Tobago is a lush and tranquil island close to South America and sharing its
birdlife. It is 26 miles long and about 7 and a half miles at its widest. It has a central ridge
of hills running down from the north with long, deep and fertile valleys leading to the sea. The island flattens out
towards the south. Tobago is distinctive in many ways, including a generally higher standard of cooking available to tourists
than many of its Caribbean neighbours. Don't miss Gemma's at Speyside where you have a simple
choice of delicious local food looking out over the blue seas and the bird sanctuary of Little Tobago.
Tobago has some superb beaches and characterful towns with
British colonial names such as Scarborough, Plymouth and Charlotteville.
Tobago has a developed but relatively discrete tourist industry. There is an
extensive range of hotels and guest houses. Its mountainous interior, extensive rain forest,
beautiful beaches and friendly people offer a wide range of activities. There are both direct
flights and flights via Trinidad (depending on your location). A day trip to Trinidad - and even
Venezuela - is comparatively straightforward and a worthwhile experience. How many people
can claim they've had a day trip to South America?!
In the 1931 edition to The Pocket Guide to the West Indies
written by the quaintly-named Sir Algernon Aspinall describes Tobago's weather thus:
"The climate of Tobago is delightful. The mean temperature is 80 degrees Fahr.,
but owing to the extensive seaboard, the heat is nearly always tempered by a cool sea breeze. This is
particularly the case in the dry season, from December to June. In the wet season, especially
during the months of August and September, the heat is sometimes oppressive owing to the stillness
of the moisture-laden atmosphere. The rainfall varies very much in different parts of the island. (...)
The island is outside the hurricane zone."
More about the Caribbean islands
