The wonderful thing about Tobago is that there is so much overlap between activities – you never do one thing in isolation.
Boat tours double up as
snorkelling and – if you’re lucky – turtle or
dolphin watching trips.
Waterfall treks are the perfect time to count as many species of native
birds as you can. You can
cycle the coastal road, pausing at each beautiful bay along the way around. And every
music and dance event is a chance to
chat with the locals and sample some superb street
food – as well as the local cocktails, made with TnT Angostura bitters or coconut rum.
Funnily enough, Tobago’s treasure trove of
activities may well come from the fact that is has never really had its own tourism makeover in the style of Barbados or the Bahamas. It’s raw and real, with
forts and fetes, coral and cascades, which have not been scrubbed away to make way for infinity pools, swim-up bars or manicured lawns. What’s more, you’ll have a local guide who likely grew up in the region where you’re taking the tour, meaning you won’t just be told about the birds and culture – but about how it was to spend a childhood getting washed in the waterfall, or harvesting cocoa, or hauling in nets full of fish. Tobago is a weighty storybook of untold tales – and it’s well worth taking the time to flick through its pages.