Hotels

Tobago is home to a large selection of hotels from the budget to the luxury.

Coco Reef Resort & Spa is located in Crown Point.  This 135 room property is conveniently located near some of the island’s best beaches, such as Pigeon Point, and offers amenities such as spa, tennis, watersports and golf.

Hilton Tobago Golf & Spa Resort is located just 15 minutes from the airport and includes many spa features.  The Equilibrium spa features the latest treatments, such as microdermabrasion, and electrolysis.  And through out the resort there are many amenities including championship golf, three pools, and kids’ club.  This resort is located next to 60 acres of protected mangrove forest, which will offer you all the exploration you could want.

Mount Irving Bay Hotel features an 18-hole golf course, a great beach (perfect for snorkeling, windsurfing, water-skiing and relaxing), three restaurants, six bars, tennis and more.

Golf

On the island of Tobago, you will find two golf courses that will easily feed your cravings for golf on your vacation.

The Mount Irving Golf Club is part of the Mount Irving Bay Hotel and is set on the grounds of a former coconut plantation.  Near the 18 holes, on the fairways lined by coconut trees, you will have view of the Caribbean sea from every corner, with a highlighting view of Bucco Point and Bucco Reef from the ninth hole.  They also feature a clubhouse, a restaurant and an equipment rental center.

Tobago Plantations Golf & Country Club features an 18 hole championship course, excellent attractions, such as the third hole, which is located on a peninsula, set between the Atlantic Ocean and a view of Scarborough (Tobago’s capital).

Both of these courses are located about 10 to 15 minutes away from Scarborough and the Crown Point Airport.  You should also go in the summer months, when the Tobago Open is held annually in June, also when the Southern Caribbean Open takes place in July.

Hiking

Not only is Tobago ideal for kayaking, snorkeling, birdwatching, and more, but it is also exquisitely picturesque for hiking.

The Main Ridge Rainforest Reserve is home to the Argyle Waterfall, which is the highest of falls on the island, and is located at the end of a beautiful and brisk 15-minute hike along a shaded trail lined by cocoanut trees, and is perfect for first-timers.

Kayaking

Kayaking is perfect in the turquoise waters of Bucco Bay and Bon Accord Lagoon.  The seas here are calm and protected by coral reefs, leaving you time to truly appreciate the beauty that surrounds you.  In places like Speyside, kayaking is more of a mode of transportation than just a leisure activity.

Diving

There are around 300 species of coral in the waters of Tobago, which are the home to the likes of tropical fish, sponges, dolphins, whale sharks, turtles and other marine creatures that populate the reefs.  The water is warm year-round here, and the currents are gentle.  The most popular places for diving are Speyside, the St. Giles Islands, Man O’ War Bay, Columbus Passage, and the Manta Reef, where it fills with giant rays during the months of March through J

 In Tobago you will find many scenic Beaches, Bays and Ports.  The island’s main city of Scarborough is the main drop off point for the ferry service and shuttles, along with the cruise port of the island.  Shops and restaurants fill downtown here, and is the starting point for exploring the rest of the island.

 There are numerous picture perfect beaches on the island of Tobago.  One of the most famous and popular beach, Pigeon Point has gained most of is popularity due to its powder white sands.  Here you can walk among the numerous food stands, watersports kiosks, picnic table and locals selling their arts and crafts.  This beach is very tourist-friendly, and has many facilities such as gift shops, restrooms with showers, small restaurants and a bandstand for live entertainment.  Here you can also sign up for snorkeling excursions that leave from the beach.

 More north from Pigeon Point, you will find many Bays and Beaches, among them are:  Back Bay, which is great for snorkeling and surfing; Great Courland Bay, which is known for the turtles that nest nearby; Englishman’s Bay, is known as the ‘deserted paradise’ of the area, where you can literally get away from it all; Man-O-War Bay, where you can watch the fishermen from the nearby town of Charlottesville fish, and then sell their catch of the day; and couples can find pink sands in a secluded beach at Lovers’ Beach, which is only accessible by boat.

 Charlotte Bay is where you can go off the beaten path.  This small fishing village is located on the northeastern coast along a beautiful stretch of sand and is ideal for diving.  This town is very laid back, and you will usually see the locals just sitting on the pier, beer in hand, listing to reggae and chatting with locals and visitors alike.

 Once a military base, Fort King George offers spectacular views of the ocean and port from its location atop a cliff.  Located here is a small museum which displays weapons, idols and other artifacts from the native Amerindian people.  Along with a fine arts center that displays local artists’ latest works.

 If you are looking for a scenic, relaxing beach, go to Store Bay.  This 640-ft. stretch is ideal for swimming with warm water and gentle currents year round.  There are also many comfortable facilities on the beach, such as changing rooms with showers, seating, local food vendors, and lifeguards that relaxingly police the area.

Here is a list of many of the festivals held on the island of Tobago:

The Plymouth Jazz Festival is held every year in April.  The Jazz Festival is a full weekend of music, dancing, performances and more.  The performances are by top names, and past performers include Elton John, Gladys Knight, Al Green and LL Cool J.

The Angostura World Sailing Regatta is the best party on the water, and is held in May.  This week long event consists of four days of yacht racing and three days of parties, games, and more.  Yachts from all over the world come to compete to become the fastest in their class.  Also on land competitors battle in categories other than racing, such as hula hoping, salsa dancing, limbo and slip-n-slide.

The Blue Food Festival is one of the to food festivals held each year on the island.  Cooks from the villages create dishes from local ingredients.  This festival takes place in October.

Tobago Heritage Festival takes place in the summer months, and is where they put culinary and cultural accomplishments on display.  This is a great chance to try new foods and experience the culture when visiting the island.

 Do you find it hard to figure out where to eat when on vacation?  In Trinidad and Tobago they offer such a diverse dining scene that you may not be able to distinguish between the good restaurants and the ones that aren’t worth your business.  But there is good news; here is a cheat sheet to all the great dining on the islands from the casual to the luxurious, along with tips on what it is you’re actually ordering.

 We’ll start off with Trinidad.  Trinidad is made-up of many ethnicities throughout it’s population, with cultures that range from India, Thailand, China, Spain and more, and is filled with experts on authentic cuisine from around that world.  History and the culinary often mix with each other, painting a picture of the reason why these dishes are served where they are, as it is in Trinidad.  Brought to the island from Africa ages ago, Creole food is a mix of African recipes made into dishes that are purely Trinidadian.  Dishes such as macaroni pie (a casserole of macaroni, milk, eggs, and cheese) and stews of caramelized chicken or red beans, are the most popular and authentic of Creole food in Trinidad. 

 East Indian influences are found through the island as well.  Curry is found flavoring everything from duck, to chicken, to goat.  Other favorites influenced from this region are roti (flatbread pastry stuffed with curried meat and vegetables), chokas (roasted and pounded vegetables usually served for breakfast), aloo pies (fried potato pies), barfi (coconut fudge), and ras gulla (milk balls served with sweet syrup.  The best area in Trinidad to find these dishes at their best is in the town of Debe, in the south of the island.

 Authentic Trinidadian cuisine can be found at one of the many vendors in crowded areas like Queen’s Park Savannah.  From these vendors, you can order jerk meats, homemade ice cream, Creole corn soup and more.

 Upscale dining in Trinidad can be found in many restaurants that serve dishes from around the world, such as Italian, French, Indian, Japanese, Thai and Spanish Cuisine.  Known as the “restaurant strip,” Ariapita Avenue is perfect for finding somewhere to dine, along with Woodbrook, St. Clair and around Queen’s Park Savannah.  In Queen’s Park you can fid excellent tastes of India at Apsara (“celestial dancer”), such as spicy curry, and tandoori flavored with Indian and Caribbean spices.  Inside the Coblentz Inn boutique Hotel you will find Battimamzelle Restaurant, which is one of the areas most upscale dining venues.  Here they serve up Caribbean-style cuisine with touches of European and Indian flavor and style.  Melange restaurant in Woodbrook serves international dishes like snapper risotto and other pastas.  La Grande Almandier offers authentic Creole food, with some of the freshest seafood around, with the local fishermen supplying them with the catch of the day.

 In Tobago, most of the dining gets its inspiration from the African heritage of its people.  The Creole cuisine found in Store Bay offers specialties like crab dumplings in coconut and curry sauce and pacro water (a local spicy libation) within some of the best restaurants on the island.  also in Crown Point, places like Buccoo are known for the international gourmet restaurants.  And excellent Creole cuisine set in the form of a 4-couse meal is served at the Arnos Vale Waterwheel in the Arnos Vale Hotel.

 There are also three food festivals that occur yearly on both the islands.  In Trinidad, you can go to the Taste T&T Festival, a 2-night event that brings the top restaurants and more under the same roof.  In Tobago, you can go to the Blue Food Festival in October, where cooks from the villages create dishes out of local ingredients.  And in the summer months you can go to the Tobago Heritage Festival, where they put culinary and cultural achievements on display.

 Also, many shops with serve the regular favorites, but the names don’t exactly explain what you will be eating, so here are a few definitions of local favorites:  Bake and shark is a sandwich consisting of deep-fried shark between fried dough, and is usually topped with the likes of vegetables, pineapple, ketchup, tartar sauce, spicy chutneys and more; Fruit chows are local fruits (such as plums, pineapple) cut up and mixed with lime juice, garlic, pepper and cilantro; Souse is boiled pig trotters or chicken feet, served cold in a lime, cucumber, pepper and onion broth; Chip-chip is a small shellfish (similar to clams) that is served curried or with a cocktail sauce; and Cascadura is a small freshwater fish that is usually served curried.

 Trinidad & Tobago offer a rich natural experience full of birdwatching where you will find spot bird species you won’t find anywhere else in the world, and lodging that is as devoted to the environment as you may be.www.hotmail.com

 There are over 430 species of birds in Trinidad, with more and more stopping by daily, making Trinidad the ideal destination for birdwatching.  One stop you should take is the Caroni Bird Sanctuary located at the Caroni Swamp.  This sanctuary is located on the west coast just south of Port of Spain, and is the protected home for scarlet ibis, one of the national birds.  Here you will also get the chance to see herons, egrets and cormorants.  Many companies operate daily tours in the area, including guides that will explain the ibis and its habitat.

 Located in the west is a nature conservatory devoted to preserving rare breeds of bird and waterfowl species.  They have reintroduces birds such as the blue and gold macaw, the red bellied macaw, purple and azure gallinules, yellow hooded blackbirds, and more.  This conservatory is located on 62 acres of land that surround two lakes, and also feature a Learning Centre, where you can access more in-depth information about the birds you have seen and the history of the area.

 There are many eco-lodges and conservatories located on the island that are devoted to the island and its environment, such as the Pax Guest House.  This eco-lodge puts you in arm’s reach of hummingbirds and tanagers, and is one of the oldest on the island.  one of the largest conservation areas on the island, the Asa Wright Nature Centre covers 270 acres of Trinidad’s Northern Range, and is home to over 400 species of birds.  This tropical, forested region is home to 97 native mammals, 55 reptiles, 25 amphibians, and over 600 butterfly species.  The Centre also offers a 27-room lodge, where you can spot many birds as soon as you wake up, such as the turquoise tanager, the channel billed toucan and the bearded bellbird.  From here you are able to explore the area as you please, all day or for just a little bit of time on your own trail or on guided walks.

 There are 240 species of birds on the island of Tobago, and many areas to spot them best at.  The Grafton Caledonia Sanctuary, a 200-acre former cocoa estate, offers beautiful hiking trails that offer you views of birds like the blue crowned motmot, the white fringed antwren, and one of the national birds, rufous vented chachalaca.  These birds are in plan view most of the day, especially around 4 p.m. each day, and are unafraid of the people, allowing you to get the change to hand feed them yourself.  Established in 1765, Tobago’s Main Ridge Rainforest Reserve is the oldest forest reserve in the Western Hemisphere, and is great for birdwatching.  Here you can spot bird species from the golden olive woodpeckers, to the streaked flycatchers, to the blue backed manakins.  Also, the island of Little Tobago (formerly called Bird of Paradise Island), is a 250-acre island that is home to sea birds such as the red billed tropic and the brown booby.