Tobago Adventure: From Paradise to Panic Our Unforgettable Island Tour

Welcome to Tobago The Island of Happy People

Hey everyone! We're back with another incredible Caribbean adventure, this time exploring the beautiful island of Tobago. After spending a few days here just living life, we decided it was time to properly tour this amazing island and show you all its hidden gems.

We partnered with Island Experience for a full circle tour around Tobago, and what started as a scenic drive through paradise turned into one of our most memorable (and terrifying!) travel experiences yet.

Why Tobago Has the Happiest People in the Caribbean

Our ship's captain announced something fascinating Tobago reportedly has some of the happiest people in all of the Caribbean. After spending time with the incredibly warm and welcoming locals, we can definitely see why this reputation rings true!

Discovering Tobago's Natural Wonders

Pigeon Point and the Famous Reef System

Our first stop took us to see the stunning Pigeon Point in the distance, where you can clearly see the waves breaking over Tobago's famous reef system that goes all the way around the island. This reef is what makes Tobago so well-known for its incredible marine life and crystal-clear waters.

The Methodist Church Built from Coral

One of the most fascinating stops was at Fort James, where we found the only remaining building a Methodist Church that's truly unique. What makes it special? It's actually constructed entirely from coral reef blocks!

Our amazing tour guide Edith explained that coral only grows between one and three centimeters per year, which means the coral blocks used to build this church had to be quite old. It's incredible to think about the time and natural processes that went into creating the very materials for this historic building.

Wildlife Encounters and Natural History

Leatherback Turtle Nesting Season

We learned so much about Tobago's famous leatherback turtles from Edith. These magnificent creatures come ashore to lay their eggs, digging holes up to a meter deep and laying between 80-120 eggs at a time.

Here's a fascinating fact: the temperature determines whether the babies will be male or female! For leatherback turtles, temperatures of 27.7 degrees and above produce females, while cooler temperatures produce males. This led to the funny saying that "girls are hot and guys are cool!"

Unfortunately, climate change and plastic pollution are serious threats to these amazing creatures. Leatherback turtles can dive up to 1000 meters deep to catch jellyfish, but plastic bags floating in the ocean look just like jellyfish to them, leading to tragic consequences.

The Mystery Tombstone

We discovered a mysterious tombstone with a heartbreaking story. It belongs to Mrs. Betsy Stevens and her child, with an inscription that reads she was "the mother without knowing it, and the wife without letting her husband know that except by her..."

The story behind it is tragic Betsy died during childbirth, and her child died too. Her husband Alexander Stephen was a sailor and ship captain who was away at sea when this happened. Both mother and child are buried together in this peaceful spot.

Tobago's Incredible History

Did you know that for 300 years, Tobago was ruled by different countries a total of 42 times? The Dutch, French, Spanish, English, Polish, and even Swedish all wanted control of this beautiful island. It's amazing to think about all the different cultural influences that have shaped Tobago over the centuries.

The Sixth Most Beautiful Bay in the Caribbean

We visited Englishman Bay, which is rated as the sixth most beautiful bay in all of the Caribbean. With its pristine white sand, crystal-clear turquoise water, and dramatic coastline, we can definitely see why it earned this prestigious ranking.

Local Cuisine and Culture

Authentic Caribbean Flavors

We had the chance to try some incredible local food, including their version of chicken roti and some unique local treats. The Caribbean Club drink tasted like a combination of Christmas wine and raspberry definitely unique and delicious!

We also tried sugar cake and coconut water cake made by a local baker. The ginger flavoring reminded us of a candy we found in Bocas del Toro, Panama it's amazing how certain flavors can transport you to different places!

The Magical Hummingbird Garden

One of the most enchanting stops was at a local lady's hummingbird garden. These tiny, incredible birds came so close we could almost touch them! Watching them hover in one spot and dart around was absolutely mesmerizing. The hummingbirds here are unique to this region, found in Venezuela and the Caribbean.

The Scariest Moment of Our Trip

When Paradise Turned to Panic

Just when we thought our day couldn't get more exciting, we experienced one of the scariest moments of our entire travels. While driving down the steepest road we've ever encountered, our tour car's brakes failed and it started rolling toward a cliff!

The situation was absolutely terrifying. Our tour guide was literally dragging herself on the ground trying to stop the car from going over the edge. Thankfully, the car got stuck in a ditch instead of continuing over the cliff a tree actually grew through the car, which helped stop it from going further.

It took multiple cars and several people to help cut down the tree and push the car out of the ditch. We've never been so grateful to be back at sea level! This experience reminded us that even in paradise, travel can be unpredictable and sometimes dangerous.

Fort King George - A Piece of History

Our final stop was at Fort King George in Scarborough, though we recommend taking a taxi if you're planning to visit it's quite an uphill walk! The fort offers beautiful views over the island and harbor.