Stunning spacious villa with amazing views of Caribbean sea

Near the sea

recommended

Tobago is the 116-square mile quintessential Caribbean island and offering top eco-tourism, unspoiled beaches, friendly people and relaxation. It is easy to soak in and sink into a laid-back atmosphere, and Tobago is the perfect place for that. Every island has a spirit of its own. Tobago’s is calm, serene, grounded. In Tobago, life becomes simple again. Time slows down – perhaps to the pace it should always have been! The stresses of your day-to-day life dissolve away.

From each glorious sunrise to the iridescence of sunset, Tobago presents the visitor with an abundance of choices, from simply lazing on a white-sand beach to hiking through the rain forest in search of Blue-backed Manakins, to taking the plunge of a lifetime — into some of the clearest water you can imagine, with magnificent coral reefs, giant rays and shimmering angel fish for company. Tobago also offers everything a water sports enthusiast could ever want, from Hobie Cat-sailing to wind & kite surfing, Jet-skiing, game fishing to mountain biking and horseback riding.

The Capital – Scarborough.

Shops, a central market, mall and cinema, fast food, bars, loud music and busy roads define Scarborough. Tobago’s capital is quite lively. The inter-island ferry docks in lower Scarborough where you’ll also find the bus terminus, food outlets, the main market, the island’s first mall and an occasional speaker’s corner. This small capital, in which almost half of Tobago’s 50,000 people live, is divided into Lower and Upper Scarborough, the latter overlooking Rockley Bay. It is also the island’s administrative centre and port of call for the cruise ships and Trinidad-Tobago ferry. A casual walk in the afternoon (the coolest time of day) is the ideal way to get acquainted.

You can tour Tobago comfortably in a day if you really want to, ticking off the highlights as you go. Or you could take a year over it and still have more to enjoy. There are plenty of guided tours available, or you can just rent a car and nosey around on your own. If you’re interested in the flexibility and independence of renting your own vehicle, a valid international permit, or a valid ‘Driver’ permit issued in the UK, US, Canada, France or Germany is required for cars and motorcycles, and can be used for 90 days.

Tobago looks small on the map, but its narrow winding roads mean that it often takes longer than you expect to get where you are going. There aren’t many gas stations in Tobago, especially north of Scarborough, and they may not be open late or at weekends. So don’t set-off for Bloody Bay or Charlotteville on a Sunday afternoon with a half-empty tank. Gas stations on the Northside Road and the Windward Road are few & far between (in Roxborough and Charlotteville). Good idea to fill up at Crown Point, Carnbee, Scarborough, Plymouth, Roxborough or Charlotteville.

Pigeon Point: Tobago’s most famous beach. It has graced hundreds of postcards and brochures with its jetty’s carat-thatched cabana set against turquoise waters, soft white sand and swaying palms, and remains one of Tobago’s most popular beaches. The approach road, fringed with bougainvillea and towering coconut trees, is an experience in itself. Protected by Buccoo Reef, the calm waters make it ideal for families – but stay within the red markers while swimming. Water sports businesses operate from the far end and you can catch a glass-bottom boat to Buccoo Reef from here. Small entrance fee.

Store Bay: extremely popular (and busy) beach for locals and visitors, less than 5 minute walk from the airport. Fine golden sand descends into crystal clear water. Many glass-bottom boat operators begin Buccoo Reef trips here. Excellent craft shopping, food stalls, changing rooms

Canoe Bay: Tobago’s calmest and shallowest bathing beach, perfect for young families. Rarely crowded, with excellent facilities including bar and beachfront cabanas. Beware of mosquitoes at sunset and the rugged approach road. Open 9am-5pm. Small entrance fee.

Mt Irvine: a pair of beaches offering excellent facilities and some of the island’s best snorkeling. The Mt Irvine Beach Hotel side, open to the public, offers refreshments and all beach amenities. Mt Irvine Bay, a short walk away, is a popular water sports and snorkeling spot: coral, sponge and reef fish species abound here. Snorkeling gear, canoes and Hobie cats can be hired onsite.

Castara: quiet and unspoilt beach in a friendly fishing village. Enjoy the sight of fishermen bringing in their nets (pulling seine) or bread baked in old-fashioned dirt ovens. Excellent facilities, stores and craft stalls.

Englishman’s Bay: this tree-framed, crescent-shaped bay exudes a beguiling tranquility, with the crashing surf and squawking parrots, often the only sounds to be heard. The deep, clear water offers good swimming and snorkeling but beware – it shelves away steeply. Craft shopping and restaurant onsite.

Tobago has plenty of excitement to offer to those busy bees that just can’t stay still: Deep Sea Fishing – an unforgettable adventure for those who like new experiences and of course, fresh fish. For more information and to book please CONTACT: - 1. HARD PLAY Fishing Charters, 13, The Evergreen, Auchenskeoch, Buccoo, Tobago Tel: 1 868 639 7108 Fax: 1 868 639 7788 Cell phone: 1 868 682-FISH (682-3474) E-mail: hardplay@tstt.net.tt or go to http://hardplay.net/ 2. Dillons Fishing Charter. (868) 639-8765. 3. http://www.mytobago.info/fishing04.php ——————————————————- Speyside diving Diving draws many visitors to Tobago and Speyside is the island’s diving Mecca. It hosts a wonderful variety of coral (including the world’s largest brain coral), moray eels, sea turtles, and sharks. Water sports Various water sports businesses operate from Pigeon Point, Store Bay, Mt Irvine, and Speyside. You can hire jet skis with/without instructor, snorkeling/diving gear or simply join one of the glass bottom boat tours. Argyle Falls A 15-minute forest walk brings you to the stunning three-tiered waterfall. Keep an eye out for wildlife: kingfishers, which nest in the riverbed’s bamboo roots, often can be spotted. Fort King George Regally overlooking Tobago’s capital from 140m (460ft) above the Windward Coast, this is the twin islands’ best-preserved historical site. Charlotteville The steep descent into the fishing village of Charlotteville from the Speyside-Charlotteville road is a truly memorable experience. Don’t miss a trip to spectacular Pirate’s Bay, accessed via a track at the village’s eastern tip. Main Ridge Forest Reserve Home to abundant flora and fauna, some bird species to look out for include the white-tailed sabre-wing hummingbird, jacamars, and mannequins. Buccoo Reef and Nylon Pool The largest and most frequently visited of Tobago’s reefs. An arc of five reef flats separated by channels, it boasts a wonderful array of vibrantly coloured aquatic life, including 40 species of coral. French explorer Jacques Cousteau labeled it the third most spectacular reef in the world, and it was declared a marine protected area in 1973. Between the shore and the reef is the Nylon Pool, an offshore sandbar that has formed a metre-deep pool in the middle of the ocean. Glass-bottom boat tours depart Pigeon Point and Store Bay twice daily. Little Tobago Just 2 km, a trekkers’ and birdwatcher’s idyll. Glass-bottom boat tours depart Blue Waters Inn twice daily. Arnos Vale Estate and Waterwheel Beautiful and rustic, featuring one of the best-preserved colonial-era waterwheels in Tobago or Trinidad. Kimme Museum: “The Castle” German-born sculptor Luise Kimme has lived and worked in Tobago since 1979 and produces arresting larger-than-life sculptures hewn from solid tree trunks and inspired by local culture, folklore and the beauty of Tobagonian people. Other popular attractions: • Arnos Vale Adventure Farm and Nature Reserve • Botanical Gardens (Scarborough) • Bon Accord Lagoon and Wetlands • Courlander Monument (Plymouth) • Fort Bennett (Black Rock), Fort James (Plymouth), and Fort Milford (Crown Point) • Grafton Caledonia Wildlife Sanctuary • Mystery Tombstone (Plymouth) • Witch’s Grave (Golden Lane) The legend of Gang Gang Sarah: It’s a story that has been passed down for generations. Legend has it that Gang Gang Sarah was a wise witch (or, depending on who you ask, a soucouyant – a noctural bloodsucking creature of local folklore that can transform into a ball of fire) who flew from Africa to Tobago centuries ago in search of her family. In her old age, after her husband’s death, she climbed a giant silk cotton tree (sacred in many indigenous religions) hoping to fly back to her homeland. But having eaten local salt she was unable to fly, and fell to her death. The “Witch’s Grave” marks where she fell. Like much of the culture, Tobago’s traditional cuisine is heavily influenced by the African heritage of its inhabitants. The island’s delicious specialties include crab and flour dumplings simmered in a thick curry and coconut sauce, and a thin, spicy drink touted as an aphrodisiac called pacro water (prepared by boiling sea cockroach, a local shellfish). Store Bay, a 10 minute walk from Crown Point International Airport, is home to some of Tobago’s best cooks who sell authentic local fare out of beachfront kiosks. In the resort districts of Crown Point and Buccoo, stylish gourmet restaurants serve menus incorporating international styles with local spices and ingredients.

Cycling, Mountain Biking, Watersports, Diving, Surfing, Windsurfing, Fishing, Swimming pool, Golf, Horse riding, Sailing, Walking, Beach

• Crown Point Int. (Airport) - 5.3km / 3.3miles