It is not difficult to understand why Robinson Crusoe chose this island as his own. With its lush rainforests, coral reefs and beautiful beaches, Tobago is the gem of the Caribbean.
For cruisers Tobago not only offers a refuge from the hurricane season. With its calm anchorages and abundance of sea life it is an island not to be missed.
The public transport system is good and services most seaside areas. Another option is to hire a car and do your own exploring. Starting in the capital, Scarborough – a visit to Fort King George is a must. With its well kept buildings, gardens and beautiful views over the Atlantic Ocean – this site is a great opportunity to get a bird’s eye view of the island.
Scarborough also has all shopping amenities as well as customs and immigration for entry formalities.
Further south is Store Bay. This anchorage is calm and well protected from the Southerly swells. There is some good snorkeling along the Kariwak reef teeming with Parrot fish, Wrasse, French angel fish and if you are lucky a manta ray. Marine services are available at Store Bay – this is the best place to order in parts, take on diesel, water or do laundry. There is also a large well stocked supermarket nearby.
A short dinghy ride around the point takes you to the most famous beach in Tobago - Pigeon Point. The water is clear and shallow and very clean. There is an entry fee of TT$18 but the beach is well kept with ablution facilities. The beach is also popular for kite surfing and windsurfing. Tourist glass bottom boats leave from Store Bay beach for day trips to Pigeon Point and to the Nylon pool. Buccoo Reef is a Marine Park and is a protected area – anchoring is not allowed.
Heading North, the first anchorage is Mount Irvine Bay. The bay offers an excellent surf break over a shallow reef. There is a fish market on the beach and
Mr Irvine village is a short walk away.
Around the point at Stonehaven Bay, is a beautiful well kept, clean beach with some good snorkeling spots. The beach is backed by bamboo trees and palms. Anchor your dinghy just behind the shore break and wade ashore.
Englishman’s Bay is a very secluded and quite anchorage. Some great snorkeling is on offer here and the possibility of seeing some turtles. This bay is possibly the prettiest on the island. Plan ahead before you go as there are no shopping amenities close by.
Lying on the Northern tip of Tobago is the quaint town of Charlotteville. This town’s basis is fishing and the fish market is located right opposite the Man of War anchorage. There is a small supermarket as well as a small internet café which also offers a laundry service. There is a well stocked library if you plan to stay here for a while. Fuel and water is available in town.
A short walk takes you over the hill and down to Pirates Bay beach. The 144 steps leading down to the beach are surrounded by fruit trees teeming with bird life. This beach is secluded with very calm water – a real Pirates hideaway!
Heading back toward the windward side of the island is the village of Speyside which is noted for diving. There are numerous dive operators which can take you to some of the island’s best dive spots. From here you are also able to take boat trips to Little Tobago which is a bird enthusiast’s paradise.
A little further on is Roxborough with its colonial style buildings it is the capital of the Northeast. A walk up to the Argyle waterfall is a must – the waterfall has 3 tiers and a fresh water pool at its base.
As you head back toward Scarborough do not miss out Bacolet Bay. This is the legendary beach of Robinson Crusoe. With the cool Atlantic breezes the beach is popular with surfers and locals. The beach is accessed by a narrow path off the main road. This is a pretty beach, which is well maintained by the Blue Haven Beach hotel.
One cannot visit Tobago without tasting an authentic “double” which consist of: curried chick peas (known as channa) sandwiched between to soft fried pancakes which is made of split pea powder and flour. Or try a “roti” with curried goat or chicken. Other local dishes to try are the curried crab with dumpling and a “bake and shark” sandwich.
If you enjoy lively entertainment, be sure to be in Tobago for Carnival. Carnival lasts for 2 days before Easter, but preparations are well under way just after Christmas. This colourful event has its origin from the slave days when the slaves rebelled.
As the island is only 300sq km – it is possible to sail the length of the island in a few hours. With numerous anchorages on both the Atlantic and Caribbean side, Tobago has a lot to offer.Tobago is one of the quieter islands as far as tourism goes. It is still possible to anchor with just a few other boats in beautiful, calm bays. The island’s unspoilt interior gives you the feel of what the Caribbean resembled 30 years ago.
To get to Trinidad you can either go by Ferry or fly. The ferry terminal is located at the harbour in Scarborough. Ferries depart daily for the 6 hour trip to Port of Spain. Flights leave from Crown Point International – this is a 20 min flight.
With its laid back lifestyle, friendly people and easy going island style living Tobago is a great place to cruise.
Our plan is to leave Tobago at the end of this month and head over to Grenada.