRONGLY recommend giving this beach a miss.
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Gordon Bay and Celery Bay are two picturesque small bays with beautiful 100m sandy beaches. They are highly recommended. Celery Bay is more commonly known as Cotton Bay. In theory, the bay is accessible by track, but it is very difficult to find and we do not recommend that you attempt to. These bays are a favourite snorkelling and beach barbeque stopping point for boat tours that leave from Castara and/or the south of the island. Due to the very responsible 'no litter' policy of these boat operators, the beach doesn't suffer the same litter problems as many others.
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Castara has two beautiful golden sand beaches, both great for swimming. Big Bay is the larger, with 275m of wonderful sandy beach. This beach is also the prime focus of all village activity. Visit in the morning and you will invariably see the fishermen pulling in their seine nets. Separated from the main beach by a rocky outcrop is a smaller (125m), but much prettier beach, called Little Bay but more often referred to as Heavenly Bay. This smaller bay is home to most of the better holiday accommodation in Castara which, in turn, is undoubtedly the most popular holiday destination in Tobago with overseas visitors.
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After heading north-east from Castara, along the stunning North Side Road, your next sight of the sea will be as you drop down from the rainforest-clad hills into Little Englishman's Bay. Although picturesque, this small (50m) sandy beach faces north and catches the full force of the incoming seas, so is generally rough and rather unwelcoming.
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Half a mile before the turn-off to Englishman's Bay beach, you will come across a stopping point where you will get a stunning view of this spectacular beach; undoubtedly one of the most beautiful and most photographed in Tobago. The sheltered bay offers around 350m of powdery golden sand with generally calm water and decent snorkelling.
There is a small cafe, Eula's Restaurant, on the beach. Eula's family have many criminal convictions and are allegedly the most prolific petty criminals along the Caribbean coast. We STRONGLY advice that you refrain from any conversation with locals on this beach and under NO circumstances mention where you are staying and check to ensure that you are not followed when leaving the beach.
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Parlatuvier Bay is another of Tobago's most beautiful beaches and, once again, with a wonderful viewing spot just before the village when travelling from the south. There is around 400m of sandy beach, although the beach south of the pier shelves steeply and the waves can sometimes be vigorous. Parlatuvier typifies the gentle life in rural Tobago.
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It is claimed that Dead Bay was named after a spectacular sea battle where the beach was covered by dead bodies. The small 100m beach is only realistically accessible by boat. Fishermen in Bloody Bay may be willing to take you there.
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The macabre name for beautiful Bloody Bay allegedly originates from a naval battle around 1666 when an English fleet defeated a combined Dutch and French fleet. According to legend, so bloody was the battle that the sea turned red. Others claim that it was a battle between plantation owners and slaves. Who knows? I take all claims with a pinch of salt.
Bloody Bay is a glorious sheltered bay with nearly 400m of golden sands and clear blue waters. It is invariably deserted, except for a fisherman or two. So, the smart beach facilities built by the local government (THA) comes as something of a surprise.
This is the last notable beach on the northern Caribbean coast. From this point, you have the choice of continuing along the remote northern coast to Charlotteville, or cutting across the Main Ridge rainforest to Roxborough.
onward to Region 4 and L'Anse Fourmi.....
The North End, as we refer to it throughout this site, is Tobago's most mountainous area. The road between L'Anse Fourmi and Charlotteville was started in the early 1960's due to the civil engineering challenges it posed. It was not completed until 2006 and has been closed, having become impassable, a number of times since then, due to rock falls and mud slides after heavy rain. However, when open, the road is a wonderful excursion and highly recommended.
A small (100m) but stunning bay and beach. Anse Fourmi beach can be accessed on foot from the road leading to L'Anse Fourmi village. However, the 600m trail through the rainforest down to the beach is hard to find so your best bet is to drive into the centre of this quaint remote village, where time seems to have stopped, and ask a local for directions, or better still, hire a local to take you to the beach.
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The road from L'Anse Fourmi to Charlotteville passes through stunning unspoilt rainforest. Unfortunately, views of the sea are concealed behind the dense foliage. Your first sea view will be at Hermitage Bay. This has a beautiful 200m sandy beach with good swimming, but the track to the beach can be hard to find. There is a small hamlet just before your see the bay, but the chances are you won't see anyone to ask for directions.
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Cambleton is a small village adjoining, and slightly west of, Charlotteville. Like Hermitage Bay, Cambleton Bay is a small cove that is technically part of the larger Man O'War Bay. It has a small 50m sandy beach, but is only really accessible by boat.
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Man O'War Bay is a huge sheltered bay that includes several smaller bays, such as Hermitage, Cambleton and Pirate's Bay. Charlotteville boasts a beautiful 1km sandy beach, parts of which offer excellent swimming and snorkelling. It can get be less attractive around the village centre, where fishermen bring their catch ashore. The best area is towards Cambleton, where there is an intermittent lifeguard service, changing facilities and refreshments.
There are a number of smaller bays/coves within Man O'War Bay. These are only accessible by boat. Chief amongst them is gorgeous Lover's Bay, which features multi-coloured sand and some of the best snorkelling on the island. Two other bays worth mentioning are Dead Man's Bay and Waterfall Bay Both are remote and small and the beach largely disappears at high tide.
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Named after the shelter that it provided to marauding buccaneers, three centuries ago, charming and remote Pirate's Bay, with its 225m beach, is the archetypical deserted island beach. It featured extensively in the original 1952 film Robinson Crusoe.
My love of Tobago was born on this beach, more than 50 years ago. Pirates Bay could only be accessed by boat in those days. My young sister and I would row over and spend many a happy hour exploring the beach and snorkelling in the pristine reef. There is now an un-surfaced track up the hillside from Charlotteville It is a fairly demanding 20-minute walk including descending 170 steps to the beach. You won't regret the effort. The beach now has basic toilet/changing facilities, but little else. Please note: vehicles should be parked in the village. Do NOT try to take them up the track.
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Iguana Bay is a lovely, but remote bay on the northern tip of the island. Only accessible by boat. Offers great views of the St.Giles islands.
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Starwood Bay is a beautiful untouched bay. There is a nice sandy 200m beach, but much of it disappears at high tide. Leatherbacks have been seen here. Swimming is not recommended because the bay is exposed to the full force of the Atlantic, so conditions are invariably rough and there are dangerous currents. The beach and bay can be accessed via the track that passes the Blue Waters Inn.
You will pass a smaller bay called Belmont Bay on your way to Starwood Bay. It has no beach, as such, but offers nice views. The land is privately owned, but the caretaker welcomes a chat with visitors. The bay is subject to strong currents, so great care is needed.
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The beautiful 250m sandy beach of stunning Batteaux Bay forms a classic horseshoe bay, bordered by the grounds of the Blue Waters Inn. This effectively makes it a private beach, although non-residents are welcome to make full use the hotel facilities. In fact it was always our favourite luncheon spot when doing island tours.
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Tyrell's Bay offers nearly a mile of narrow beach bordering Speyside village, although much of this disappears at high tide. Due to the narrowness of the beach and the exposed location, very little of the beach is suitable for swimming or sunbathing. It is, however, a popular departure point for snorkelling and diving trips to Little Tobago and Goat Island. There is a also a small inlet called Bishop's Bay just south of Speyside, also within Tyrell's Bay.
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Lusyvale Bay is a small bay with 60-70m sandy beach. The beach is only realistically accessible by boat.
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King's Bay is a sheltered horseshoe bay with a nice 300m dark-sand beach, shaded by coconut trees and calm, warm water. There are good facilities, including showers, lifeguards and shaded cabanas. It is a good place to buy fresh fish and see fishermen "pulling seine". The site was once a large Carib settlement. Kings Bay Waterfall can be reached by a trail on the opposite side of the Windward Road, but be warned that the falls are often dry when there hasn't been much rain. There is also a smaller bay, called Delaford Bay, within the main bay.
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Queen's Bay has a short stretch of sandy beach accessible from the coast road, near Louis d'Or village.
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Prince's Bay offers a small stretch of rather scrappy narrow dark-sand beach, just south of Roxborough.
onward to Region 5 and Carapuse Bay.....
Tobago's Atlantic Coast, between Roxborough and Scarborough, is quite dramatic and strikingly different in appearance from the Caribbean coast just seven miles away over the Main Ridge of the island. Although worth exploring, few of the beaches on this coast are suitable for swimming and none for snorkelling.
Carapuse Bay is located alongside Belle Vue village, just south of Roxborough. It has a couple of stretches of dark volcanic-sand beach, much of which is only visible at low tide. Not recommended for swimming.
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Richmond Bay has an attractive beach, near the mouth of the river and overlooking Richmond Island. Adjacent coves are known as Mangrove Bay or Clarke's Bay and Bellevue Bay. This latter bay is normally quite calm by Atlantic-coast standards and can be accessed via a small road off the Belle Garden Bay Road junction.
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There are several dark volcanic sand beaches in Goldsborough Bay, which lies between Roxborough and Scarborough, particularly at each end of Pembroke village. The main beach offers safe swimming, but there are no facilities or shade. To access the beach, turn off at the crossroads at the bottom of the hill.
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Pinfold Bay has a small beach next to the ruins of Fort Granby. It is also known as Fort Granby Beach. The road to the beach is indicated by a sign on the Windward Road and takes you past a ready-mix concrete plant and the island's rubbish tip. The beach, however, is quite pretty although swimming is not safe here. It's a good walking beach and there is a small bar for refreshments.
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In the late 1700s, the original capital of Tobago, Georgetown, was established in the area now known as Studley Park, on the edge of Barbados Bay. The bay is very exposed and there is little in the way of beach.
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The lines of waves breaking into surf as the sea rushes in over shallow waters make Hope Bay (also known as Hillsborough Bay) easy to recognise. The beach is nearly a kilometre long and consists of black volcanic sand. It is invariably deserted. There are strong rip tides out to sea, so the bay is not considered safe for swimming, but it does make an excellent walking beach.
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Minster Bay has a long (1.3Km) crescent-shaped beach of dark yellow sand between Minister Point and Bacolet Point. It is a great beach for walking, with well-compacted dark volcanic sand. However, the coast suffers from strong rip tides and swimming is not advised. You will invariably find the beach deserted and should NEVER go to this beach other than in a group.
onward to Region 6 and Bacolet Bay.....
The Atlantic coast tends to receive the full brunt of the Atlantic Ocean, whipped up by the North-East Trade Winds. Some bays are sheltered by headlands and can offer excellent swimming and sunbathing opportunities, but there is no really decent snorkelling along these shores.
Bacolet Bay is a truly picture-postcard Caribbean beach. The beach is only 150m long, but relatively wide. The sand is soft and light. The rolling waves are popular with body-boarders. The beach bar facilities belong to the Blue Haven Hotel, located on the headland at the southern end of the beach, and the loungers, children's play area and toilet/changing facilities are for use of hotel guests.
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Few people use the name Rockley Bay, but this is home to the port and town of Scarborough, capital of Tobago. The bay has a few small stretches of beach, mainly south of Scarborough at Shaw Park, but these are not suitable for swimming.
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Little Rockley Bay has a long stretch of darkish volcanic sand, fringed by coconut trees and bordered by the old coast road. This is now bypassed by the Claude Noel Highway that runs between Scarborough and Crown Point.
The eastern section of the bay is also known as Banana Bay. This section of the beach is protected by a reef and offers good swimming. The beach is about 350m long and shelves very gradually, so the water here can actually be a little warmer than on the steeper-shelving Caribbean side.
Further down the bay, towards Crown Point, is over a mile of compacted golden sand beach that ends at the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort & Golf Hotel. This is arguably the best walking and jogging beach on Tobago. The beach is exposed to the full force of the North-East Trade Winds, coming in from the Atlantic, making it ideal for exercise. The waters here are very shallow and the area subject to rip tides, so swimmers should take great care. There is a large car park, erroneously signposted as Petit Trou, that provides immediate access to the beach. This area is also popular with kite surfers.
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Petit Trou is the name of the beautiful pristine mangrove lagoon that is now part of the Tobago's biggest development project, Tobago Plantations. This exciting development includes the Magdalena Grand Beach Resort (previously operating as Hilton Tobago), a championship golf course, commercial centre, shops and entertainment facilities and a medical centre. The lagoon has become an increasingly important habitat for birds and cayman.
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Protected from the prevailing winds and the full force of the Atlantic by the Lowlands headland, Canoe Bay has a small 100m sandy beach with shallow waters. It generally offers calm waters and is therefore a popular spot for local families with young children. The beach is surrounded by land belonging to the Canoe Bay Resort. Charges apply to park on their land and use their beach.
back to Region 1 and Kilgwyn Bay.....
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!
Buccoo Reef is a protected marine park and Tobago's most famous coral reef. Glass-bottom boat trips to the reef are available from various points, including Store Bay, Pigeon Point and Buccoo village. These excursions normally include a visit to the Nylon Pool, where you will be able to swim and snorkel in the shallow waters of the lagoon.
Fishing, land run-off, reef-walking and indiscriminate plundering of the coral for tourist souvenirs has almost destroyed the reef. Many visitors still enjoy trips to Buccoo Reef, but it is now a shadow of its former self.
The Buccoo Reef Trust does its best to conserve what's left of the reef, but they sadly lack the authority they need to truly protect this national treasure. We still hear occasional reports of unscrupulous tour boat operators providing visitors with reef-walking shoes. Never touch coral. Apart from the fact that the coral will die if touched you should remember that coral scratches can lead to serious infection. Fire Coral, can even give first or second degree chemical burns.
There is a fascinating article about preservation of the reef in our Scuba Diving section.
Scarborough may be the capital of Tobago, but Crown Point is the area where more visitors stay, and spend much of their time. Occupying the flat south-western tip of the island, Crown Point is home to the island's only airport and two most popular beaches – Store Bay and Pigeon Point. The area is serviced by an extensive list of hotels, guest houses, rental villas, restaurants, shops and other tourism facilities.
Although Store Bay and Pigeon Point are stunning, most of the Crown Point area is somewhat lacking in natural beauty. However, it is undoubtedly the most 'happening' area of Tobago. It can make a great base for a Tobago vacation, due to the proximity to the airport and the range of holiday accommodations, restaurants and other features, many within walking distance of each other. Best of all, it is little more than a 5-minute drive from the urban sprawl of the Crown Point area to the start of the more natural and beautiful parts of Tobago.
Technically, Crown Point is a small urban area adjacent to the airport. Throughout this website, and for reader convenience, we also refer to Crown Point as one of our listing 'regions'. The region covers an area approximately 3 miles wide encompassing the entire south-western tip of Tobago. It includes Crown Point and the adjacent villages of Bon Accord and Canaan.
Fort Milford is located on the western tip of the island, next to the runway at Crown Point airport, immediately after the Crown Point Beach Hotel. Built by the English in 1777, there is little left of Fort Milford except six cannons and a few crumbling walls. However, the sea views are lovely and the surrounding gardens are well maintained. It is a peaceful spot with lovely views, particularly at sunset, so worth visiting.
The Nylon Pool is a metre-deep crystal clear mini lagoon next to a white coral sandbar protected from the Caribbean Sea by Buccoo Reef. It was so-named by Princess Margaret during her honeymoon on the island in 1962, when she commented that the waters were as sheer as her nylons. It is a fascinating experience to travel a mile out to sea and then drop down into such shallow warm waters for a swim and to practise your snorkelling skills. Trips to the Nylon Pool are normally standard feature of all boat excursions to Buccoo Reef.
The peninsula of Pigeon Point boasts some 2Km of beautiful white-sand beach and is home to the famous thatch-roofed jetty that has become an internationally recognised signature for Tobago. It is Tobago's most-visited visitor attraction.
The peninsula became the property of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) in late 2005 and was renamed Pigeon Point Heritage Club. An entry fee of TT$20 (US$3/£2.50) per person (children aged 6-12 half-price and children under 6 free) applies.
Having paid your entrance fee, you will be granted access to a stunningly beautiful coral sand beach with calm, gentle protected waters and a bar and cafe. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for hire and there are toilet and changing facilities.
It's hardly a cave and had nothing to do with Robinson Crusoe, even though there are families on Tobago who claim to be descended from the fictional character. Still, its a nice story - but paying the landowner to visit the cave is a bit of a cheek.
Store Bay is one of Tobago's most popular public beaches. Being within walking distance of a large number of hotels, guesthouses and holiday apartments, Store Bay is invariably busy. It is one of the few beaches with a lifeguard. There are changing rooms and toilets and a variety of small shops, restaurants and vendors, including several very well-known crab 'n' dumpling vendors. The beach is relatively small (240m) but the waters are sheltered and good for swimming. Trips are available from the bay to Buccoo Reef. The problem with Store Bay can be the number of beach vendors vying for business. A firm but friendly "no thanks" will get rid of most, but there are always the few who spoil it for everyone.
Located on the Arnos Vale Road, on the outskirts of Plymouth, the Adventure Farm & Nature Reserve is a 12-acre nature reserve and organic farm. It is a wonderfully tranquil and peaceful place and offers a perfect breeding environment for birds, butterflies and iguanas.
Local birdwatching guides regularly take their guests to the Adventure Farm. Guests can sit and watch the birds in comfort while sipping mango punch or homemade mango ice cream. Over 50 species of bird are known to reside at the reserve. Five of the six species of hummingbird known to live on Tobago are resident there. Truly remarkable and strongly recommended, even if you aren't a keen birder.
The reserve is open Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm. Sunday's by appointment. Admission is US$10.
Tobago's main north coast road meanders around the outskirts of Plymouth and heads northeast to adjacent Arnos Vale. One of the oldest and most beautiful places in Tobago, the former sugar plantation that has given its name to the locality has been in chronic decline since purchase by its current, Trinidadian owners, some 30 years ago. The famous Arnos Vale Hotel closed a few years ago and is apparently derelict and beyond hope of restoration. The same applies to the fascinating Arnos Vale Waterwheel restaurant, owned by the same family, which was destroyed in a mysterious fire in 2015.
Arnos Vale beach is stunning and continues to offer arguably the best snorkelling on Tobago's Caribbean coast. It has always been the best place on Tobago to view hummingbirds and "Tea at the Arnos Vale Hotel" was a "must" for every visitor to the island, until the hotel closed. Fortunately, the mantle has been picked up by the Adventure Farm, so visitors can still experience these gorgeous creatures at close quarters.
This small village, with a population of around 1,200, is equally well-known for its weekly Sunday School event and for Goat Racing. It has an excellent beach and is a popular leaving point for glass-bottom boat tours to Buccoo Reef and the Nylon Pool from the jetty with the "I Love Buccoo" sign. The village seafront received a recent facelift with the new boardwalk with benches popular with both locals and visitors alike and lit with solar lighting at night.
Located on the western tip of Plymouth, next to Fort James and the mouth of the Courland River, the Great Courland Bay Monument was built in 1976 by a local artist and sculptor to honour the original settlers of Plymouth. These early settlers came from Latvia, which was then called Courland. Descendants of these early settlers still retain links with the island. There are great view of Great Courland Bay and Turtle Beach from this striking monument.
Fort Bennett is located at the end of a side street in Black Rock village. The rout is well signposted from the main coast road. This 17th century fort was built by the Dutch and then later refortified by the Courlanders and then, even later, by the British. Very little of the fort remains, but there are a couple of original cannons near the entrance. However, it is a lovely tranquil spot and well worth a visit. A delightful small gazebo offers shelter from the sun with stunning views over the bay. It is so easy to see why the location was chosen for defensive purposes.
Fort James is located on the headland at the western end of Plymouth, one of Tobago's oldest towns. Named after James, the Duke of Courland, the fort was established by the British in the 1760s, as a barracks. In 1777, the British erected a four-gun battery on the spot, manned by the militia, to protect shipping in the bay. The French captured and occupied the fort between 1781 and 1793. The four cannons and barracks remain and the well-maintained grounds make the site worth of a visit.
The Buccoo Goat Race started in 1925. It was the poor man's equivalent to the local gentry's preferred sport of horse racing. The horse racing course no longer exists, but traditionally the horse racing took place on Easter Monday. So, the following day was declared 'Easter Tuesday' and dedicated to the racing of goats. Nowadays goat racing takes place in nearby Mt Pleasant on Easter Monday and in Buccoo on the Tuesday. A second goat race is also held, mid-year, as part of the Heritage Festival.
Other goat races are also held during the year, one usually mid-year as part of the Heritage Festival and also around Christmas/Carnival time. Tobagonians take their goat racing seriously. The owners, trainers and 'jockeys' (who run behind the goat) should be given full credit for the amazing amount of hard work that goes into preparing their beloved goats for these races. So seriously is the event taken that the local government built a stadium for the event, which sadly isn't being used as much as it should to elevate this previously quaint fishing village more.
Professor Luise Kimme was a German sculptor. She lived near the village of Bethel in Tobago from 1979 until she passed away in 2013. Her unique 3-metre-high Caribbean sculptures of dancers and folklore characters, carved out of solid oak and cedar wood, are fascinating. Her studio and workshop, known locally as The Castle, is now run by fellow-sculptor, Dunieski Lora Pileta, and is well worth a visit. The museum is only open from 10am to 2pm on Sundays, but visits at other times can sometimes be arranged. There is an entrance fee of US$3.50/TT$20 per person.
Located on the western side of Plymouth, near the Courland Monument and Fort James, is the grave of Betty Stivens and her baby. Erected in 1783, the baffling inscription remains a mystery. The most likely theory is that it was erected by a European slave master after a taboo romance with a female slave. The ambiguous inscription reads: "She was a mother without knowing it, and a wife without letting her husband know it, except by her kind indulgences to him."
Plymouth is one of Tobago's oldest settlements and the first European settlement on the island. Plymouth is a neat and pleasant small town and home to about 1,300 Tobagonians. Tourism has largely bypassed Plymouth, although it's historical past makes it well-worth a visit to see Tobago's oldest stockade at Fort James, the Courland Monument and the enigmatic Mystery Tombstone.
Sunday School is a loud, vibrant music event that takes place in Buccoo every Sunday evening and night. The event used to be held on the main street, but since the construction of the goat racing stadium, it has moved to the boardwalk and open area in front of the Buccooneers Sunset Bar, home of the excellent Buccooneers steel orchestra, who put on a normally brilliant show from 9pm until around 11:30pm. The younger locals tend to stay on and party from midnight until around 4am.
Sunday School is a great place for people-watching and it is a free event but please note that the bar currently only accepts cash and there is no ATM in Buccoo. If you go by taxi, arrange for the driver to pick you up at a specified time and place. As at any public gathering, common sense rules the day.
Castara is Tobago's most rapidly expanding village. Tourists have taken this small quaint fishing village to their hearts and the number of visitor beds has quadrupled in the past few years. There are no hotels or genuinely upscale accommodation (despite the claims of some). However, we LOVE the open-style wooden houses and the friendly community spirit of this lovely fishing village. It won't suit everyone, but if you're tired of antiseptic hotels that could be anywhere in the world, then Castara is a must. The village has two lovely bays with excellent beaches with excellent swimming and snorkelling.
Tucked away on the edge of the rainforest and just a short and pleasant walk from the centre of Castara village is a lovely little waterfall that is well worth a visit, particularly as chances are that you will be the only visitors and so can enjoy a totally private swim in the natural rock pool at the base of the falls. The falls are easy to find: just take the dirt track beside Cheno's Coffee Shop and cross the recreation ground to the top corner where you will find the trail along the banks of the river.
The Highland Waterfall at Moriah is one of our personal favourites. Like so many of Tobago's best features, it is totally unmarked, so finding it without a guide is difficult and should not be attempted, not least because it is in such a remote area that you are unlikely to see another soul so there's little chance of asking for directions. Getting to the falls involves some off-roading across a bumpy dirt road and a 10-15-minute hike alongside an gorgeous small river. Some areas can be a lit difficulty to climb past, so this is not a trip for anyone with mobility or agility issues. Once there, you will have earned a cooling dip in the natural pool beneath the falls. This is not an excursion for the unfit and sturdy shoes (not flip flops) are essential for your comfort and safety.
Mount Dillon is one of the highest points on the northern Caribbean coast and Mount Dillon Lookout a great place to break your journey and admire the views. You will see the turnoff to the Lookout on your right, a few miles before Castara. It is a beautifully peaceful place and on a clear day, offers stunning views of Castara and the surrounding area.
Sisters Rock is a distinctive small group of rock pinnacles rising out of the sea off Bloody Bay. They are clearly visible from the lookout area at Parlatuvier. They are a popular dive site. There is also a smaller rock pinnacle, Brothers Rock, nearer shore.
An 18th century legend claims that one stormy night, Gang Gang Sara was blown to Tobago from her home in Africa. She then travelled to Golden Lane in search of her family. She married Tom, a slave she had known since her childhood. After Tom dies (modern variants of the legend claim that it was after Emancipation, when the slaves were freed) Gang Gang Sara tried to return home to Africa. She climbed a great silk cotton tree but fell to her death, not realising that her powers of flight had been lost because she had eaten salt.
The graves of Tom and Sara can still be seen in the Golden Lane cemetery, together with the marked graves of some fifteen other slaves. Sadly, over the years local homes have been built in the cemetery and the place is a total tip. Villagers charge tourists to view the graves. However, the fabulous silk cotton tree from which Gang Gang Sara allegedly fell, and which is believed to be the tallest in Tobago, is a prominent feature beside the Northside coast road.
Angel Reef is a shallow living reef on the leeward side of Goat Island, between Speyside and Little Tobago island. Although not as famous as Buccoo Reef, Angel Reef has not been plundered and ruined by years of abuse in the same way as the former. It undoubtedly continues to offer the very best snorkelling in Tobago. Regular daily boat trips operate from Speyside and the Blue Waters Inn in Batteaux Bay to the reef, normally in combination with visits to Little Tobago. Something for everyone!
Located beside the coast road, on the Scarborough side of Roxborough, the Argyle Waterfalls are Tobago's highest waterfalls, tumbling 54m/175ft in a series of stepped cascades.
The admission fee of TT$60 is payable at the Roxborough Visitor Service Co-op office near the entrance. The office will help you to hire an authorised guide if you want one. It is a pleasant 15-20-minute walk along clearly marked trek from the parking area to the falls. The falls are at their most impressive during the wet season.
We strongly urge visitors not to stop and/or hire any of the unofficial guides that hang around the parking area or outside the entrance to the falls. We have received further reports of visitors who visit the falls in the late afternoon, after the main office closes, being subject to intimidation by these 'unofficial' guides.
Cambleton Battery is located on a spit of land overlooking Man O'War Bay. Canons were sited here to protect the bay. Lookout on Flagstaff Hill would signal the battery by mirror when they saw ships appearing from any direction. Cambleton Battery is beautifully maintained and landscaped by a local family who live next to the battery. It is a wonderful place to relax and provides spectacular views over Charlotteville on one side, and across to Hermitage Bay on the other side. It is well worth the pleasant 15-20-minute walk from Charlotteville.
Charlotteville is an unspoilt fishing village and Tobago's most northerly settlement. The village contributes some 60% of the island's fishing catch. Life in the village revolves around the fishing cooperative, in the middle of the village. The best swimming and beach area are towards the start of the village, nearer to the adjacent hamlet of Cambleton. There are no hotels in Charlotteville and precious little visitor accommodation. The village has one small supermarket (their description, not ours) and just a couple of local restaurants. For all that, it is a vibrant place that should be on your list of places to visit.
Located at the end of an un-surfaced track on the crest of the hill behind Charlotteville, Flagstaff Hill was an American military lookout and radio tower during World War II. The lookout provides breath-taking panoramic views of Charlotteville, Man O' War Bay and the St Giles & Melville' Islands, which mark the meeting of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
I first visited Flagstaff Hill in 1960. There was no access by vehicle in those days - it was an hour's hard slog through the steaming jungle-like cocoa plantation. The view was worth it and we still treasure the photographs taken at that time. There is now a paved road to the lookout, but be warned that turning around at the end can be tricky, particularly when other vehicles are there.
The Gilpin Trace is the best marked and most easily identified trail in the Tobago Forest Reserve. It is easily identifiable on the Roxborough-Parlatuvier road and the entrance is clearly indicated by a sign beside the road - and by the young guides who will rush out into the road, try to force you to stop and attempt to persuade you to use their services. They may at first appear intimidating, but are generally good natured and a polite "no" is enough to deter most. However, if you are going to go into the rain forest, it is important to do so with a guide. Personally, my choice would be to pre-arrange a rainforest tour with one of the established guides listed on this site.
Popular myth states that Goat Island was once owned by Ian Fleming, the author of the James Bond books. However, Fleming's official biographer and members of the family deny that he ever had any connection, or owned, property on Tobago. Nevertheless, the tiny island was purchased by Tobago's local government in 2011. There is no public access to the island.
Jemma's Treehouse, or Jemma's Seaview Kitchen to name it correctly, is a restaurant that has become more of a sightseeing feature than a place of culinary excellence. The restaurant is somewhat incongruously positioned in, and around, a seafront almond tree. It offers great views of Goat Island. All the bus tour parties tend to stop here and it can become extremely busy and the vibe is very touristy, but many visitors love the experience. Closed Saturdays.
Telephone:+1(868) 660-4066
The King's Bay Waterfall has been little more than a trickle of water since a dam was built further up the river. It is best visited after heavy rain, during the rainy season. Park in the Kings Bay car park then take a 10-minute hike along the track beside the river. You may need to ask a local for directions.
If you continue east on the road past Bloody Bay you will come to the wonderfully-named village of L'Anse Fourmi. Here, you will really feel that you have entered another world. The villagers are curious but quietly welcoming. There are no restaurant and no visitor accommodation in the village, but the local beach is worth a visit if you have time (ask directions – it's not easy to find).
L'Anse Fourmi is the last settlement before Charlotteville. This section of road was started in the early 1960s, then stopped after Hurricane Flora reeked devastation in 1963. The road was not finished until 2007 and it has been regularly closed for long periods of time since, being very susceptible to rock falls and mud slides. It is, however, a lovely drive and a great way to experience the true Tobago.
This offshore island is home to one of the most important bird sanctuaries in the Caribbean. Red-Billed Tropic birds nest there from October to June. Tours to the 450-acre sanctuary depart from Speyside village or the Blue Waters Inn at 10am and 2pm. The ride over can be a bit choppy, so those with poor sea legs, like myself, are advised to take seasickness tablets half an hour before departure. The crossing normally passes via Goat Island and Angel Reef.
Just a short distance from the Argyle Falls, this nursery offers a colourful and attractive collection of flowering tropical shrubs and fruit trees.
At 572m/1900ft, Pigeon Peak is Tobago's highest peak. There are two routes to the top through the forest, one steeper, the other longer. Both take about three hours. You will need to hire a guide from Speyside.
Roxborough is the largest village on the Windward side of the island, after Scarborough. Access to the Argyle Waterfall is on the left just before the village. Shortly after the entrance to the falls, you can take the left turn and travel over the spectacular Tobago Forest Reserve to the northern Caribbean coast. Alternatively, continue up the Windward Road to lovely Speyside and Charlotteville. Other than that, Roxborough has little to offer. There are no hotels, guesthouses, restaurants or visitor attractions.
Located just off the most northerly tip of Tobago and marking the junction between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea are a group of large rocks. Privately owned until 1968, the rocks were presented to the national government for the establishment of a wild-life sanctuary. The largest rock is known as St.Giles or Melville Island. An adjacent high rock is known as London Bridge due to its distinctive shape. These rocks have become an important seabird breeding habitat.
Speyside is a different world to the busy southwest of Tobago. This small village of around 750 inhabitants is located in Tyrell's Bay, on Tobago's northern-eastern Atlantic coast. Its best-known to tourists as a departure point for excursions to Little Tobago island and for the excellent snorkelling available on Angel Reef, just off Goat Island. Tyrell's Bay has the most pristine reefs in Tobago and is considered the island's leading scuba diving destination. For that reason, most of the hotels and visitor accommodation in the village is centred on underwater attractions. The village has three small hotels and several small daytime restaurants, including Jemma's Treehouse restaurant which is visited by most tour parties.
Enterprising Tobagonian Duane Dove is breathing welcome life into one of the island's rapidly disappearing cocoa estates. The estate now produces high quality cocoa beans which are then shipped to France for refinement into high-quality chocolate bars by a master an artisan chocolatier. Tours of the working plantation are offered during the peak holiday months, together with a small souvenir shop and cafe.
The Gilpin Trace is the best marked and most easily identified trail in the Tobago Forest Reserve. It is easily identifiable on the Roxborough-Parlatuvier road and the entrance is clearly indicated by a sign beside the road - and by the young guides who will rush out into the road, try to force you to stop and attempt to persuade you to use their services. They may at first appear intimidating, but are generally good natured and a polite "no" is enough to deter most. However, if you are going to go into the rain forest, it is important to do so with a guide. Personally, my choice would be to pre-arrange a rainforest tour with one of the established guides listed on this site.
Corbin Local Wildlife Park is a lovely project near Mason Hall dedicated to preserving Tobago's wildlife. Large enclosures house rescued and endangered animals such as tattoos (armadillos), quenks (wild pigs) and iguanas, with the aim of breeding and releasing them to increase local populations. A large area of forest borders the park, which offers the opportunity to see many more species along a number of hiking trails. There is a bird hide overlooking a large pond which attracts caiman and lots of bird species, such as manakins, honeycreepers and woodpeckers. Tours are available by pre-arrangement.
The Craig Hall Waterfall is a pleasant spot to break your journey, stretch your legs and enjoy a few minutes of quiet solitude when travelling from Scarborough to the Caribbean coast. It is the easiest Tobago waterfall to get to and will be found on the right side of the main road, less than half a mile from Mason Hall and while heading towards Moriah. After dropping down the hill, you will see the Craig Hall Intake run by the local water company, WASA. It is just a short walk down concrete steps to a nice seating area that gives a good view of this pleasant small waterfall.
Fort Granby was built in 1768 to protect the island's short-lived capital of Georgetown, in what is now known as Studley Park. It was the first fort built by the British on Tobago. There are no traces of the fort left, except the gravestone of a young soldier. The grave is set on a pretty wooded headland with nice views and benches are provided under the trees. Nearby is the Dry Dock Pub - a small local restaurant made from a converted boat, the Marquis of Granby.
The Genesis Nature Park & Art Gallery is located at Goodwood, midway up the Windward Road between Scarborough and Roxborough. This small nature reserve and art gallery was converted from the garden and living room of local artist, Michael Spencer, who paintings and sculptures are for sale. Resident wildlife includes two capuchin monkeys, boa constrictors, turkey, turtle, agouti, parrot, wild hogs, cocrico, caimans, silky Bantams, squirrels and fish.
The Greenhill Waterfall is a small fall located on the left of the road between Studley Park and Green Hill. It is best visited during the latter part of the wet season as it can dry up during the dry season. The waterfall is about a five-minute hike from the car park.
The Hillsborough Dam is the main source of drinking water on Tobago. The dam is now only accessible by permission from the Water & Sewerage Authority (Tel: 639-9093) and a fee is charged. The reservoir is located 870 feet above sea level and in an area of dense rain forest. It is an excellent area for birding (herons and waterfowl) and caiman. Some of guides use unmarked trails in and around the area to access parts of the dam.
Nutmeg Grove is the historic site of an old sugar mill that is being lovingly restored by a local community group, the Nutmeg Grove Association. The site is easily accessible from Mason Hall. Follow the Easterfield Road east (towards Hillsborough Dam) for half a kilometre. You will see a sign for Nutmeg Grove on the left of the road. Follow this good secondary road for around 400m to the site.
Telephone:+1(868) 639-5611
A short distance from Goldsborough Bay, the Rainbow Nature Resort is a converted cocoa house that now operates as a restaurant with accommodation. Rainbow Falls are a 10-minute walk away. Guests are provided with boots to walk the pretty stream that leads to the falls, with kingfishers and lizards to keep you company.
Located at Belle Garden, on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Richmond Great House is one of the oldest surviving Colonial plantations in Tobago. The stately old plantation house was built in the 18th century and has been sympathetically refurbished several times during its life, retaining as much of the original as possible. The house now allegedly operates as a bed and breakfast establishment but we have been unable to contact the property for confirmation of this. Well worth dropping in just to see this wonderful historic building and well-maintained grounds.
Located beside the main highway that passes around Scarborough (Claude Noel Highway) and stretching down to the downtown area of Lower Scarborough, the 10-actre Botanical Gardens represent a quiet oasis in the bustle of this small town. It is a perfect place to relax amongst the brilliant colours of the flamboyant trees, silk cotton trees and avenues of royal palms. There are two entrances to the gardens; the first located just off the Claude Noel Highway and the second, from Gardenside Street.
Just a short drive or walk from uptown Scarborough, the remains of Fort King George remain one of Tobago's best-preserved monuments. The approaches to the fort pass the original Colonial Hospital prison. The hospital was still in operation until recent years, but has now moved to a modern facility on the outskirts of Scarborough.
Fort King George was built in the 1770's and the cannons remain as they were, overlooking the coast. The prisoner's bell tank, barracks and officer's mess can still be seen. The Tobago Museum is housed in the Barrack Guard House and has artefacts from Tobago's early history.
The Orange Hill Nature Ranch is located on a former sugar cane estate in the hills near Scarborough. It is a fascinating place to visit. Owner Josefa Patience keeps some 60 goats and produces fresh goat milk, fantastic feta cheese and delicious yogurts. She also produces a range of cow's milk yogurts flavoured with local fruits. Many of the best restaurants on the island specialise and feature her products, for obvious reason, and you can increasingly find them in local supermarkets.
The capital of Tobago is home to a population of about 17,000. The town has little to commend itself, although the esplanade, adjacent to the port, has a selection of jewellery, leather, baskets and wood carving stalls. The Botanical Gardens are a calm oasis but otherwise there is little to interest the average visitor and virtually no decent accommodation or restaurants. The market is vibrant and can be worth a look around. Visitors expecting serious retail therapy will be seriously disappointed. The town consists of two distinct area – Downtown Scarborough, which houses the port, sea front and main retail areas, and Uptown Scarborough, which is primarily the commercial area. Scarborough port is a deep-water harbour and accommodates container traffic and cruise ships, in addition to the inter-island ferries between Tobago and Port Of Spain in Trinidad.
Located in Lower Scarborough, virtually opposite the port and seafront, Scarborough Market can be an interesting experience for visitors. This is where most market gardeners and traders come to sell their fish, fruit, vegetables and local foods. It is a vibrant place and a wonderful way of getting some feel for local culture.
Visitors interested in Tobago's chequered history will love a visit to the private home of octogenarian Uncle George Leacock. His house is a living museum with artefacts from several generations of his family, back to the times of slavery. His house can be found on the road from central Scarborough to Fort King George. Just ask anyone in that area and they'll point the house out to you. There's no charge, but please show your appreciation in the time-honoured way.
The Tobago Museum is housed in the Barrack Guard House at Fort King George and has artefacts from Tobago's early history, plus Amerindian artefacts, military relics and documents from the colonial period. The old officer's mess is now a craft shop and the former military hospital is home to the National Fine Arts Centre which displays Tobago art and sculpture. The museum is open from 9-am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Admission TT$5 adults.
Trinidad is a short 25-minute internal flight away from Tobago and offers boundless opportunities for adventurous visitors. Trinidad is rich in sightseeing opportunities, but the security situation on that island, particularly around Port of Spain, means that it is not advisable for visitors to wander around on their own. Much of Trinidad is perfectly safe, but it would be easy to inadvertently wander into areas that should be avoided at all costs. We must therefore sadly recommend that overseas visitors ONLY visit Trinidad with an experienced guide.
Apart from the world-famous annual Port Of Spain Carnival, the most popular Trinidadian excursion for visitors to Tobago is undoubtedly the Asa Wright Nature Centre in Trinidad's beautiful northern hills. Hugely popular with bird watchers, but of interest to anyone interested in nature, day trips to Asa Wright are offered by many of Tobago's best bird watching guides and tour services. These trips are normally combined with a boat trip to the Caroni Swamp Bird Sanctuary at sunset, where you will see tens of thousands of the spectacular Scarlet Ibis, Trinidad's national bird, returning from feeding trips to Venezuela before roosting overnight. Other popular guided excursions include trips to Trinidad to see the unique La Brea Pitch Lake.
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.
| Alison Bascombe | Island tours | ||||
| Ellis Clarke Tours | Island tours, rainforest, jeep tours | ||||
| Esther Lyons | Island tours | ||||
| Frank's Glass Bottom Boats | Snorkelling and Little Tobago tours | ||||
| Frankie Leander | EXTREME CAUTION ADVISED | ||||
| Jeb McEachnie | Birdwatching and nature tours | ||||
| Newton George Tours | myTobago Recommended. Birdwatching, Nature. Internationally recognised as Tobago's premier bird watching guide. | ||||
| Randy Denoon | Little Tobago bird watching tours | ||||
| Renson Jack | Plants and nature tours | ||||
| Top Ranking Reef Tours | Snorkelling/Little Tobago tours, island and waterfall tours | ||||
| Wayne Gray Tours | Birdwatching, nature, island tours | ||||
| Zee Birding Tours & Nature Hikes | Bird Watching and Nature Hikes |
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.
No major events scheduled.
Previously known as the Angostura Yachting World Regatta, this event, which is also known as the Festival of Wind, might not be the biggest Caribbean race week, but it is certainly one of the best. Held prior to Carnival, the event features four days of yacht racing in multiple classes. In recent years, kiteboarders and windsurfers have been included. The event is staged from the Pigeon Point Heritage Park and is accompanied by various organised and unorganised parties, games and general partying.
Event Dates:19-21st February 2021
This public holiday is celebrated on 30th March each year to commemorate the abolition of the British-instituted Shouters Prohibition Ordinance, which forbade participation in this African-influenced religion.
Friday, 2nd April 2021 is also Good Friday and will therefore be a public holiday in Trinidad & Tobago.
Monday, 5th April 2021, is the Easter Monday public holiday in Trinidad and Tobago.
The Buccoo Goat Race started in 1925. It was the poor man's equivalent to the local gentry's preferred sport of horse racing. The horse racing course no longer exists, but traditionally the horse racing took place on Easter Monday. So, the following day was declared 'Easter Tuesday' and dedicated to the racing of goats. Nowadays goat racing takes place in nearby Mt Pleasant on Easter Monday and in Buccoo on the Tuesday. A second goat race is also held, mid-year, as part of the Heritage Festival.
Other goat races are also held during the year, one usually mid-year as part of the Heritage Festival and also around Christmas/Carnival time. Tobagonians take their goat racing seriously. The owners, trainers and 'jockeys' (who run behind the goat) should be given full credit for the amazing amount of hard work that goes into preparing their beloved goats for these races. So seriously is the event taken that the local government built a stadium for the event, which sadly isn't being used as much as it should to elevate this previously quaint fishing village more.
The Tobago Jazz Experience is Tobago's biggest annual music event and celebrates Caribbean jazz, the indigenous music of Trinidad and Tobago and new music from around the world. The 8-day event is held at venues throughout Tobago, including Speyside, Signal Hill, Scarborough, Castara and Pigeon Point Heritage Park.
Event Dates:22nd-25th April 2021
The Tobago International Game Fishing Tournament began in 1995 as a loosely organized, just-for-kicks fishing tournament staged from Pigeon Point. Just a handful of boats participated, but it proved to be the start of something that has endured and grown beyond those humble beginnings. The event has now relocated to the north end of Tobago, in the wonderfully friendly village of Charlotteville. The Tobago International Game Fishing Tournament attracts anglers from near and far; from the Caribbean to North and South America, even as far as Europe, and draws big game fisherman who can appreciate great camaraderie, competition and fishing conditions.
Event Dates:11th-15th May 2021
Eid-al-Fitr is a public holiday to mark the end of the Islamic month of Ramadan, which is a month of fasting and prayer. Many Muslims attend communal prayers, listen to a khutba (sermon) and give zakat al-fitr (charity in the form of food) during Eid al-Fitr. The event is more significant in Trinidad than Tobago.
Event Dates:13th May 2021
Indian Arrival Day is a public holiday celebrated on 30th May each year to commemorate the arrival of the first Indian Indentured labourers from India to Trinidad, in May 1845.
Event Dates:30th May 2021
Corpus Christi is a Christian feast in honour of the Holy Eucharist. It is a public holiday in Trinidad & Tobago.
May Day, or Labour Day, is a public holiday in many countries worldwide, including Trinidad & Tobago, where it is celebrated on 19th June. It is associated the start of spring as well as the celebration of workers.
Dragon Boat racing was introduced to Trinidad & Tobago in 2006 to celebrate the arrival of the first Chinese indignant workers to Trinidad 200 years before. The event proved popular and has now become an annual fixture. The event, which is held at the Pigeon Point Heritage Park in Tobago, is a test of speed and skill.
Event Dates:26th-27th June 2021
A celebration of the patron saint of fishermen, starting with a BBQ followed by a street party. The Fisherman Festival originated as part of the religious St Peter's Day observance. St Peter is the patron saint of fisher-folk, and so the festival naturally evolved. The fun filled weekend kicks off with a Friday evening barbeque followed by a street party where you can 'boogie down' until the sun comes up! The pace picks up on Saturday where the action moves to the Charlotteville Recreation Ground for a 20/20 cricket game followed by a tug-o-war contest, greasy pole races, egg and spoon races and much more, followed by an evening party with well-known local deejays and live music.
Event Dates:last week of June each year
The Great Fete Weekend is a huge annual beach party held at Pigeon Point Heritage Centre and other popular locations in Tobago. Top DJs, as well as Soca, Hip Hop and Dancehall stars from Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, USA and other Caribbean countries, make this an unmissable event. The party was born out of the celebrations surrounding the annual power boat racing event. The best parties were to be found at Pigeon Point beach and they came to overshadow the race itself. Now it has become an event in its own right.
Event Dates:21st-25th July 2021
The Tobago Heritage Festival is a cultural event dedicated to preserving the island's cultural traditions, including music, dance, storytelling and food. Tobagonians are very proud of their culture and history. The Tobago Heritage Festival occurs every year from the middle of July to early August. Villagers from different communities comes out in their glory to perform with folk singing, dancing and feasting. The villagers dress up in traditional costumes that depict village life from the early 1900's. During the year each community has its own festival. Each village has different events which range from 'ole time mas, 'ole time dance, old time wedding, limbo and jig to stick fighting.
Event Dates:July/August annually, various locations
A public holiday, celebrated on 1st August each year, to mark the anniversary of the abolition of slavery in 1838. There are church services, street processions, an Emancipation Village and special entertainment. Trinidad and Tobago were the first country in the world to declare a national holiday to commemorate the abolition of slavery.
Previously known as the Carib Great Race, this is an exciting power boat race that starts in Trinidad and ends at Store Bay in Tobago. Boats of different classes compete in different classes. Some of the power boats average more than 90 mph on the 85-mile crossing.
Event Dates:21st August 2021
This public holiday is celebrated on 31st August each year and marks Trinidad and Tobago's independence from the United Kingdom in 1962. Trinidad became a Crown Colony in 1802. The British took control of Tobago during the Napoleonic Wars and the two islands became a combined territory in 1889.The country was part of the West Indies Federation from 1958 until 1962, when Trinidad and Tobago gained its independence from the United Kingdom.
Trinidad and Tobago became a Republic on August 1, 1976. Republic Day is a public holiday celebrated on 24th September, the date that the first Parliament met under the new Republican Constitution.
Trinidad and Tobago is the birthplace of calypso and steel band and the Trinidad Carnival is an experience not to be missed. Locals describe it as the Greatest Show on Earth! and they're not far wrong. Hot on the heels of the world's largest, glitziest Rio Carnival, and the weirdest, most mind-blowing New Orleans Mardi Gras, the two-day Trinidad Carnival is by far the biggest carnival in the Caribbean and has become a national obsession involving the entire population. There are numerous associated events leading up to the actual Carnival.
Tobago has its own Carnival. It is a much smaller, more community-based affair, than the main Port-of-Spain event. The main events take place in Scarborough and Crown Point/Pigeon Point. Both locations and all approaching roads become extremely crowded and are closed to road traffic. It is essential to get there early if you want a good view. The two days of carnival are not officially public holidays, but effectively treated as such with all banks and most shops and businesses closed.
Event Dates: 28-30th Octover 2022
This Hindu festival, in late October/early November, is known as the Festival of Lights due to the tradition of illuminating deyas (wick-equipped clay pots) in honour of Lakshmi, the goddess of light, beauty, riches and love. The event is marked by a public holiday, but unlike Trinidad, which has a large population of East Indian descent, the event is very low key in Tobago.
Event Dates:4th November 2021
No major events scheduled.
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.
