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I grew up in Trinidad & Tobago, so feel well-qualified to offer some tips and recommendations for stays in Tobago. Justin and I have also holidayed there together, which we thoroughly enjoyed, and reminisce about often. It offers endless options, whether you like lounging on the beach with a book or prefer doing something more active. We did a combination of both.

Get back to nature

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Tobago is a nature-lover’s Nirvana – the sea, the air and the earth are teeming with wildlife – get your cameras at the ready to snap away at all the gorgeous, exotic creatures you’ll encounter.

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Glass bottom boat trips – A visit to Buccoo Reef and the Nylon Pool is an essential. Gaze down at the shoals of colourful fish and coral without even getting your feet wet!

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Diving – Scuba dive or snorkel at Kelleston Drain off the island of Little Tobago, where you’ll find world’s largest brain coral colony. You may even come across a manta ray or two!

_{Leatherback turtle laying eggs credit}Turtle watching – Leatherbacks, Hawksbills and Green turtles visit Tobago to lay their eggs. All three of these species are endangered and protected. Leatherbacks are the largest surviving turtle species on earth. Their nesting season lasts from April to July when they lay eggs on the beach – usually the same beach where they themselves were born. There are specialist guided tours available to experience this wonder of nature.

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Nature tours – Tobago boasts the oldest, legally protected rainforest in the world – the Main Ridge Forest Reserve. Here you’ll find (if you’re lucky to spot one) the Ocellated Gecko, Gonatodes Ocellatus, which isn’t found anywhere else in the world. For such a tiny island, there’s an abundance of rare species of birds and butterflies. Local people hang feeders containing sugar syrup in their gardens to attract the hummingbirds.

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Hit the beach

You’re spoilt for choice with pristine, white sandy beaches and calm, turquoise sea in Tobago. Visit Pigeon Point to sit on the edge of the jetty with your legs dangling over the edge and experience the sunset. It’s one of the prettiest and most popular beaches on the island. Saying that, it’s surprisingly never crowded.

Enjoy the culture & nightlife

No matter what time of year you visit, there’s usually something lively going on. Amongst other events, Tobago Jazz Experience (April), the Heritage Festival (July) and the Great Fête Weekend – (actually 5 nights) live music on Pigeon Point beach (also July).

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Indulge in the wining and dining

Local dishes – There’s a plethora of restaurants and street food on the island serving delicious T&T specialities. Trinidad & Tobago is a food-obsessed, multi-cultural nation and its cuisine reflects this enthusiasm and diversity. Dishes such as pelau, goat curry, crab & dumplings and crab & callaloo are hugely popular. Some of my favourites include buss-up-shut, doubles, pholourie, fried bake, boiled corn-on-the-cob and macaroni pie.

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Seafood – Being a small island, all the hotels & restaurants all serve freshly-caught seafood & shellfish such as lobster, crab, shrimps, conch, red snapper and tuna. If you’re self-catering, you can buy it from the fishermen, straight off the boats!

Fruit & veg – If you’re vegetarian, there’s the widest, freshest selection of tropical fruit from which to choose. Coconuts, bananas, watermelon, pineapples, mangos, citrus, papaya (called paw-paw). Fresh vegetables and salad are also, unsurprisingly, in abundance (yes, some of these are actually fruits!); avocados (called zaboca), breadfruit, tomatoes, plantain, pumpkin, aubergine (called melongene), okra (called ochro) and fiery chilli peppers!

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Alcohol & soft drinks – Nothing quenches the thirst on a hot day more than a cold bottle of one of the local beers – Stag or Carib. There’s also Trinidad-produced rum – mix it with cola, ginger ale or coconut water or make a fruity rum punch. For non-alcoholic options try coconut water, sorrel (if you’re there around Christmas), mauby, soursop, peanut punch and the cocktail, Bentley.

Foodie events – 2018 is the 20th anniversary of the Blue Food Festival. It’s held in October on the north east coast of the island in Bloody Bay, L’Anse Fourmi, and Parlatuvier. The festival gets its name from dasheen, a root vegetable or ‘ground provision’ whose flesh takes on a blue hue when cooked.

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Get involved in sport

Racing – No, not horses or dogs – but goats and crabs! Goat and crab racing happens at Easter in the villages of Buccoo and Mount Pleasant. Get your bets on!

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Golf – Mt Irvine golf course is a top quality, well maintained course which has hosted many high profile tournaments. Justin had a very memorable day here, enjoying playing golf amongst the palm trees, then relaxing after his round with a cold beer, looking out over a sparkling blue sea.

The Great Race – An annual 84-mile power boat race from the Yacht Club in Trinidad to Store Bay in Tobago.

Cycling – Going since 1986, Tobago International Cycling Classic is a 5-day, 5-stage event held in October.

Holiday Gems offers low cost trips to Tobago and lots of other European and international destinations.

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