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Where to go in Tobago

Click on our interactive map below to discover where to go in Tobago - though as this 42km-long island is so compact, you won't have to make too many tough choices, as you'll be able to fit pretty much everything in to a two-week holiday. The ancient rainforest and Argyle Waterfall are classic attractions, and you can take your pick of beaches - from busy yet beautiful Pigeon Point, to the wilder sands of Englishman's Bay.

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Where to go in Tobago

At just 42km long and around 14km at its widest point, Tobago is a breeze to roam around. Anyone spending more than a few days on the island will quickly familiarise themselves with the roads, bays and bends, and it will all start to feel like home. You’ll never have to drive more than an hour and a half – which also means that hotel and even airport pickups may be included as part of tours. Be aware though that the easily queasy may want to limit the number of times they zigzag across the island; the roads rollercoaster along steep hillsides and motion sickness is even more of a risk than sea sickness. The reward is that every crest of a hill results in sweeping views of sapphire seas or emerald jungle; the journey really is all part of the adventure.

The Main Ridge Forest Reserve needs to be explored on foot, while several reefs, the offshore islands including Little Tobago, and some of the more secluded bays, will see you setting sail on a boat or catamaran. For a different perspective, hire a bicycle; you’re never far from a beach or bar so you can cool off regularly in the heat. It’s a great way to see just how compact the island really is.

Use our interactive map below to find ideas on where to go in Tobago.

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1. Argyle Waterfall
2. Bon Accord Lagoon
3. Buccoo Reef
4. Castara
5. Charlotteville
6. Crown Point
7. Englishman’s Bay
8. Little Tobago
9. Main Ridge Forest
10. Pigeon Point
11. Scarborough
12. The southwest bays
13. Speyside
14. Tobago Cocoa Estate

Argyle Waterfall

1. Argyle Waterfall

A little paradise within paradise, the 54m-high Argyle Waterfall is the highest on the island. Guides are available – and highly recommended – for the easy, 20-minute walk to the falls past cocoa and other fruit trees, which provide food for a whole rainbow of bird species. Cool off in the fresh water once you arrive, and hike up to the second tier for a natural Jacuzzi – or the third, which you can climb behind.

Argyle Waterfall

Bon Accord Lagoon

2. Bon Accord Lagoon

The glassy waters of this mangrove-rimmed pool make for a serene kayaking, sailing or stand up paddle boarding experience – as birds swoop through the treetops or dive for fish, and the odd sea turtle saunters past. At night, the waters glitter with bioluminescence. The castaway-esque No Man’s Land is a sliver of dry land stretching into the lagoon, ideal for a picnic – or desert island photo backdrops.

Buccoo Reef

3. Buccoo Reef

Snorkelling at this large coral reef is one of Tobago’s bucket list attractions – it was even highly rated by Jacques Cousteau! Glass-bottom boat tours from Pigeon Point, Store Bay and Buccoo make snorkel stops in this 10,000 year old reef. Nearby Nylon Pool is a mid-sea “swimming pool” just a metre deep. The ancient crushed coral flakes underfoot are said to make you look a decade younger if rubbed on your skin…

Buccoo Reef

Castara

4. Castara

Castara is old-school Caribbean: houses tumble higgledy piggledy down the hillside into a picturesque bay, where wooden boats bob ready for action when fish are spotted in the clear waters. There are a number of locally-owned guesthouses, bars and restaurants in this little fishing community, as well as the more luxurious Castara Retreats. Don’t miss the waterfall – ideal for a cooling swim.

Charlotteville

5. Charlotteville

A city by Tobago standards, a fishing village by anyone else’s – charming Charlotteville’s pastel Caribbean houses face onto picturesque Man O’War and Pirate’s Bays. Most of Tobago’s fish is caught here; markets line the waterfront where the air fills with scales and tails as fresh fish is swiftly filleted, cutlass-style. Walk west to the best beach spot, dine at quaint restaurants, and enjoy the tranquility of the northern tip.

Charlotteville

Crown Point

6. Crown Point

Tobago’s unofficial capital hosts some lovely accommodation as well as pharmacies, bars and restaurants – many within walking distance of the island’s only airport. Crown Point is a great place to spend a couple of nights as it’s just a short hop from Pigeon Point, Store Bay and Buccoo Reef. The peaceful, palm-surrounded guesthouses offer instant tropical ambience – with all the convenience of the location.

Englishman’s Bay

7. Englishman’s Bay

This sweeping bay, flanked by emerald forests, provides the perfect photo opportunity for those wanting to prove they really have set foot in paradise. A short drive – or a pleasant hike – from Castara, the beach has a simple, wooden restaurant, a little souvenir stall, a toilet and… that’s it. Englishman’s Bay has great snorkelling, safe swimming and few crowds – so get stuck in.

Englishman’s Bay

Little Tobago

8. Little Tobago

This forested island, 20 minutes by boat from Speyside, is uninhabited, save for marine birds including the magnificent frigate, red-footed booby and red-billed tropicbird. Part of Attenborough’s “The Trials of Life” was filmed here. Most glass-bottom boat tours pause for a pleasant snorkel at Angel Reef as well as passing the nearby brain coral – at 3m high and 5.3m wide it is the largest in the world.

Main Ridge Forest

9. Main Ridge Forest

If evidence was needed of Tobago’s commitment to the environment – this is it. The oldest protected forest in the Western hemisphere was declared in 1776, sheltering many of Tobago’s 220 bird species, as well as armadillos, iguanas, agouti and a tumble of tropical plants. The Gilpin Trace is the most popular trail; good guides will help you spot motmots, trogons, manakins and sabrewing hummingbirds.

Main Ridge Forest

Pigeon Point

10. Pigeon Point

If you’ve seen the classic photo of Tobago with lolling coconut trees and a jetty stretching into an aquamarine sea – you’ve seen Pigeon Point. This powder-sand beach is Caribbean-beautiful, with restaurants, bars and sunbeds to boot. Pigeon Point is ideal for families or those who want beach activities and entertainment, though the soca, jet skis and cruise ship crowds may be less appealing to others.

Scarborough

11. Scarborough

The capital of Tobago is a leafy low rise “city” with a population of 17,000. The esplanade has a selection of craft stalls (jewellery, leather, baskets, wood carvings) and a bandstand. Ferries to Trinidad also depart from here. The “botanical gardens” are a pleasant hilltop park, and there are several restaurants and guesthouses – though if you’re planning to stay in town, Crown Point is more pleasant and convenient.

Scarborough

The southwest bays

12. The southwest bays

Mt Irvine, Stonehaven and Great Courland Bays – with a stretch known as Turtle Beach – offer long, sandy stretches, and – more famously, the chance to see sea turtles during the nesting season. Just far enough out of town to be peaceful, but close enough for convenience, there are a number of luxury villas and upmarket hotels in this area, as well as some excellent seafood restaurants.

Speyside

13. Speyside

Far from the bustle of the southwest, sleepy Speyside draws divers and snorkellers to its impressive coral reefs – some of the most pristine in Tobago. The activities and even the lodging here are centred on the underwater attractions – with twice-daily glass-bottom boat tours, reliable dive shops and snorkel equipment rental, as well as a few kayaks and stand-up paddle boards.

Speyside

Tobago Cocoa Estate

14. Tobago Cocoa Estate

Tobago's only working cocoa estate covers 10,000 acres with 23,000 trees. The island’s agriculture was largely destroyed during the 1963 hurricane, so this farm aims to inspire a new generation of cocoa farmers. Tours with the owner allow you to taste the curious-looking fruit, with explanations on its cultivation and the chocolate making process. Be sure to buy some cocoa balls.

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Places to stay

Read more about places to stay in Tobago

Travel times in Tobago

The following times give you a rough idea of the travel times between the main attractions in Tobago.

Crown Point – Charlotteville: 1 hr 45 mins by car

Crown Point – Scarborough: 20 minutes by car

Castara – Pigeon Point: 1 hr by car

Speyside – Little Tobago: 20 mins by boat

Port of Spain, Trinidad – Scarborough: 25 minutes by plane

Port of Spain, Trinidad – Scarborough: 2 hrs 30 mins by ferry

Crown Point – Mt Irvine Beach: 50 minutes by bicycle

Responsible Travel would like to thank Visit Tobago for their sponsorship of this guide.

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Written by Vicki Brown

Where to go in Tobago