The most beautiful natural sites to discover Tobago

The highlight of a visit to Tobago, unforgettable. The Buccoo Reefs are the largest reef system to be found in Tobago. They are about ten thousand years old and rest on the remains of a very old and gigantic reef that has been transformed into a limestone bedrock.

Bordered by Pigeon Point and the Bon Accord lagoon to the west and a mangrove to the east, the system forms an arc made up of five coral plateaus, named respectively, from the east, Eastern Reef, Outer Reef, Northen Reef, Western Reef and Pigeon Point Reef. All these plateaus are crossed by marine channels and currents, the most important of which, the Deep Channel, is located between Northen Reef and Western Reef. This arc delimits the interior of a lagoon closed by a barrier from which the reef stretches in a circular manner to the north for more than 1,500 m in radius.

The Buccoo system supports a variety of biotopes and habitats for flora and fauna. On the coastal side, near Bon Accord, you will find lambis, sea urchins and sea cucumbers. The roots of mangrove trees, characteristic of the mangrove that stretches to the east, are home to oysters, sponges and sea anemones.

The lagoon, whose depth varies between 2 and 6 m, shelters a whole collection of corals, in particular stag horns, elk horns and fire corals. Beyond the lagoon, there are large accretions of brain corals as well as star corals, and more than 70 species of fish, including sergeant majors, surgeonfish, parrotfish, red barbarians, trunkfish, blue sardines, butterflyfish, damselfish... Unfortunately, the Buccoo reef system has suffered considerably from mass tourism and its popularity. Large portions of the reefs are already dead and bleached in the eastern part, victims of boat anchors, unscrupulous swimmers' feet, mercantile stripping and pollution. In 1973, the majority of the Buccoo system was declared a protected area, including the lagoon and Nylon Pool, a sandy part of the lagoon located near the Eastern Reef, so named because in the 1950s, Princess Margaret, impressed by the clarity of the water, compared its transparency to that of her nylon stockings!

Today, entry into the lagoon is regulated, and it is strictly forbidden to pick up or remove anything from it, under penalty of heavy fines. The only way to access the lagoon and reefs, unless you are a water sport enthusiast and wish to sail there, is to take the glass-bottom boats that await tourists from Buccoo, Store Bay or Pigeon Point. The tours usually offer an excursion to the flats beyond the barrier, complemented by a swim, with mask and snorkel, at Nylon Pool. Beware that the glass bottom of some boats can be very scratched, so much so that it will be difficult for the underwater enthusiast to see anything through. Before choosing your operator for this beautiful excursion, don't hesitate to negotiate the prices and especially to check the condition of the boat you will be on. Smaller operators often offer a more complete excursion for a smaller number of passengers.

Pigeon Point beach is one of Tobago's most emblematic beaches, unmissable, magical and incomparable to any other on the island, a true jewel now protected. Blindingly white sand, coconut groves and a crystal-clear turquoise lagoon: there's nothing missing from this picture-postcard setting. It lies at the heart of a nature reserve (a forest of coconut palms and other trees that blossom all year round), protecting it from the construction that has disfigured much of the Crown Point coastline. We recommend a tour of the peninsula on arrival, in the morning when it's deserted. The final beach point offers a fantastic view of the reef and nylon pool.

Owned by a controversial landowner on the island for some years, since 2005 it has been the property of the State, which bought it for 106 million Trinidadian dollars and turned it into a national park.

Admission is charged, but the price is derisory, and the money is used to maintain this immense park and to pay security guards, who allow tourists to enjoy the beach in peace without being canvassed by street vendors, or for the girls not to be constantly hit on like at Store Bay. There's no sound system on the beach, just absolute peace and quiet. Those who don't want to stay on the main beach can relax in the coconut palms in complete privacy without the risk of being robbed (access is supervised)... Vacations are also about relaxing! If you're staying for more than 5 days, a special price is available.

Practical. Around the main lagoon, you'll find a number of souvenir and beachwear stands, as well as a number of inexpensive and good snack bars. If you've forgotten to withdraw cash, you can pay by credit card. On-site: showers, WC, parking. Cabs and maxi-taxis return to Crown Point at closing time with staff.

Activities. On the final beach at the tip, you'll find the Radical Sports sailing club, which offers windsurfing and kiteboarding rentals, as well as course + equipment packages, sailing, sea kayaking, diving and mountain bikes for hire. Since 2021, Radical has even been offering wingfoils, those new machines with a long foil that take off thanks to an inflatable wing carried at arm's length! Jet-ski rental companies will pop up on the beach and insist on asking you if you're interested in a ride. They're not licensed to do so, but there's no marine boundary to stop them from coming all the way from Store Bay to this remote beach in the reserve, where no one is watching on that side. Their practices are more than questionable: from an ecological point of view, jet-skiing on the reef is a polluting aberration, what's more, they're very noisy and safety conditions are not guaranteed.

On the other hand, the boat companies that pick up tourists from the central pontoon are serious, and the staff are friendly. As in Store Bay, you can take a boat to explore the reef as far as Buccoo, with lunch, a swim in the Nylon Pool and a snorkeling session on the corals included for a good price (negotiate! around TT$150 for the maximum tour).

To get back to Crown Point, if you're staying there, prefer cycling or walking: it's less than 2 km from this little paradise.

Located just a hundred meters from the airport and very close to many of Crown Point's hotels and guesthouses, Store Bay beach is perhaps the island's most popular and busiest. Named after Jan Stoer, one of the first Dutch settlers in Tobago, this small beach (200 m) is one of the few on the island to be supervised. It is also particularly well equipped. There are cabins for changing and showering, small stalls serving cheap local specialities, and picnic tables. Store Bay is also the finishing line for the great sailing race between Trinidad and Tobago, which takes place every August and culminates in a weekend-long beach party. Finally, in Store Bay, it's possible to find a glass-bottomed boat to take a closer look at the Buccoo reef, with a swim in the Nylon Pool, lunch and snorkeling included (negotiable at between TT$80 and TT$120 a trip). Deckchairs for a few TT. It's easy to find something to eat in Store Bay: 5 or 6 small local restaurants are housed in brightly-colored bungalows and offer classic local recipes. (Jamaican-style chicken, fried or grilled fish, shrimps and other local produce) Beware, as soon as the sun goes down in the evening, sandflies will bite you in the sand. It's best to sit on a deckchair.

The origin of the name of this bay "Bloody Bay" refers to a violent battle that took place in 1771 on this shore, between English soldiers and rebellious slaves, finally turning to the massacre of the latter. The number of killed would have been so important that their blood flowing and spread in the sea would have made it scarlet... The river which flows into the beach of Bloody Bay is called "Dead bay river", probably for the same reasons. It is a supervised beach and very pleasant for swimming.

Past the entrance to Englishman's Bay, the Northside Road climbs steeply to the Parrot Hall viewpoint, where there is a covered esplanade and a few benches, as well as an adjoining rum-shop and a few handmade souvenirs. From this height, there is an unobstructed view of the rocky islets of Sisters Rocks, Tobago's diving mecca, outcropping a few hundred meters away, as well as the beach of the charming little village of Parlatuvier Bay.

A few kilometers beyond Castara, heading north and marked by a wooden sign, is the entrance to the dirt road that leads to Englishman's Bay, undoubtedly one of the most beautiful beaches in Tobago. Perfectly rounded, 500 meters long, the beach is bordered by a fringe of coconut trees that mask a dense undergrowth of deep green. It is like being at the end of the world. The sand is blond and fine, the sea clear and the reefs that occupy the entire bottom of the cove, full of life. A real taste of paradise.

Coming from Scarborough along the Windward Road, turn left at Pembroke. Follow the signs to Rainbow Resort. In exchange for a few Trinidadian dollars, you can park your car there. Allow 40 minutes to reach the waterfalls on foot. You won't get lost if you follow the stream. In the rainy season, the route is muddy. So remember to bring closed shoes or boots and, of course, a raincoat.

This small zoo is located in Goodwood,

halfway between Scarborough and Roxborough, in the property of a local artist, Michael Spencer. You can see two monkeys, des constrictor, a turtle, a turtle.

agouti, a parrot and a few caïmans. The artist exhibits and sells his paintings and sculptures.

A nature reserve and organic farm located not far from Arnos Vale. You can see different varieties of birds and butterflies, iguanas and orchids. Contrary to what the name suggests, there is nothing adventurous about the place. All the walks are done in the greatest comfort. A real pleasure. It is the ideal place to come to observe and photograph a wide range of hummingbird species and to benefit from the information of birdwatching specialists.

The name of this kilometer-long beach comes from its reputation for attracting sea turtles when they lay their eggs, from March to the end of August. There are 3 types of turtle to be seen here: leatherbacks, which are the largest, green turtles, which are the best known, and hawksbills . In high season, it's also busy with street vendors, attracted by the presence of guests from the Starfish Hotel, formerly known as the Turtle Beach Resort, a large hotel complex camped on the beach.

This beach is 800 meters long and lined with coconut trees. It is one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. It is supervised and very well equipped to take a shower and change clothes for a few dollars. The sea is generally calm, except for a few months in the year, from December to March. During these three months, big rollers hit the shore, turning the beach into one of the most famous surf spots in Tobago. This beach is also known to be one of the best diving spots on the island. There is a small drop-off at the right end of the beach, as well as the wreck of the Maverick, an old ferry that was deliberately sunk to make an artificial reef. On the left side, you can snorkel in the semi-private part of the Mount Irvine hotel, where many nice-sized brain corals are hidden. On the right, there are beautiful palm trees that offer a thick shade during the hot hours of the day. This is where you will find surfboards and canoes for rent. You can also rent deckchairs for 5 US$ a day. Note the cheap souvenir store at the entrance. As everywhere in Tobago, there is often music on the beach and if you come for December 31st, you are sure to find a party that will last until dawn. The rest of the year, Mount Irvine beach remains a place to get together and party with friends and feel like a local. At all hours of the day the atmosphere is friendly and at night it becomes festive, much to the delight of the young.

At the end of the tarmac road leading to the Sandy Point hotels, a small path takes a left along the fenced-in airport compound. At a crossroads, a right-hand path leads to the garages that once belonged to the NP (National Petroleum) company and still bear this logo, garages that can be seen from a distance. If you continue straight ahead, you'll come to a dusty track on the right which leads to the sandy beach of Sandy Point, lined with coconut palms and usually deserted because it's off the beaten track.

As you take the road leading to the NP garage, you come across a sign pointing in the direction of Robinson's grotto. Following this direction, you pass a few houses, the last of which is that of the Croocks family, who own the land on which the famous grotto is located, a hole in the limestone ground that is anything but spectacular, especially as there's no guarantee that it's really Robinson's grotto, the latter being only a fictional character. The bottom line is that Mr Croocks, now deceased, was aware of the rumours that Tobago was the famous island described by Defoe. He therefore thought that if Tobago was that island, then his cave could only be that of the bearded man wearing a goatskin cap. Today, Madame Croocks charges TT$10 for the visit. Aside from the grotto, Sandy Point beach is superb.

This observation post is located at the very end of a spur road from Speyside to Charlotteville as you come to the top of the hill overlooking Charlotteville. The station is still equipped with the radio transmitter used by the Americans during World War II. From Flagstaff Hill, a magnificent view unfolds over Charlotteville Creek as well as the rocky islet of St. Gilles at the extreme northern tip of the island. In the 18th century, a sugar plantation called Observatory Estate covered the hill.

Just 500 meters north of Charlotteville is Pirates Bay, a lovely little cove that is home to one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, if not the most beautiful. To reach it, you have to walk along the dirt track that starts at the end of the street that runs along the beach and climbs up the hillside for more than 500 meters. At the top, a staircase leads down to the beach (165 steps). The courageous will be rewarded by discovering a beach of fine sand and transparent emerald waters that bathe a coral reef of great beauty.

This small zoo lost in the middle of the jungle may surprise you. In fact it is a private zoo whose animals belong to the owner of the place. It is decorated with traditional arts and crafts as well as a collection of international currency. For the price, the entrance is honest, you can approach flaming parrots that live in large aviaries or monkeys, pythons .... Many plant species endemic to the island are planted there. A thirty-year-old turtle makes the animation of the place. An interesting visit.

On an old and tiny road, we go into the jungle along the Hillborough East River during 3 km then we fork on the left to arrive at a small waterfall, which is not very spectacular but pleasant to swim. The most adventurous ones will be able to go up above the waterfall and to discover several natural swimming pools but be careful, slippery ground! Around this small waterfall are scattered benches for a place to relax since the place has become a national park, a good idea at picnic time.

This forest reserve was created in 1776, making it one of the oldest in the world. It is possible to walk through it today. From the asphalt road, there are very few access points into this primary rainforest. The most convenient is the Gilpin Trace, whose entrance is marked by a boulder on the edge of the road. It's about two-thirds of the way along the forest road from Roxborough. A guide is highly recommended to avoid getting lost in this labyrinth.

In this pretty bay, the fishing boats are anchored waiting for the time to go out. The beach of fine white sand is calm, quiet, shaded and supervised. In the morning or evening, depending on the tide, you can watch the fishermen haul in their nets, a grueling but essential exercise. Between the large and small beaches, you can snorkel between the rocks. If you continue close to the shore on the right, you'll be able to admire some magnificent, colorful fish. Don't go any further than the headland of the bay, as the currents here are quite strong.

Here we are on the last "beach" before Scarborough coming from the west. Here there is no question of swimming, the currents are very strong and the sea is often big but the landscape is magnificent with a view on the capital in the background. It is the beach where many inhabitants of the capital come to make their morning or evening jog. To have a panoramic view on the bay, you can walk to Ford Milford for example. There are several small restaurants and bars along the beach, where visitors can enjoy a meal or a drink.

Last vast, vast beach where you can swim before Scarborough with the advantage of lifeguard surveillance. The sea can be quite rough on this side of the island. For the record, before a racetrack was built on the island, horse races were held on this long strip of white and black sand, bordered by palm trees and the old road to Scarborough. The water here can be a little colder than on the Caribbean Sea side, this is the beginning of the Windward Coast.