TOBAGO
Besides its several eco travel awards as the '#1 Eco Destination in the World', Tobago has all the 'typical' attributes you will find in a tranquil Caribbean Island. White sandy beaches and clear turquoise waters with a multitude of unspoilt secluded beaches and bays framed by picturesque hillsides makes your cruise a fabulous adventure of discovery.
Excellent snorkeling and exciting scuba dive opportunities await you in this paradise.
For the 'hiker' in you, an afternoon visit to the protected rainforest with its many nature trails gives you an insight to the rich diversity this rythmic Island culture has in store for you.
Here is a sample itinerary of what you may expect while enjoying a sailing vacation with TradeWinds in Tobago (and also an introduction to the Trinbagonian dialect!). Weather or other outside factors may mean that your skipper sets an alternative course.
Embarkation is possible from 5 p.m. However, you can check in and drop off your luggage at our office at the Lagoon Lodge, Bon Accord when you arrive. Your catamaran will be moored at the jetty in the magnificent setting of the Bon Accord Lagoon. Upon arrival at our office at the Lagoon Lodge, you will be greeted by our Operations Manager who will go through the check-in procedure with you. Then you'll be introduced to your crew, your fellow sailors and your TradeWinds yacht whilst you enjoy a refreshing welcome cocktail. After being shown to your cabin and your new home for the week, take a little time to settle in and enjoy a delicious dinner aboard. Your yacht remains in the harbour for the evening.
Breakfast is served followed by a first look at the proposed itinerary for the week. To put you in the mood "one time", get your snorkeling gear and the captain will take you with the dinghy to the "Coral garden", a beautiful reef inside the Bon Accord Lagoon. Back on the boat to set sail on a short journey to Mount Irvine, the surfer's bay. If you like to participate in the handling of the yacht and sails, you can do so but, if you prefer, just lie back and relax. It is all up to you. Once in Mount Irvine, if the swell is up, you can try yourself on one of the cleanest "right" waves in the Caribbean. Otherwise, it is possible to dive the "Wreck" or snorkel just off the boat... Before dinner, enjoy the sunset onshore sipping a rum and coke while "liming" with the locals.
Following a scrumptious breakfast, we will sail to "Cotton bay". Only accessible by boat, this bay offers some of the nicest snorkeling on the Island. After Lunch, you'll be sailing in Paradise on your way to Heaven: arriving in Englishman's Bay should make you feel that way! There is of course the possibility of snorkeling there but you can also start to explore the rain forest that fringes the beach... The day will end with another wonderful sunset followed by a dinner onboard inclusive sometimes of fresh fish that we may have caught earlier in the day. In this location there is virtually no light pollution whatsoever and your captain may invite all guests up on deck for a night cap and an evening of the most amazing stargazing.
The best time in the Caribbean is the early morning: Today, you should ideally be up at dawn, enjoy your breakfast and get ready for a little hike through the rain forest. This tour is an absolute must when visiting Tobago. At your request, 4X4 vehicles can take you to the best track of the Rain Forest (price not included in the cruise) which is the oldest reserve in the Caribbean that hosts an incredible amount of bird species. After the "sweat", the vehicles will take you back to the bay of Castara, where the captain will meet you with your yacht. Castara is a quaint little village on the leeward coast of Tobago.
When you arrive in Castara Bay, jump in to the crystal clear waters for some reef exploration before lunch is served: We often see turtles, sting rays and the harmless nurse sharks. A digestive walk through the village is highly recommended but you should beware; when having a drink at the tree house,the rum punches are lethal...
It's now time to set sail towards Man of War Bay where you arrive before sunset to find the picturesque Charlottesville's village. Sunset drinks are being prepared onboard while you get ready for an evening ashore at one of the nearby restaurants.
In Tobago, we offer the choice of having dinner ashore on the Tuesday or the Wednesday night. The crew will explain the different possibilities.
While you are still asleep in your cabin, we may move off across the bay to Anse Hermitage, a small cove on the other side of the bay. For the novice, SCUBA trial dives can be arranged here through the local dive operator. For the others divers, it's time to gear up and make some bubbles! After an early lunch onboard, it's time to get ready for the what's supposed to be a little rough sail around the North of the Island, passing Saint Giles Rock on your way to Anse Bateau, located near the village of Speyside. There is a small resort in this bay which offers lovely food so, if you haven't had dinner onshore the night before in Charlotteville, you can do so at the Blue Waters Inn in Anse Bateau.
Motoring 10 minutes across the Bay will take you to Little Tobago: Welcome to divers paradise! This area is reputed for it's largest brain coral in the World, its shoals of Manta Rays but also, be aware, strong currents (don't worry, we look after you!)... While the divers enjoy themselves, the snorkelers also have a unforgettable time as the reef around Little Tobago is fantastic. Alternatively, you might just want to hike around this tiny island. Lunch is served onboard, followed by the digestive siesta before sailing around to nearby King's Bay. A sheltered horseshoe bay with excellent half-mile (800m) dark-sand beach, shaded by coconut trees and calm, warm water. The site was once a large Carib settlement. Kings Bay Waterfall can be reached by a trail on the opposite side of the Windward Road, but be warned that the falls are often dry when there hasn't been much rain. Once again, the captain will mix one of his secret and delicious cocktail while the first mate prepares a sumptuous dinner.
After breakfast and a swim into the ocean, it's unfortunately time to sail back to the point of departure but, your holidays are not over yet. As you reach Pigeon Point, lunch will be served onboard and then you will have time to do some shopping onshore. You'll navigate through the Bucco Reef to be back inside the Bon Accord Lagoon for the night. It's time to exchange addresses and fill in the guest book before having dinner ashore followed by the sometimes too famous, last night party!
After a last tasty breakfast onboard, it is time to gather your belongings, as well as your wonderful memories of a week in this most beautiful environment. Before exchanging fond farewells, your crew will arrange transport to the airport. You will already be planning your next cruise with TradeWinds.
The easiest way to get to Tobago is to either fly direct or fly via Trinidad. Tobago airport is Crown Point International Airport (airport code: TAB) and Trinidad is Port of Spain (airport code: POS). Please note, if you fly via Trinidad you clear customs there and fly onward to Tobago on a domestic flight.
Caribbean Airlines offer flights directly to Tobago from either New York, Fort Lauderdale or Miami. Please note that they are typically less expensive and are not listed on popular flight search websites!
Caribbean Airlines
Reservations: 020 8577 1100
www.caribbean-airlines.com
Delta fly directly from Atlanta to Tobago or New York to Trinidad.
Delta
(800) 532-4777
(800) 337-4777
www.delta.com
There are several flights from the UK to Tobago each week:
British Airways (3 flights per week)
Reservations: 0870 850 9 850 (24hrs)
www.ba.com
Virgin Atlantic (Once a week, Thursday)
Reservations: 01293 747 747
www.virgin-atlantic.com
Caribbean Airlines
Reservations: 020 8577 1100
www.caribbean-airlines.com
Condor (Once a week, Sunday)
USA and Canada: 1-800-364-1667
All other countries: +49 (0) 180 5 707202
www.condor.com
Monarch (Once a week, Wednesday)
UK call centre: 08700 40 50 40
Calling from outside the UK: + 44 8700 40 50 40
flights.monarch.co.uk
For any traveller leaving these Islands, there is a mandatory TT$100 (approximately £9/$15) per person, airport departure tax to be paid; so keep that amount put aside. Children aged 5 years or less are exempt. Some airlines include the departure tax in the airfare.
Please contact us regarding overnight accommodation in Trinidad.
Caribbean Airlines operates the air bridge between Piarco and Crown Point airports. Air bridge tickets can be purchased online:
Fares for the 25-minute flight are TT$300 (US$50) per person return, or TT$150 (US$25) one-way. Children under 12 years of age enjoy a 50% discount.
Air bridge flights are on a single-class Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft. The flight duration is 25 minutes and visitors are advised to allow a minimum connecting time of 20 minutes for domestic flights and one hour for international flights. There is a flight departing Trinidad every 45 min. from 6 am till 8.30 pm.
There is a flight departing Tobago every 45 min. from 6.50 am till 21.15 pm.
Two fast Ferries service the route with an average sailing time of approximately 2.5 hours.
Schedules for Sundays and Public Holidays vary. Ferry timetables and prices are available from www.patnt.com.
Tickets are sold at the Port of Spain and Scarborough offices of the Port Authority. Ticket sales close two hours before departure. Telephone: (868) 639-2181, 2416/2417 for Tobago or (868) 625-3981, 625-9894, 627-0568 or 623-9353 for Trinidad (Information - not tickets). More information is available at www.ferryexpress.com.
Please write your address whilst you cruise as "Lagoon Lodge, Bon Accord, Tobago" which is the place from where you will board.
TradeWinds can arrange a taxi for you, whether you are coming through the Crown Point airport or the ferry terminal in Scarborough. Please ask reservations for this as you book your cruise. The TradeWinds base at the lagoon Lodge is about 5 minutes drive from the airport (USD 8.00/taxi) and about 20 minutes from the ferry terminal (USD 16.00/taxi).
Note: Whether you are entering the country in Trinidad or in Tobago, it is preferable to mention TradeWinds catamaran at the Lagoon Lodge in Bon Accord, Tobago as your place to stay when proceeding through immigration as it will be where you can be reached during your cruise.
When arriving early, you can check-in and drop off your luggage at our office from 9am on Saturday morning. You can either decide to relax around our lounge/pool at the Lagoon Lodge or spend some times at Pigeon Point, a magnificent Beach resort where restaurants, bars and water-sport activities are available. The lodge is fringing the Bon Accord Lagoon, and only 5 minutes from Pigeon Point by boat. We can organise a taxi (USD 8.00/taxi) or a water-taxi to drop you there (USD 10.00/person/return). The entrance fee to Pigeon point is USD 3.00.
If you arrive a day or two prior to your sailing trip, we have cottages available at the lagoon lodge. A cottage suite with kitchen and private plunge pool that could accommodate 4 comfortably in one loft bedroom and a downstairs pull out couch. There is also a comfortable single bedroom with quick dining and coffee making possibility. These rooms are all air-conditioned. These accommodations are not available at Plus Points, however, regular prices are as follows:
Please ask for the Cottage Suite as you book your cruise.
Tobago was voted "best eco-destination" for three years in a row and has a lot to offer in terms of forest tours, bird watching, diving and other water sports activities. It is strongly recommended to plan to stay a few days before or after your trip. As usual, we will offer diving from the yacht and choose the best options available. However, the best dive around Tobago are not accessible directly off the boat or with our dinghy. So, if you are an avid diver and wish to extend your experience in Tobago, we can organise packages with a very reputable dive company.
We will put together some activities packages in the near future: Make sure you check this page regularly!
If you experience delays and you feel that you cannot get to the base in time then please call +868 680 9776 leaving your name(s) and a short description of the problem along with contact details for where you are.
Updated May 2012
Just 11 degrees North of the Equator, Trinidad and Tobago (pronounced tree-nee-dad and to-bay-go) are the two most southern Caribbean islands, lying just off the coast of Venezuela, South America. The distance between Trinidad and Tobago is only about 21 miles. The islands are approximately 100 miles South East of Grenada and South of Barbados.
Trinidad and Tobago are completely different islands. Trinidad is large, industrial and sweaty and Tobago is tiny, postcard pretty, quiet, warm and breezy. To put it in perspective, Trinidadians holiday in Tobago.
Tobago has a land area of 300 km2 (116 mi2), and is approximately 42 kilometers (26 Miles) long and 10 kilometers (6 miles) wide. It is located at latitude 11-9 degrees N, longitude 60-40 degrees West, slightly north of Trinidad.
The population is 54,084 (2000). The capital is Scarborough, with a population of about 17,000. While Trinidad is multiethnic, the population of Tobago is primarily of African descent, although with a growing proportion of Trinidadians of East Indian descent and Europeans (predominantly Germans and Scandinavians). Between 1990 and 2000, the population of Tobago grew by 11.28 percent, making it one of the fastest growing areas of the country.
Tobago is primarily hilly and of volcanic origin. The south west of the island is flat and consists largely of coralline limestone. The hilly spine of the island, the Main Ridge. The highest point in Tobago is the 550 meter (1804 ft) Pigeon Peak near Speyside.
Trinidad and Tobago used to be part of South America and is home to wildlife usually only found on the geographical mainland. The central part of the island is covered with the oldest rain forest in the western hemisphere.
The wildlife in Tobago won't kill you. There are no poisonous snakes, no man eating sharks, box jelly fish or pole jumping, bird eating spiders. There are mosquitoes on land, so you should make sure you take along some relevant protection. There have been isolated instances of Dengue Fever from mosquito bites in the past, so do consult your GP before traveling.
English is the official language.
Average temperature is 30°C (86°F). The sea can be as warm as your bath, and is warmest in the rainy season. Jumping into the sea during a quick tropical rain burst on the beach is great fun. And the re-emerging sun will dry your towel in no time. During the 'dry season' (January-May). It's cooler, just 80°F! and there is the occasional rain shower. The so called 'wet season' - and not to be confused with 'monsoons'. It's more humid, the sea is warmer, and warm, tropical rain usually comes in short, sharp bursts and freshens the greenery. The island is at its most beautiful in this season as everything is full of color. The seasons' boundaries are becoming blurred. Tobago is south of the hurricane belt so is usually outside the path of hurricanes.
Please pack as lightly as you can. Most of our guests wear only a fraction of what they bring! All you really need are shorts, tee shirts and beachwear. In addition to this something more formal for the two evenings you will be dining ashore. Appropriate Attire: Informal, but conservative. Beach attire is appropriate for the beach but not town, shops or restaurants. Soft luggage is preferable if you have it. We have some limited storage onshore for your empty bags, but please bring as little as you are comfortable with. Between meals, fresh fruit is available. If you like to eat more between meals, please feel free to bring snacks with you.
It is advisable to bring a change of clothes and toiletries in your hand luggage. If your luggage gets lost enroute it will not be able to be delivered to you until days later.
You only need sandals or other shoes for the nights on shore as you will be barefoot whenever you are aboard. If you wish to explore the rain forest or other excursion, you should bring a pair of trainers or walking shoes along.
You will be around water for the week. If you are concerned about getting your purse, wallet or watch wet, bring a small dry bag. These can be purchased from sports and outdoor vendors. Some of them roll up and trap the air inside which has the added benefit of making the bag float.
All of our yachts have limited fishing gear onboard - we usually troll a line when sailing from island to island and will often catch yellow fin, wahoo, mahi-mahi or similar ...... which might become lunch or dinner!
We strongly advise that all guests cruising with us have fully comprehensive travel insurance which will cover all eventualities such as hotel accommodation, lost baggage, changes to flights etc.
Please read our travel insurance recommendations for more information.
The Islands provides 110/220 volts AC, 60 Hz, Plugs are the 2 flat pin type, as in the USA.
The local currency is the Trinidad and Tobago dollar, and there are roughly 6 $TT dollars to the $US dollar. US Dollars are accepted.
Tourists to Tobago find it's a relatively safe island to visit. The Tobago authorities deal with crime against tourists very seriously indeed - theft from tourists are deterred by heavy jail sentences. Tobagonians are a warm and respectful people, but whatever country you holiday in there's always an element of crime. Exercise caution. Keep your money and valuables safe. Don't leave your bag and camera on an empty beach while you go for a swim. Be sensible. Generally, you can walk around Tobago, day or night, and not be looking over your shoulder.
U.S., Canada, European Union, Australia citizens are not required to have a visa for entry into Trinidad and Tobago:
for other nationalities, please contact your local Trinidad & Tobago Tourism Office or Embassy.
The government charges 15% VAT on all goods.
Updated April 2012