Reasonable Guest Houses in Western Tobago

Windward Side Beaches

This post covers beaches located between the villages of Roxborough and Scarborough 

The drive along the coastline bordering the Atlantic Ocean is a bit more dramatic than on the leeward side of the island 

Here beaches have more powerfull waves, but the scenery is spectacular 

The bays and beaches along the Atlantic Coast of Tobago  from Roxborough in the East to Scarborough in the west is quite different in appearance from the Northern coastline of the Caribbean. 

The beaches on this coast are not all suitable for swimming with family given the rough waves and rip currents that may exist at times

Its important to liaise with local folks and tour guides for guidance on which beaches on he coast are suitable for family outings. However all are beautiful and can be used for strolls along the beach or just a place to kick back and relax and take a nap listening to the soothing sound of waves

Goldsborough Bay

 

There are several dark volcanic sand beaches along Goldsborough Bay between Roxborough and Scarborough, particularly each side of the village of Pembroke. 

Pembroke Beach (turn off at the crossroads at the bottom of the hill) is safe to swim in, but there is no shade or facilities.

Pinfold Bay

A small beach next to the ruins of Fort Granby and also known as Fort Granby Beach. The site is marked by a sign off the Windward Road, which takes you past a ready-mix concrete plant and the island's rubbish tip. 

The beach, however, is quite pretty although swimming is not safe here. It's a good walking beach and there is a small bar for refreshments after.

Hope Bay (Hillsborough Bay)

Hope Bay is readily recognizable due to the lines of waves breaking into surf as the sea rushes in over the shallow waters.

The beach is a very long stretch of black volcanic sand and the invariably deserted. There are strong rip tides out to sea, so the bay is not considered safe for swimming, but it does make an excellent walking beach.

Caribbean Sea Coast Beaches

Leeward Side Beaches

This post covers beaches located between the villages of Buccoo and Arnos Vale.

The drive along the coastline bordering the Caribbean sea is a serene and enjoyable as they come 

Buccoo Bay

Following on from Pigeon Point and No Man’s Land, Buccoo Beach is a long narrow beach protected that is protected by the Buccoo Reef.

There are basic beach facilities including a small bar and toilet facilities

This beach is not heavily populated as there are more famous beaches nearby that attract more beach goers

Grange Bay

This beach is known by the locals as The Wall, and is just off the road after the famous Mount Irvine Golf Course.

Grange Beach is great for swimming and is a popular spot with surfers.

Back Bay

Back Bay is a quiet secluded beach, whose access involves trekking down a cliff.

There is even a little pool made by nature where water flows in and out with the tide.

While this is a beautiful beach it is quite secluded and lonely.

May want to go there in a large group to maintain ones safety 

The Great Courland Bay

Access to this beach can be had from any of the side streets in the Black Rock Village

The bay is exposed the full elements of the north coast.

Stone Haven Bay

Stone Haven Bay is an attractive coarse sand beach bordering Le Grand Courlan Spa Resort and the Grafton Beach Resort.

The beach (north) offers good snorkelling and is one of the beaches in Tobago where the endangered giant Leatherback turtle comes ashore between March and August to lay their eggs.  

Turtle Beach

Turtle Beach is a long sandy, sloping beach famous as a nesting site for giant leatherback turtles (March-August).

The beach is located close to the Turtle Beach Hotel, which borders the beach

The hotel organizes viewing of the turtles during their nesting periods (March –August)

The beach is adjacent to an area that has thick tree cover that provides shade and seating facility for family limes

Beaches South West of Island

Man Of War Bay

Situated on the northeastern tip of Tobago is Man-o-war Bay in the quiet village of Charlotteville.

This is the perfect destination for the traveller seeking a picturesque location  that is largely untouched by the influences of the mainstream tourism industry.

The drive along the beautiful northeast coast of Tobago presents visitors with a breathtaking view of Charlotteville from the mountainous inclines.

With its golden sand shoreline and rainforest mountains as a backdrop Man-o-war Bay is a traveller's paradise

Swimming and snorkeling are great activities at this bay

Pirates Bay

Situated in the north east of the island is the very quiet village of Charlotteville, where you will stumble upon  Pirates Bay.

Pirates Bay is mainly accessible by foot or by boat. it is gorgeous, quiet and unspoiled.

Named after the shelter that it provided to marauding buccaneers three centuries ago, this charming and isolated bay and beach was used extensively in the original Robinson Crusoe filmed in 1952.there are excellent reefs protecting Pirate's Beach 

 Access to the beach is via an un-paved  track has been created up the hillside from Charlotteville (continue north along the coast road through the village, always forking left toward the sea).

It healthy 20 minute walk! before descending through the plantation to the beach. 

The steps leading down are not marked and can be easily missed. There are some 170 steps down the steep cliff-side to the beach.

There are basic toilet/changing facilities

Take a group, walk with a cooler, food and enjoy the ambiance, nature and the sound of the waves In Tobago; you may very well have the beach to yourselves 

Hermitage Bay

Hermitage Bay is a secluded bay just before the main village of Charlotteville

Batteaux Bay

This beach is small and secluded with stunning deep blue waters and reefs near the grounds of Blue Waters Inn apartments. 

The beach is a popular departure point for diving and snorkelling trips around the islands of Little Tobago and Goat Island.

Popular Tobago Beaches

I am often asked to recommend ' good' beaches in Tobago by my friends and co-workers

My response is always ' all beaches in Tobago are good"

But I usually direct travellers to the typical well known beaches as often times these are the ones with some kind of facility for beachgoers

I was pleasantly surprised when I was having a conversation with older folks in Tobago and learnt that Tobago has about 40 or so beaches around the island

A typical traveller to Tobago probably won’t get to see all of Tobago’s beaches during their stay.

I have decided to create a few posts  of some of the more well known beaches in Tobago. 

The information would be in no particular order of popularity

leave a comment if you have an impression of the beach based on your own experiences 

Englishman’s Bay

Rated as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean by the Sunday Times, Englishman’s Bay lies on the edge of the rain forest.  Off from the main road on the north cost of the island , through a short road covered with a bamboo canopy – and there it is.

There is  peace and photo opportunities as well as a simple wooden hut selling local dishes and handy craft 

The sand is clean and white, the water deep and clear, with palm trees fringing the whole bay.

There’s a good breeze wafting in from the Caribbean Sea and you can sunbathe to the fabulous sounds of wild parrots shouting from the rain forest. 

Mount Irvine Beach

Mt Irvin beach and its bar is near the Mount Irvine Bay Hotel but it’s all open to the public. 

There are  beach facilities for guests including a bar and individual eating areas for visitors

Small huts around sell various local dishes and delicacies that are reasonably priced 


The beach is small and pretty and provides excellent snorkelling  for those so minded 

 Castara Beach

Castara beach is really an area where the locals work and recreate as fishing is the main stay 

You approach the beach along the north coast road, bordering the sea along the entire journey

Cold bears are available  from the local bar on the beach where local old timers enjoy their mid-day rum and cards, 

As a guarantee, you will get to experience the fishermen bringing in the days catch and prepare themselves for a relaxing evening before retiring to their respective homes nearby to quite peace and serenity typical of Tobago village life 

Pigeon Point

Pigeon point Heritage Park

Pigeon Point beach is a picture perfect Caribbean beach 

Still, turquoise water lapping onto a white beach, swaying palms leaning over almost touching the water. That is Pigeon Point.

You have to pay a fee per person to get to the beach and use the facilities (TT$20 ) which are extensive and well maintained. 

The beach is a part of what is known as Heritage park where in the nearby grassy area littered with coconut trees the famous Jazz festival takes place annually

There are craft shops along the road leading to the beach as well as establishments selling local foods and drinks 

The far end of the beach borders the famous pigeon point lagoon and is home to an array of exciting water-sports – windsurfing, kayaking, kite-boarding and jet skying etc 

Its a favourite spot for cruisers who are bused to the location when cruise ships do come to the Scarborough Port in the capital.

Store Bay, Crown Point

This exquisite beach is located near to Crown Point Airport, and is home to the famous Great Race (power boat) event that takes place around the summer month of August. .

The facilities are excellent and included showering facilities, bars local food stalls, small stalls selling local crafts and delicacies ( bene balls, sugar cakes, tamarind balls, chow etc)

It’s a popular beach for Tobagonians, especially at weekends, and for the typical Trinidadian who decides to run away for the weekend 

it’s clean and tourist friendly and as a result, 

meals are wide and varied and include the famous crab n dumplings , callaloo, sea conchs ( lambi), etc

Meals range in prices from $35.00 and up . 

Diving Sites

 Diving Sites and Establishments in Tobago

Cove Reef

Depth:10-27m

Cove Reef is a fringing reef that mainly consists of sponges and hard corals. The reef flat starts in 10 meters and is sloping gently down to 25 m. It is one of the deeper reefs in the South end of the island. With its numerous crevices and caves it is the perfect hideaway for lobsters, moray eels and nurse sharks. The typical Caribbean variety can also be found here: Grouper, Trumpet Fish, Rays, Trunk and Trigger Fish, Turtles and Barracudas are dwellers on Cove Reef.

Flying Reef

Depth:10-16m

Flying Reef is one of the most popular reefs in Tobago. Due of its length and depth of only 16 meters it is suitable for beginners and advanced divers. A forest of soft corals and enormous sponges dominate the underwater scenery - and if you are looking for more have a look at the vast variety of different reef fish such as Triggerfish, Stingrays, Moray eels, Rainbow Parrotfish, Angelfish, Butterfly Fish, Porcupine Fish, Turtles and much more.

Divers Thirst

Depth:16-30m

This reef is located between Flying Reef and Divers Dream which leave it exposed to strong currents, but one can easily avoid it by diving just under the ledge of the reef. Big nurse sharks, barracudas and stingrays are frequently seen here. An encounter with other big reef dwellers such as bull sharks or tiger sharks are possible.

Divers Dream

Depth:15-20m

Divers Dream is a plateau, roughly 5 km offshore. The top of the reef is as shallow as 6 m and slopes down to a depth of 25m. Beautifully covered boulders are found in this area, attracting a huge amount of barracudas, snappers, giant parrotfish and triggerfish. Being such an exposed dive site you also can find nurse sharks, eagle rays and reef sharks.

Mount Irvine Extension

Depth:10-25m

Mt. Irvine Extension starts off with huge coral boulders at a depth of around 8 meters. A few minutes into the dive the scenery turn into a massive coral reef that offers shelter to a variety of creatures like lobsters, giant crabs, octopus and scorpion fish. In the blue water above the reef you might see tarpons, cobies, groupers and eagle rays.

M.S. Maverick

Depth:15-30m

The ferry "Scarlett Ibis" was sunk in 1997 creating an artificial reef to boost the islands dive product. The 70 meter long ship which was renamed the "Maverick" is sitting upright on a sandy bottom at a maximum depth of 30 meters. In her years under water she has put on a beautiful coat of corals and sponges which is accompanied by schools of bait fish who find shelter in the huge belly of the ship. Jacks are also attracted by this never ending stock of prey available.

Mount Irvine Wall

Depth:8-16m

With only 15 m max. depth in the protected bay of Mt. Irvine, the Wall is an easy but extremely interesting dive site. The steep cliff with beautiful canyons, cracks and ledges is the home of large groups of schooling fish, like surgeonfish or triggerfish. With some luck one might find a seahorse or short nose batfish.Caribbean angelfish or a parrotfish.

The Sisters

Depth:15-30m

Heading to the north of the island one we will reach the rock formation called the Sisters, some 5 pinnacles coming up from more than 40 meters depth. Beautiful covered and bizarre underwater scenery makes the Sisters a memorable dive. In overhangs and caves you find not only lobster but also stingrays and nurse sharks. Depending on the season and current a school of hammerhead sharks can be seen here. The Sisters are fully exposed to the wind and open sea so that it can only be dived in favorable weather conditions.

Japanese Garden

Depth:6-25m

One of the dives, in which you can see the vast variety of marine life in Tobago waters. After descending into the "fish soup" you will drift towards " Kamikaze Cut" and once passed, you are diving through four different zones of underwater scenery. A dive second to none!

Kelleston Drain

Depth:9-20m

This dive is famous for the huge brain coral which you will see towards the end of this challenging dive. We are starting in a sheltered bay on a shallow plateau from where the current will take us to the deeper water. The nutrient rich water allows a luxuriant growth of sponges and soft coral. Big schools of Creole wrasse and jack fish are always there. Nurse sharks and giant green moray eels are frequently seen on this dive.

Bookends

Depth:7-26m

Bookends got the name from strangely shaped rocks coming up to the surface. Depending on the current this may be a quiet difficult dive site. The natural amphitheatre invites you to look at nurse sharks and turtles.