Tobago is a Caribbean gem, a treasure for those seeking the romantic visions they have of a Caribbean with palm-lined beaches, rain forest cloaked mountains, living reefs, sunset vistas and friendly island people.
It still exists for the most part in the tranquil and peaceful paradise known as Tobago. Tobago is the much smaller sister that makes up the two-island Republic known as Trinidad and Tobago. The main city of Scarborough is the lively hub and center of this long and skinny island.
The pace, thankfully, is a lot slower than hustling and bustling Trinidad. This is an island for getting refocused and relaxed. No giant cruise ships call on the island just the smaller and exotic tall-mast pleasure boats.
The island offers charming Caribbean type of accommodations to partake of. I recommend checking out the romantic Enchanted Waters- a small garden type of hotel with a centerpiece waterfall. Another legendary and charming hotel is the Kariwak Hotel & Holistic Haven.
This is a 24 room retreat set in luscious tropical gardens, with pool, Jacuzzi, lively bar area, good local cuisine and a holistic yoga health programs.
Golfers will enjoy the greens at the Mt Irvine Golf course and great lodging at the Mt Irvine Bay and Hotel with its beautiful beach or the nearby Villas on the Green or the Golf View Apartments. Luxury Caribbean hotels are found at the Hilton Tobago, Crown Point Beach and the Grafton Beach Estates.
If Caribbean diving is what you are looking for then Tobago is your underwater paradise!
Divers will enjoy the CoCo Reef Resort which is located on one of the most scenic beaches on the island but has easy access to one of the most beautiful reefs just off the island.
Blue Waters Inn- A unforgettable resort and experience for divers! From the deep blue of the Atlantic, to the golden sandy beach of Batteaux Bay, to the brilliant green of lush hills - this is the setting for Blue Waters Inn. The Inn offers Tobago's finest hiking and bird watching. Be awakened by a symphony of birds celebrating the birth of a new day. Curious Manta Rays, richly overgrown coral reefs, hordes of friendly fish and highly impressive drift dives - Aquamarine Dive Limited, the on-site dive operation, offers easy access to Tobago's most unique dive adventures, with the finest sites only minutes from your doorstep.
Hiking- Tobago Style
And if sunbathing, golfing and diving is not enough for you- well that’s okay- Tobago has plenty more treasures to offer you. With a beautiful mountain chain running down the spine of the island, hikers will be lured to explore and sample the beauty of Tobago by foot.
Panoramic vistas, cool trade winds, mild climates, interesting wildlife and foliage make this one of the most popular hiking areas in the Caribbean. Hikers will experience lush forests with waterfalls, semi-arid terrain, areas filled with wild parrots and giant iguanas- but the great news is no poisonous snakes! So go for a hike, enjoy the views and leave nothing but your footprint behind…keep Tobago clean!
On Tobago you can also take on challenging mountain biking, go jeeping, lay under a waterfall, enjoy bird watching,paddle out with sea kayak or visit several of the historic forts found on the island.
Short History of Tobago
This was an island once populated by peaceful Arawak Indians who gave way to the more fierce Carib invaders. Tobago is where the name Tobacco comes from as the European explorers discovered the indigenous natives smoking the leaves. Europeans discovered Tobago on Columbus’s third voyage in 1498. The islands were battled over by many European powers and the last Carib war chief and first national hero of Trinidad & Tobago fell in 1699.
The island changed flags many times, was a haven for pirates and permanently fell to Britain in 1814. Slavery brought the Africans to the island. The island was incorporated with Trinidad in 1888 and the two islands became an independent nation in 1962. Today the vast majority of the islanders are of African descent and the people are friendly and outgoing. Caribbean Vacationers will enjoy this mountainous, naturally beautiful island with its long sandy beaches, picturesque coves and clear water reefs. But the smiles of the local people was what made the island so beautiful and unforgettable to me!
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