A trip to Trinidad and Tobago is not your average Caribbean vacation. While it has some beautiful areas to visit, it’s a much lesser visited destination. It’s further to get to as it’s located just off the coast of Venezuela and it’s a much more rustic, local experience. But if you’re looking for something different, there are a lot of great things to do in Tobago.
Some back story here–Trinidad and Tobago was actually the first Caribbean island I ever went to. I was living in Miami at the time and interviewed for a travel job I found on Craiglist (Yes, I know–I’m INSANE). Somehow it wasn’t a scam and somehow I booked the job with no experience, and was off to cover my first destination: Trinidad & Tobago.
At this point, I had only been to about 3 countries outside the US. I knew absolutely nothing about Trinidad & Tobago but there I was–off to spend two weeks with strangers I met from a seedy part of the internet. Spoiler alert: I had an incredible time.
Another girl flew down for the job also and the two of us got to document our travels while being shown around by a local film producer who also happened to be Trinidadian.
About Tobago
After I had a plane ticket booked was when I decided to look up where I was actually going. Trinidad & Tobago is located all the way in the south of the Caribbean, just off of Venezuela. From Miami, the flight time to Trinidad is about 4 hours.
Ownership of the two main islands has changed hands many times throughout history–over 30! In 1962, Trinidad and Tobago obtained independence and eventually became a republic in 1976. Despite its rustic feel for tourism, Trinidad and Tobago actually has a high-income economy due to its oil and gas reserves.
At a Glance:
- Official Language: English. Other languages: Trinidadian English Creole, Tobagonian Creole
- Currency: Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD), 1 TTD = .15 USD
- Capital: Port of Spain, Trinidad
- Population: about 1.5 million
- Weather: Tropical, warm to hot year round
While Trinidad is a larger, more lively island, Tobago has a much different vibe. Tobago is a small, quiet island with beautiful, deserted beaches and bays to explore. You can find shops and restaurants that are painted bright colors and food stalls selling fresh fruits.
How to Get There
To get to Tobago, you’ll need to first fly into Port of Spain in Trinidad. From there, you can either take another flight or take a three hour ferry to Tobago. My flight from South Florida took 4 hours and I arrived after dark, so I ended up staying on Trinidad for the evening. I stayed at the Crews Inn which has a beautiful spot on the marina just outside the capital.
By air: There is an airport on Tobago (TAB) with several flights daily. The flight is about 25 minutes and tickets are typically under $100.
By ferry: We ended up taking the ferry to the islands which is a cheaper option. Ferry tickets can be purchased online ahead of time and cost TT$150 round trip (about $22 USD). You’ll leave from the Port of Spain ferry terminal and land in Scarborough. The trip is about 20 miles and will take between 3 and 3.5 hours.
Getting Around
Tobago is a smaller island and easy to get around but you’ll definitely want to rent a car while you’re there. The island is just under 30 miles long and under 10 miles wide. It’s easiest to rent a car around the airport or there are a few options near the ferry port.
Driving in Tobago is on the left side of the road. Be prepared for uneven surfaces and pot holes. We ended up getting a flat tire at some point.
There are also some pretty sharp turns in which our driver would whip around, not necessarily staying in a lane. Instead, she would just honk as she was going around the corner to alert anyone on the other side. A bit terrifying to drive yourself around those corners, but something to be aware of.
Things to Do in Tobago
I was in Tobago for two weeks and though we saw and did a lot, there were still things discover. There are a lot of things to do in Tobago and since it’s further to get to for people in the US, it’s best to have plenty of time to explore. This is a place where slow travel is preferred.
You can see some of the main towns and points of interest to visit on the map above and use it for reference on some of the activities mentioned below.
Go to Pigeon Point Heritage Park
Pigeon Point Heritage Park has one of the best beaches on the island and it’s also a 125 acre nature reserve. It’s located just north of the airport on the southwest corner of the island. Since it’s on the tip of a peninsula, there are some different beach areas to check out.
The water here is sparkling clear and a shallow place to swim. This is where I took some of my favorite photos and I could have easily returned several times. There’s a small entrance fee to get into the park ($TT 20, about $3 USD).
There are two restaurants off the main beach and it has beach rentals and lifeguards. There are restroom/shower facilities and shops to look in also.
Snorkel at Buccoo Reef
The Buccoo Reef is one of the largest coral reef ecosystems in Tobago and is part of a protected marine park. It’s a popular place to go snorkeling and is often paired with a tour to the Nylon Pool. There are five different sections of the reef and you might see marine life such as turtles and stingrays.
Bike Along the Coast
A bike tour is a good way to explore part of the island and go off on some trails. We did a little bike tour that started out in Buccoo and biked to some areas along the coast.
It was a good way to get out and explore even though it was blazing hot. Make sure you bring plenty of water!
Hit the Beach
Tobago has some great places to go to the beach and the further away you get from the airport, the more secluded they’ll likely be. There are several that are located pretty close to the airport such as Store Bay Beach, Pigeon Point Beach and Buccoo Beach.
Some quieter and more secluded options are Englishman’s Bay, Castara and Parlatuvier which are along the north coast. A lot of places to stay also have their own quiet beach as well.
Explore Tobago’s Forts
Tobago has several forts that can be found around the island, likely due to how many times the island changed hands between the British, Dutch and French. Since they were used for defense, most of them have great views of the island.
You can find some of the forts while touring around the island: Fort Bennett, Fort James, Fort Campbelton, Fort King George, Fort Milford and Fort Granby.
Take a Tour to the Nylon Pool
One of the most popular things to do in Tobago is to take a tour to the Nylon Pool and I’m so bummed that this was something we didn’t get to do. The Nylon Pool is a shallow sandbar off shore that tours go to for swimming and snorkeling. The water is incredibly crystal clear and one of the most beautiful areas of Tobago.
Fun Fact: This area was actually named by Princess Margaret. She called it the Nylon Pool because she thought the water was as clear as her nylon stockings.
Take a Cooking Class
We ended up taking a cooking class through one of the properties we were staying. We were able to collect our own vegetables from the garden on property and learn from the cook how to make fish broth soup. I don’t think the lodge we stayed at is operating any more but if yours offers something like this, it’s a fun way to learn a local dish.
Visit the Orange Hill Nature Ranch
You can visit the Orange Hill Nature Ranch to get fresh goat milk products like feta cheese and yogurts. We got to walk around the farm and interact with some of the animals. The larger goats are kept in the barn and you can see them from the fence, but there were several baby goats at the time that were fun to watch run and jump around.
Hike to a Waterfall
There are several waterfalls around the island that you can hike to. The most popular waterfall is the Argyle waterfall which also happens to be the tallest. It has three pools of water among the cascading falls and is located near Roxborough. Another good option is the Rainbow Waterfall. It’s a 20-minute walk to the falls in Goodwood.
Go to a Lookout
Tobago is a mountainous island and there are some great lookouts that have views of the island. The lookout at Mount Dillon will give you views of the coastline and surrounding greenery. Head to the viewpoints near Parlatuvier and Englishman’s Bay to get a birds eye view of the bays below.
Explore the Tobago Forest Reserve
Tobago has the oldest protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere. The Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve takes up a large part of the north end of the island. There are numerous hiking trails to take throughout the reserve as well as knowledgable guides who can offer you information about the area. If you don’t want to explore on your own, you can also take a prearranged tour:
Go Surfing
Trinidad and Tobago is sort of overlooked as a surfing destination but evidently Mount Irvine Beach in Tobago has a reef break that makes it a popular spot for surfers. We ended up taking surfing lessons from an ex-pro surfer, Jason Apparicio.
We obviously went to a beach with hardly any waves to try and learn, and we had a great time falling and flailing. Afterwards we got fresh coconuts from a local who climbed the palm trees and hacked down the coconuts right in front of us.
Find the Salt Pools
The salt pools in Tobago are located on Back Bay beach and are areas of shallow water created by rock outcroppings. It’s a secluded beach and a great place to relax in the water.
Get Fresh Bread from the Castara Bread Oven
A visit to Castara isn’t complete without stopping by the traditional dirt oven where you can get fresh bread. The dirt oven is located just off the beach and fresh bread is available only on two days: Thursdays (I believe) and Saturdays.
Bamboo is first burnt in the oven and then the bread is placed on banana leaves to cook in the heat. To place an order, you’ll want to make sure you get there early in the morning and you’ll need to return in the early afternoon for pickup!
Watch the Fishermen Pull Seine in Castara
Another great thing to do in Tobago is watch the fisherman in Castara pull seine. A seine is the large net seen below that’s weighted on one side. The fisherman then pull it onto shore with the fish.
I happened to wake up early one day to find some of our team heading down to the beach. I wasn’t about to get left behind and miss out on something, so I ran out the door in my pajamas to go with them and I’m glad I did. It’s an interesting process to watch.
Once the net was pulled in, they were left with a huge pile of fish in the sand. Everyone who helped pull in the net gets their ‘lend hand’–their share of fish for helping.
See the Speyside Water Wheel
Near Speyside is where you can find the ruins of an old, metal water wheel that was once used to operate a sugar plantation. The wheel is quite large and has stone ruins around it. You’ll also get a great view of the ocean and Little Tobago in the distance.
Take a Sunset Cruise
Sailing around the coast of Tobago at sunset is the perfect way to end the day. We went right after a storm had blown through a little and still had good visibility and a nice sunset.
If you look closely, there’s an island barely visible on the left behind several other land masses. We were told that was the coast of Venezuela, though I’m not sure how accurate that is!
Scuba Dive to the World’s Largest Brain Coral
If you’re a certified diver, Tobago is home to the largest recorded brain coral in the world. The Kelleston Drain measures about 10 feet high and 16 feet wide and is located just off of Little Tobago. You’ll see different coral and sponges as well–and keep your eye out for stingrays and nurse sharks.
Try Local Foods
Take a Day Trip to Little Tobago
Off the northeast side of the island is where you can find a small, uninhabited island called Little Tobago. It’s also known as the Bird of Paradise Island as Sir William Ingram attempted to save the species from overhunting by bringing them to the island in the early 1900s.
Though they’re presumed to be extinct today, the island is still a popular spot for bird watching and for day trips to the island.
And if you don’t feel like doing much, there’s always liming–the slang term used for ‘hanging out’!
What to Eat:
- Roti – a curried stew (with meat or vegetables) in a wrap
- Curry Crab and dumplings – a signature dish!
- Doubles – curried chickpeas in flatbread
We had some great meals while we were in Tobago. Some of my favorite were at the eco lodge that closed but the cook there, Mia, was amazing. We also ate at The Fish Pot a few times as well.
Where to Stay:
Over two weeks, we stayed in several different areas and several different types of accommodations. The first few nights, we stayed in a home rental that was a nice spot on a hill with our own goats in the yard and colorful interiors. Next we stayed in an eco lodge and had our own bungalow (in which a snake somehow got through our sliding door and scarred me for life). We also stayed in a cute place near the Bacolet Beach Club.
There are some nice places to stay and there are some rustic places to stay. But it mostly depends on what area you want to be in. I’d stay near the west side around Crown Point for a few nights to explore that area. Then head to a quieter area of the island to have a different kind of experience.
This trip was definitely a lot different from other Caribbean trips I’ve taken and felt more like traveling off the beaten path. There are lots of things to do in Tobago and we definitely had a more unique trip since we were traveling with locals. I think it gave us a more authentic experience and it was a great way to see the island.
PIN IT FOR LATER
I love finding about lesser known gems. This looks like a great spot to visit. I’d totally do the bike ride. Thanks for the tips. I’m saving this for later.
Castara bread oven is so cool! I would definitely want to try this local bread baked in a Tobago traditional dirt oven. It must smell incredible when you come to pick it up.
We have visited so many different Caribbean islands but sadly have not yet been to Trinidad and Tobago. It has been on our travel wish list for scuba diving. Good to know we will be flying into Trinidad and need to transfer from there to get to Tobago. The beaches and water sure look as enticing as I expected. And who will pass on fresh seafood?