Top 5 Tobago escapes

If you’re a Trini, and a serious Carnival jumbie, February 2021 will be a tough month. You could console yourself with the various virtual online events in the works. But if you feel like it needs to be the real thing or nothing, you could also follow the lead of all those people — yes, they exist! — whose annual Carnival plan is an escape to the sister isle. Tobago’s magnificent natural beauty is balm to the soul. Birdsong fills the air with playful melodies and harmonies, rainforest trails beckon, and captivating beaches mesmerise. This serene island has something for everyone, and might just be the distraction that saves you from the COVID Carnival blues.

Beach hopping

Start with the obvious. Tobago boasts enough beaches for every unforgettable day of your trip. A coastal tour is an easy way to explore these sweet spots along the thirty-byten-mile island. Some treasures, like Batteaux Bay, Pirates Bay, and Bloody Bay, are unspoilt, charming, and have the allure of private beaches. Snorkel on the sublime reefs, dive among the teeming sea life, or simply relax in a beach chair and enjoy the fresh sea breeze — some of the best things in life are indeed free.

Little Tobago

You may have visited Main Ridge Forest Reserve and encountered many bird species there. Another birder’s paradise is a boat ride away. The sanctuary on Little Tobago offers a day of natural indulgence, and the chance for some outdoor exercise: there’s quite a climb to the top of the trail. Look out for tropicbirds, boobies, shearwaters, frigate birds, and more. Snorkelling at Tyrrel Bay and spotting the abandoned villa on Goat Island are a great end to the day.

Fort seeking

Have you already been to Fort King George Heritage Park? Overlooking Scarborough, Tobago’s largest fort is one of the island’s most popular, but there are others to explore, and picturesque views are just one of the rewards on this historical adventure. Did you know Tobago changed colonial hands more than any other Caribbean island?

The Mystery Tombstone

A tombstone with an abstruse inscription rests in Plymouth, on the leeward coast of the island. If you like brainteasers, this one is for you. Can you solve the riddle of Betty Stiven? “She was a mother without knowing it, and a wife without letting her husband know it, except by her kind indulgences to him.” There are many folktales in Plymouth — maybe some of the others will help you figure it out.

Bioluminescent Bon Accord

Under starry skies, when conditions are right, nightlife takes on new meaning at Bon Accord Lagoon. Tiny marine creatures called dinoflagellates emit a greenish-blue iridescent light in the water when it is disturbed. These bioluminescent micro-organisms glow to scare or confuse predators. A guided tour via kayak is the best way to experience this natural magic, as every stroke of the paddle creates ripples of light in the sea around you.

Castara Bay, on of the gems of Tobago

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