Things to Do in Tobago

Just across Tobago’s northern peninsula from Charlotteville, the town of Speyside is a small settlement along the coast of Tyrell Bay. The town’s biggest attraction is the incredible collection of offshore reefs and scuba diving sites, and many of the lodges in town are built around their on-site scuba diving operations. From here, it’s just a few minutes by boat to Little Tobago and Angel Reef, which are famous for the fast currents that attract beautiful corals, mobs of fish and awe-inspiring manta rays. You can also visit Little Tobago by land to spot a variety of seabirds, like brown boobies, Audubon shearwaters and sooty terns. In town, one attraction is the Speyside waterwheel, part of the ruins that remain from a once bustling sugar plantation.

Scarborough is the capital city of Tobago. With around 17,000 people, it is home to nearly one-third of the island’s population. Europeans settled this historic town in the mid-1600s, and the English, Dutch and French battled for its control. In 1769, the English made Scarborough the island’s capital, and their mark can still be seen at Fort King George, an 18th-century garrison that overlooks the settlement. Today the ruins are well worth visiting for the spectacular views, and a small on-site museum offers a glimpse of the island’s history, with weapons, maps and pre-Columbian artifacts on display. While Scarborough does have a newly built deep-water port for cruise ships, the town itself maintains an unpretentious local feel, with wooden ginger-bread houses alongside more functional concrete structures. The Scarborough Mall, across from the harbor, is home to the tourism information office, and the best place to in town to go shopping.

Take a day to explore the picturesque countryside of Tobago along the Windward Road. This 22-mile stretch of coastal road connects Scarborough with Speyside, winding through lush valleys, past remote beaches and through rural Caribbean towns along the way.  You’ll be stopped by traffic jams of slow moving goats, and spot friendly local waving from their porches and roadside rum shops. Must-see stops along the way include the Hillborough River, where you may spot a caiman lurking in the water. Stop at the fresh fish market in Barbados Bay, once the site of Georgetown, Tobago’s original British capital. Just before Roxborough, you’ll want to stop and marvel at Argyle Waterfall, which tumbles into a refreshing swimming hole. A guide and admission fee is required to walk the trails; official guides wear khaki uniforms and carry ID. Once you reach Speyside, you can relax with a drink along the waterfront, enjoying the views of Goat Island and Little Tobago.