The hook
Trinidad's small, sleepy sister island, all palm-fringed beaches, coral reefs, and forested hills, crowned by what is claimed to be the oldest legally-protected rainforest in the western hemisphere.
01Why it's worth it
Where Trinidad is busy and industrial, Tobago is its tranquil counterpoint: a small, laid-back island of gorgeous beaches, warm reefs, and green hills that feels like the Caribbean of an earlier era, with none of the mega-resort development of the bigger destinations. Its coast offers postcard beaches like Pigeon Point, snorkelling and diving on healthy coral reefs (the Buccoo Reef and its shallow "Nylon Pool" are famous), and glass-bottom boat trips over the underwater gardens. Inland, the Main Ridge Forest Reserve protects a lush rainforest that has been under legal protection since 1776, giving it a strong claim to be the oldest such reserve in the western hemisphere, and it is superb for birdwatching and forest walks, with waterfalls and abundant wildlife. The pace is slow, the villages friendly, and the fusion of African, Caribbean, and other cultures shows in the food and music. Easily combined with a taste of Trinidad's culture and Carnival, Tobago offers the relaxed beach-and-nature Caribbean experience, uncrowded and unspoiled, that many travellers are looking for.
02How to experience it
Base near the beaches and split your time between the coast, snorkelling or diving Buccoo Reef and lazing on beaches like Pigeon Point and Englishman's Bay, and the interior, walking and birdwatching in the ancient Main Ridge rainforest. Go in the drier months for the clearest sea, and pair it with lively Trinidad next door.