Tobago

A tranquil island at the southern tip of the Caribbean, with Pigeon Point beach, glass-bottom boats over Buccoo Reef, the Western Hemisphere's oldest protected rainforest and birdwatching.

Tobago is the second-largest island of Trinidad and Tobago, at the southernmost edge of the Caribbean. The island is about 40 km long and covers some 300 km², with the capital, Scarborough, on the south coast. The low-lying southwestern tip, Crown Point, is home to the airport, beaches such as Pigeon Point and Store Bay, and Buccoo Reef; the north coast is lined with small bays and fishing villages such as Castara and Englishman's Bay, where rainforest ridges plunge into the sea; at the northeastern end, Speyside and Charlotteville are known for diving and birdwatching, and the Main Ridge Forest Reserve is the oldest legally protected rainforest in the Western Hemisphere. The January–May dry season is the best time to visit; June–December is the rainy season, with frequent but mostly brief showers, and since the island lies south of the hurricane belt it is rarely affected by storms. Turtle nesting can be seen from March to August. Getting there: it's about a 25-minute flight or a 2.5–4-hour ferry ride from Trinidad, and there are a few direct flights from Europe and North America. Public transport on the island is limited, so rent a car (driving is on the left) or hire a driver to tour the island; the north coast roads are narrow and winding. Plan on 4–6 days, staying by the beach in the southwest and spending a night or two in the northeast for diving and birdwatching. The currency is the TT dollar, and US dollars are widely accepted.

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Itineraries