Tobago Beaches and Water Sports

(Tobago, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago)

The Caribbean beaches of Tobago are really nothing short of wonderful and although this island may be considerably smaller than Trinidad, it certainly competes well when its comes to sun, sea and sand. Some of the most beautiful and popular beaches on Tobago include Arnos Vale Bay, Englishman's Bay, Store Bay and Speyside Beach, amongst others.

Many people come to Tobago not only for its beaches, but also for its coral reefs, snorkelling and scuba diving, which are especially impressive around the Buccoo Reef, between the Bon Accord lagoon and Pigeon Point. Others prefer the surfing and windsurfing conditions presented around destinations such as Bacolet Bay and Little Rockly Bay.


Crown Point Beaches

• Pigeon Point - a truly awesome beach, with white sand stretching for some 1,600 metres / 5,250 feet. Mature palm trees add a definite feeling of the Caribbean, while water sports add the fun-factor
• Canoe Bay - a leading holiday resort, with shallow water suitable for paddling. The beach at Canoe Bay is particularly family friendly and offers a good choice of neighbouring accommodation
• Store Bay - just a matter of minutes away from Tobago's Crown Point International Airport, where it remains one of the busiest beaches, suitable for snorkelling and swimming. Lifeguards are almost always present here, as are superb facilities and food stalls. The beach at Store Bay is sited next to the Store Bay Hotel and is approximately 200 metres / 656 feet in length

Buccoo to Plymouth Beaches

• Buccoo Beach - a particularly famous part of Tobago, being known for its exceptional scuba diving and coral sands
• Back Bay - a very beautiful beach, with soft white sands and calm waters, highly suitable for swimming. The Back Bay beach enjoys a relatively remote setting in this part of Tobago, and so is usually extremely quiet
• Great Courland Bay - regularly referred to as the Turtle Beach, due to the large quantity of turtles who lay their eggs in the sand here each year. The Rex Turtle Beach Hotel offers a good standard of accommodation
• Grange Bay - a narrow and rather private beachfront, with calm waters and seasonal nesting turtles
• Stonehaven Bay - with greyish sand and conditions lending themselves to both swimming and snorkelling alike. The main amenities are to be found around the Grafton Beach Hotel
• Mount Irvine Bay - home to the beach of Mount Irvine Hotel Beach, which is some 800 metres / 2,625 feet long and welcomes members of the public, featuring a number of different water sports. Look out for the plentiful crafts stalls, the regular afternoon fish market and the acclaimed golf course

The Leeward Coast Beaches

• Bloody Bay - very much an up-and-coming beach in this part of Tobago, with a number of new developments expected to increase the levels of tourism
• Arnos Vale Bay - amongst the best beaches on Tobago for snorkelling, with a very accessible and spectacular coral reef, along with crystal-clear waters and scenic views. The beachfront itself is part of a hotel complex and near to the Arnos Vale Waterwheel. Look out for the hummingbirds, who come here each day to feed
• Castara Bay - an extremely popular and tourist friendly beach, located next to the village of Castara and near to its natural waterfall. Castara Beach is almost 2,500 metres / 8,200 feet long
• Cotton Bay - an uncrowded and peaceful, private beach, favoured by many holiday makers on Tobago, although Cotton Bay can only be reached by boat
• Culloden Bay - a fairly thin beach, with snorkelling possibilities and just a stone's throw from the Footprints Eco Resort
• Englishman's Bay - regarded as one of the most beautiful and appealing beaches in the whole of the Caribbean, situated on the North Side Road and next to the Castara Bay, with crystal clear, azure water. The beachfront at Englishman's Bay is more than 800 metres / 2,625 feet in length and is flanked with amenities, including eateries, bars and shops
• King Peter's Bay - a fairly remote and tranquil beach, which gained its name after the last king of the native Tobago Amerindians
• Man o' War Bay - located off the Windward Road and stretching for more than 1,500 metres / 4,920 feet. This scenic and naturally formed harbour is based around Charlotteville and regularly frequented by arriving cruise liners
• Parlatuvier Bay - featuring a distinctive pale, pinkish sand and excellent amenities. The beach at Parlatuvier Bay is known on Tobago for its snorkelling, fishing, fish market and frigate birds
• Pirate's Bay - accessed via a very steep set of stairs and somewhat rural in its appearance, which is certainly part of its overall charm. The waters are usually calm and therefore ideal for a swim or snorkel

The Windward Coast Beaches

• Bacolet Bay - famed for its dark sand and strong waves, with the swell often being ideal for all levels of surfer
• Bellevue Bay - a very sheltered beach in this part of Tobago, with its dark sands regularly attract holiday makers, as well as shore fishermen. Those wishing to swim around Bellevue Bay will be pleased to find a lifeguard on hand during the peak periods
• Blue Waters Beach - accessed via the Blue Waters Inn and a good spot to enjoy both snorkelling and glass-bottom boat trips
• Granby Point - situated alongside a particularly historical stone fort, with strong winds at times and endless views
• Speyside Beach - a leading scuba diving destination, attracting divers from throughout Trinidad and Tobago, who come here to experience the Brain Coral and also the stunning Speyside Bay Reef. Holiday makers will likely enjoy taking a trip around Angel Reef, the Goat Island and also Little Tobago, onboard a glass-bottom boat
• King's Bay - a long and secluded beach, with dark sands, lifeguards and relatively calm water, suitable for swimming
• Little Rockly Bay - a leading spot for those who enjoy a spot of windsurfing. The beachfront at Little Rockly Bay is quite picturesque and is flanked by mature palm trees and regularly features its very own lifeguards
• Roxborough Bay - a lengthy and rather undeveloped stretch of sand, which tends to be favoured by locals