Caribbean Beat — January/February 2017 (#143)

caristock
Paddleboarding at Pigeon Point
You may be forgiven for thinking that Carnival is an ever-present phenomenon in both Trinidad
and Tobago at this time of year. But what if you’re a local or an international visitor who’s not
really into Carnival? What if you’d much prefer to escape and recharge on the open water,
under a waterfall, on a beach, or immersing yourself in culinary and cultural explorations? Then
perhaps you’re best served avoiding Trinidad altogether — and giving yourself the gift of a
Tobago escape. Your spirit will surely thank you.
By the water
Let’s start with the low-hanging fruit. This is for the beach bums.
And beach bumming is a fully legitimate option in Tobago. Folks
who love to fill their lungs with sea air, work on their tans (or
snooze in the shade), and enjoy some leisurely swimming and
snorkelling are unlikely to want for more.
The two staples around Crown Point, Tobago’s bustling
southwestern hub, are Pigeon Point and Store Bay. The water
at both beaches — like many bays on the island’s leeward
coast — is generally calm, sheltered, and great for swimming.
You’ll also enjoy the convenience of these beaches’ plentiful
amenities, like eateries, craft shopping, parking, watersports
operators, changing facilities, and bathrooms — even if you
sacrifice a bit of the peace and quiet you’ll get further afield.
Popular glass-bottom boat tours to Buccoo Reef and the Nylon
Pool also leave from here. But an invigorating alternative for
strong swimmers is to paddleboard or kayak to the Nylon Pool
instead.
Now, those are the two go-to beaches in Tobago’s tourist
centre. But there are many, many other beaches around the
island which deserve your beach-bumming attention. If you’d
prefer more quiet and privacy, you’ll want to venture up the
Caribbean coast to gems like Englishman’s Bay, Parlatuvier,
Castara, Bloody Bay, or Charlotteville. Canoe, Back, and
Stonehaven Bays — still in the southwest, but much less
frequented — are also solid options. At Buccoo Bay, you also
have the opportunity to not just enjoy the beach and great
swimming, but to ride on a swimming horse. If you could be
convinced that would be amazing, make sure to check out Being
with Horses. Last but not least, divers and birders will certainly
want to head to Speyside — but more on that later.
80 WWW.CARIBBEAN-BEAT.COM