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Tobago vacations top 10 things to do

Our Tobago Top Ten is a roundup of our favourite things to see and do on the island - though it was difficult to narrow it down to just ten! Water features highly, with glass bottom boats and catamaran trips, snorkelling and diving all high up the list. Nature and wildlife includes colourful, tropical birds, sea turtles and the biodiversity of the forest reserve - with history, culture, food and festivals rounding off the list nicely.

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Top 10 things to do on a
Tobago vacation

1. Ship ahoy

Be a pirate of the Caribbean! Sail along Tobago’s enchanting cove-littered coast on a catamaran, or cruise out to one of the even tinier islands on a glass-bottom boat, watching the vivid marine world ripple beneath you as you go.

Read more about watersports in Tobago

2. Dive in

Widely regarded as one of the best diving locations in the southern Caribbean, Tobago has not only the marine life to draw scuba divers to its warm, clear waters, but also highly experienced instructors and specialist equipment. Start from scratch with a resort dive, or join the pros in the wilder waters.

Read more about diving in Tobago

3. Watch a turtle lay her eggs

Hawksbill and giant leatherback turtles drag their heavy bodies ashore each year to lay their eggs on Tobago’s starlit beaches. This spectacle is one of nature’s most moving – closely followed by the emergence of adorably tiny hatchlings a couple of months later, who won’t return to shore for years.

Read more about turtle watching in Tobago

4. Birding for all

With around 220 species, Tobago has one of the highest densities of birds in the world. Even non-birders will be impressed as many are vividly coloured and iridescent – from tiny, buzzing hummingbirds to the distinctive blue-crowned motmot. South American species can be found here as well as North American migrants – your checklist will be ticked off fast.

Read more about bird watching in Tobago

5. Roam the rainforest

Tobago was a conservation pioneer as long ago as 1776, when the Main Ridge Forest Reserve was gazetted to protect the island’s trees and most important source of freshwater. Almost 10,000 acres remain untouched by man, making it a haven for armadillos, hummingbirds, peccaries, iguanas – and of course, nature fans from across the world.

Read more about rainforests in Tobago

6. Tuck in!

Tobago’s cuisine has two distinctive qualities – the abundant, fresh local ingredients (seafood, fruit, root vegetables) and the spectacular splicing of Indian, Creole, indigenous and European flavours. From crab to callaloo via coconut bake, this is one Caribbean island where you really can’t worry about maintaining your “beach body”.

Read more about food in Tobago

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1-866-821-6866

Call toll free

Calling from outside the USA

rosy@responsibletravel.com

7. Be a beach bum with a difference

You’re in the Caribbean; beach time is a must! Tobago’s bays veer from well-trodden to wild, yet pretty much all are idyllic, lapped by warm waves and framed by tropical vegetation. Sprawl for the day with a good book and a picnic, or keep active by kayaking and snorkelling – and helping local fishermen haul in their catch.

Read more about beaches in Tobago

8. Step back in time

Tobago’s wild history has left an indelible imprint on its present. From the forts to the mystery tombstone, there are stories to be told around every corner. And who better to tell those stories than the Tobagonians themselves: the owner of a cocoa estate, the family owners of a guesthouse, or the naturalist who spent his childhood on abandoned Little Tobago.

Read more about history & heritage in Tobago

9. Get festive

Tobago has several homegrown festivals each month, and these are a jolly good way to get under the island’s joyful skin. Heritage events showcase conch blowing and cacao dances, while calypso, steelpan and soca provide the rhythms to which the island walks. The annual Jazz Festival has drawn big names from across the globe.

Read more about culture and music in Tobago

10. Wander to a waterfall

Paradise wouldn’t be paradise without a waterfall – or six – to splash around in! From the popular three tiers of Argyle Waterfall, bordered by cocoa trees and sugarcane, to the hidden Twin Rivers Falls, reached via a rocky riverbed – just be sure to bring a picnic and a bathing suit.

Read more about land activities in Tobago

Responsible Travel would like to thank Visit Tobago for their sponsorship of this guide.

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There's a good chance your vacation will coincide with one of the many festivals and events in Tobago.

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History & heritage in Tobago

Tobago's history and heritage is everywhere, with forts, cannon and monuments memorialising battles that played out on this island over centuries.

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Clean, green and serene, Tobago benefits from respectful tourism - conservation and social projects in Tobago help keep paradise, paradise.

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Our guide to Tobago accommodation reveals a world detached from the traditional Caribbean concept of gated off luxury and all inclusive resorts.

Tobago travel advice

We visited Tobago to meet hotel and guesthouse owners, and sea turtle conservationists to ask them for their top Tobago travel advice.

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What is the best way to travel to Tobago? It all depends on where you’re coming from. We explain more in our guide.

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The Tobago Tourism Board share their thoughts on responsible tourism in Tobago and how it creates a unique experience for travelers.

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Written by Vicki Brown

Tobago vacations top 10 things to do