The Tobago holiday guide. Written by tourists for tourists.

Tobago is a beautiful and fertile island, and it’s no coincidence that almost every western European colonial power has fought to have it over the years. It’s rich in history, and you can see that just by noting the names of the villages you drive through - Plymouth, Argyle, Les Coteaux, Glamorgan, Goodwood and Parlatuvier, to mention a few. If you do wake up to a rainy day, there’s plenty to do - here are just a few examples.

Tobago Mountainbiking

My name is Eamon Healy-Singh, I have been doing bike tours for nearly 20 years, starting in Barbados and for the last 10 years in Tobago. Our tours have been featured in a variety of bike and travel magazines.

Enjoy the island's scenery

One of the best ways to really see Tobago is at ground level – where you can enjoy the flora and fauna at your own pace but on a bike you obviously get to do more mileage and see more. Our guides are game wardens and have worked in various environmental groups in Tobago for many years.

We cater for locals as well as tourists, and one of our goals is to promote biking to children. Some of them get to sit on a bike for the first time with us. Tobago scenery is spectacular – with many waterfalls and rivers to explore. No problem then if you need to cool off with dip.

The entry level tour is mostly flat in the south of the island, and passes through areas of mangrove forests visiting at least one of two lagoons. This is a perfect ride for people who haven’t ridden much before, or for those wishing to adjust before going onto something more challenging.

Enjoy the birdlife on your way - including herons, anhingas, black belly tree ducks and a variety of migratory species. A swim is optional and the length of this tour can be varied according to the clients’ needs.

The second tour I recommend for experienced riders is the waterfall tour. There are many to chose from. With undulating hills, the terrain varies from road to jeep trails to single tracks through wooded and open areas.

Many bird species are openly visible especially in the vicinity of Arnos Vale. Some include the Mot Mot, jacamars, various tanagers and with luck, the elusive king fishers. A swim is a must to refresh and cool down after the climb.

Go at your own pace

Tours begin from Pleasant Prospect at 2.30 pm and return around sunset. The tours mentioned here are US$40 per head and includes snacks and filtered water and protective gear.

We have other tour options available, including a round the island ride that takes two nights staying in local guest houses in the north of the island.

This can be tailored to fit clients in terms of time and distance and can be supported by vehicle.

Have a look at our website and photos for more details, and please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to know more. We look forward to welcoming you.

www.tobagomountainbike.com Call 001 (868) 332 5872

Wayne's World Tours

Wayne Gray is a Certified Tour Guide, and if you're planning a trip to the rainforest or waterfalls of Tobago you really must go with a qualified guide. We've done both trips and would not have managed without a local trained expert with us.
He also does reef tours, birdwatching and fishing trips.
You can e-mail him waynegray23@hotmail.com or phone 001 868 780 7020.
Wayne now has his own website - www.waynesworld-tours.com

Scenery and real life Caribbean

Hire a jeep and go to Speyside at the north end of the island. Although Tobago is only 27 miles long, it'll take you a day to travel up and down the island. The roads in Tobago are quite good and improving all the time, but they are few and far between, and tend to wind around the coastline - giving you spectacular scenic views. There's plenty of things to see and do on the way - you may need to take 2 separate days to see most of the sights - but head for Speyside and see the contrast with the south of the island.

Manta ray in Tobago

The view from the ‘Speyside Lookout’ is lovely, and you may very well be standing there alone with your camera. Speyside is predominantly known on Tobago for it's diving opportunities. The diving is fantastic, and it’s here that you’re likely to see the island’s famous manta rays.

There aren't many places to stop and get a drink on the way - so take something with you. You are very much in real Tobago as you drive through the villages. Tourists and their jeeps are 'an event' as they pass by - you'll only ever see friendly faces, but the real Tobago doesn't have a diner or bar at every corner - and to be honest - that's nice.
From Speyside you can see Goat Island and Little Tobago, a 450 acre bird sanctuary. Trips to these islands can be arranged locally.

Wild and friendly nightlife in the open

‘Sunday School’ in Tobago doesn’t refer to Bible readings and gospel singing, but the island’s hottest weekend event - an open air dance and music fest next to Buccoo beach . The evening starts off around 9pm with a fabulous show by the Buccooneers - one of Tobago's finest steelpan bands - and then the reggae and calypso starts. Beer and rum is cheap. There's barbecue and street food stalls, and the few shops there stay open late.

It's a great place where tourists - of all ages - meet the locals and just party. There's no entrance fee - it's mostly in the open. And there's a fleet of the 'unofficial' taxis to take you back to your hotel or apartment in the early hours of the morning. Thoroughly recommended.

Carnival

Carnival in Trinidad is akin to our Christmas. The island goes wild with song, dance and costume. Carnival in Tobago is enjoyed with the same vigour, but on a more 'quaint' scale. Home made costumes are painstakingly put together over many weeks in people's back yards, special cakes and breads are made for the festivities, and a copious amount of rum is consumed to the increasingly rare sounds of calypso

Tobago Carnival

Carnival Dates

2010 15th & 16th February
2011 7th & 8th March
2012 20th & 21st February

Carnival builds up - like Christmas festivities - before the big parades on the Monday and Tuesday before Lent. So for about 2 weeks in February and March each year flights and hotels tend to be busy and booked well ahead, and the beaches become home to 'detached des-res' size sound speakers, pumping out this year's carnival hit - usually 'Jump, Jump, Jump Up and Down' - or variations on the theme of.

For weeks if not months beforehand you will see children preparing their costumes in their backyards and practising their dances. This is THE date of the year in Tobago.

So, Carnival in Tobago transforms the island into a throbbing, noisy party for a few days, with very busy beaches. If you don't want to take part and do want your peace and quiet, it may not be the best time to visit the island.

Kimme Museum

This is a museum with a difference. Luise Kimme has lived in Tobago since 1979. Her sculpture museum is known locally as "The Castle" and is a work of art in itself. The museum is Luise's home, and overlooks the Mt. Irvine Golf Course with view sof the Caribbean Sea. Luise trained at St. Martin's College of Art, amongst other reputable places, Her unique Caribbean sculptures are created from whole tree trunks.

A Kimme sculpture

When visiting Tobago, a Sunday visit to the Kimme Museum is a must. There you can admire the larger than life size sculptures made from oak, cedar, lime, cypress and bronze, depicting perfect portraits of the beautiful Tobagonians. The distinctive sculpture at the top of Tobago's Scarborough near Fort King George is a Kimme. You can't miss it.

Visiting hours:
Sundays from 10.00 am - 2.00 pm.

There is an entrance fee of US 3.50 or TT20.00/person. Visits at other times can be arranged per telephone (868) 639-0257.

Website: www.luisekimme.com

Waterfalls - photos and swim

Tobago has a number of beautiful waterfalls - in particular the Argyle Waterfall which is the highest in Tobago. It’s a tiered climb with cool pools of water as you go, and lovely light for photos.

Do accept the offer of a government registered guide when you get there. They will have an ID with them.

Tobago waterfalls

The Falls are a slippery pathway to reach and a guide will help you reach them safely and they are well worth the climb. If you go with children make sure you have enough adults with them to help them. It can be slippy and though the climb is smooth, you need to be careful and atttentive.

Make sure you wear appropriate clothing - shoes with a good grip for example. And you'll really want to wear your cozzie for a deserving dip under the water at the end. A camera is a must.