TOBAGO

TOBAGO TOBAGO

Sun-soaked Tobago is Trinidad’s wistful, sleepy sister, an island of intoxicatingly laid back resorts and majestic beauty.

WHY WE LOVE TOBAGO?

Sun-soaked Tobago is an island of contrasts – golden beaches and blue waters of course, but also there’s dramatic rainforest and abundance of wildlife. It’s always exceptionally popular for birdwatching, Tobago has over 260 species to spot.

WHAT TO SEE AND DO?

Tobago’s interior is rich in nature, with the mountainous Tobago Forest Reserve reaching near 2000 feet, there’s a truly dazzling variety of flowers and vegetation. The northeast is a little more undiscovered, we recommend taking a glass bottomed boat from Speyside to Little Tobago, a bird sanctuary, and nearby Goat Island which is surrounded by reefs home to living coral and colourful fish. Tobago is absolutely one of the best spots for snorkelling and diving, with a diverse marine life including large manta rays and dolphins. If you are travelling between May and September, your stay may coincide with turtle hatching season, which is a memorable experience.

As with all Caribbean islands there are some stunning sands to choose from here – the most famous being Pigeon Point and Stonehaven Bay. The traditional fishing village of Castara is set within a wonderful horseshoe bay split into two lovely sandy beaches. You will find a good selection of places to eat and drink around both beaches and within the village itself. Take a trip up the coast though, and there’s some less frequented peaceful sandy bays, such as Man O’War Bay, Pirates Bay and Bloody Bay, names which give you a little hint at Tobago’s past. Visit the Fort King George to find out a little more, built by the English in 1770 the views at sunset at not to be missed. Here, you’ll also find the Tobago Museum, with artefacts both military and from the pirate ships that used to sail these waters.

CASTARA RETREATS

From the tiny hummingbirds hovering amongst the trees to the fireflies that light up the night sky, this wonderful family-run eco retreat is all about getting back to nature. Designed and built by British owners, an extraordinary amount of care and attention has been taken to create a truly unique hideaway. The 17 one or two-bedroom accommodations all have sea views, are beautifully crafted, and the warm hospitality has guests coming back year after year. As the perfect sunset spot, we recommend a cocktail and dinner at Castara’s Caribbean Kitchen bar and restaurant. For those looking to unwind even further, the Retreat’s Wellness Studio offers daily yoga classes and restorative massages. If you’re seeking an authentic experience, you needn’t look further - supporting and integrating with the local community is an important part of the hotel’s ethos.

7 nights from £1,199 per person on room only.

BLUE WATER INN RESORT & SPA

The perfect place to get away from it all, this boutique hotel occupies a restful spot where all 38 rooms and bungalows line the private sheltered beach of Batteaux Bay. Set within lush grounds and boasting its own private beach, guests can look forward to uninterrupted views from each of the rooms, studios and bungalows and wake to the sounds of the ocean. The hotel’s open-air Aqua Restaurant & Bar serves delicious fresh fish with a side of stunning views. When you’re ready to explore, nearby Main Ridge Wildlife Reserve has all the flora, fauna, birdlife, and waterfalls you could wish for. Boats make regular trips to Goat Island and Little Tobago, a wildlife sanctuary, and you’re only a short drive from the picture-postcard village of Charlotteville.

7 nights from £1,475 per person including breakfast.

PLANTATION BEACH VILLAS

This lovely collection of three-bedrooms villas is nestled in a lush grove of tropical trees; perched on a hillside leading down to a pool and palm-fringed beach. Each of the six villas are serviced by a dedicated housekeeper, who provides cleaning and laundry services each morning, and who will also cook meals on request – so you can opt to do as much or as little as you like. These houses are built in the genuine colonial style with the gingerbread wooden fretwork and cool wooden decking terraces, all of which have views over the blue Caribbean waters beyond. Your hosts are discreet but attentive - you’ll find each villa has a housekeeper who will be pleased to cook for you on request, and there’s also a poolside bar for those cooling daytime drinks.

7 nights from £2,415 per person on self catering.

COCO REEF RESORT & SPA

Coco Reef enjoys one of the best spots on the island, home to three of Tobago’s most revered stretches of sand - including the only private beach on the island and a shallow, warm lagoon. This charming resort embraces a laid-back Caribbean ambience that draws our clients back time and time again. The 135 spacious rooms, suites and villas are decorated in a traditional Caribbean style. Ideal for families, the spacious Two Bedroom Villa suites are set in the gardens and we always recommend upgrading to an ocean view. Tamara’s restaurant offers international cuisine in an elegant setting overlooking the Caribbean Sea, whilst Bacchanals is a more casual daytime spot for drinks and snacks. Coco Reef is the perfect place to relax, but there’s also plenty of activities here with two tennis courts, PADI dive shop, watersports and nearby a golf course.

7 nights from £1,415 per person including breakfast.

RAINFOREST AND REEFS RAINFOREST AND REEFS

See the best of Tobago visiting both rainforest and reefs. This itinerary combines a stay in the two lovely villages of Castara and Speyside, giving a real taste of island life.

Days 1-7: • Arriving into Tobago, you’ll be warmly welcomed and then transferred to your first stop - Castara

Retreats on the west coast.

• Spend 7 nights here soaking up the atmosphere of this traditional Caribbean village on the quieter side of the island, and with its local eating spots. • Castara Retreats is a cluster of wooden selfcatering lodges spread over a hillside, high above the beach overlooking the bay of Castara. There are 17 individual tree-house style wooden lodges, each with their own unique qualities, but all with space, views and privacy and all located within two acres of outstanding tropical gardens. Days 8-11: • Drive yourselves up to the north-east of the island and spend your remaining 4 nights at Blue

Waters Inn on Batteaux Bay. • Nestled in 50 acres of lush tropical gardens but

on a beautiful sandy beach, it’s paradise for those who enjoy scuba diving, snorkelling and wildlife treks. • It’s also great base from which to explore this side of Tobago. Hop on one of the little boats that regularly make the 20-minute journey to the

nearby islands of Little Tobago and Goat Island.

Glass bottom boats are the way to go here so you can really easily enjoy the reefs, and the whole area is a birdwatchers dream. • The nearest village is Speyside with its simple shops and local restaurants whilst the picture postcard Caribbean beach village of Charlotteville is a short drive away.

11 nights from £1,919 per person including 7 nights at Castara Retreats on room only + 4 nights at Blue Waters Inn including breakfast + 7 days car hire.