Discover the fascinating history of Tobago, a 116-square-mile tropical paradise that changed hands numerous times during the colonial era before eventually becoming a ward of Trinidad in 1889. A relaxing drive from Scarborough follows the island's main road to the city of Plymouth and two must-see sites: Fort James, overlooking Great Courland Bay; and the tombstone of Betty Stiven, with its cryptic inscription that has baffled visitors for centuries.
Enjoy a scenic coastal drive along Windward Road en route to the Tobago Main Ridge Forest Reserve, the oldest rainforest reserve in the western hemisphere. Nestled within this tranquil Eden of lush greenery is the Tobago Cocoa Estate. Here, where the air is filled with tropical birdsongs and the scent of fermenting cocoa beans, you'll spot trees adorned with large burgundy and yellow cocoa pods waiting to be plucked and transformed into the world's most treasured sweet. It's a magical process of transformation that you'll have the chance to witness in its various stages.
Situated on Tobago's northwest coastline, within a bucolic landscape of gently rolling hills, is the golf course at Mount Irvine Bay Resort. Its attractive grounds were once a thriving sugar and coconut estate. Today as an 18-hole, 127-acre golf property, the course boasts numerous awards, including "Trinidad & Tobago's Best Golf Course," as bestowed by World Golf Awards. It has hosted such competitions as Shell's Wonderful World of Golf and the Johnnie Walker International Pro-Am.
Situated on the southwest tip of Tobago is Pigeon Point, one of the Caribbean's best beaches, with picture-postcard vistas stretching along its powdery, palm-fringed sands. A scenic coastal drive will take you to Pigeon Point and its thatched-roof jetty where a glass-bottom boat awaits to ferry you to the amazing underwater world of Buccoo Reef. Gliding along crystal-clear waters toward the reef, you'll marvel at an array of colorful coral gardens and fascinating marine life.
With its luxuriantly forested mountains, waterfalls and wealth of wildlife, Tobago is a nature lover's paradise. You'll appreciate the island's natural beauty during a scenic drive on Windward Road, tracing a path along Tobago's southern shoreline to the town of Roxborough, where you'll enter the Main Ridge Forest Reserve. Here, within the oldest protected rainforest reserve in the western hemisphere, fortunate birdwatchers might spot white-tailed sabrewing hummingbirds, blue-backed manakins and more on a brief naturalist-guided stroll through lush vegetation.
After a short flight over the gorgeous Virgin Islands, you will find yourself on the 30-foot-high coral island of Anegada. On your ride from the landing strip to your final destination, keep an eye out for the elegant flamingos that call Anegada home. Once you have arrived at Cow Wreck Beach, your only task is to sit back and enjoy the day on one of the British Virgin Islands’ most spectacular beaches. Fall asleep under a palm tree cradled in the powdery white sands, or snorkel in the crystalline turquoise waters.
Break up your beach-centric vacation with a hike up to the highest point in the British and US Virgin Islands. Soaring to a magnificent 1,716 feet, Sage Mountain is considered a hiker’s paradise complete with majestic overlooks and an old growth forest that has remained untouched for over 500 years. BVI’s first national park, Sage Mountain was established in 1964 thanks to Laurence Rockefeller, who purchased 86 acres from farmers and donated the land to the government. Large boulders and lush rainforest on the north side are in stark contrast to the old pastures on the south.
Plan to spend the day camped out on a chaise lounge besides an infinity pool, stretched out on a talcum beach, or gazing out at breathtaking panoramas from a sky-high spa oasis while expert hands soothe your body and soul. Or perhaps you would prefer hiking up a mountain, kayaking across a turquoise sea, or sailing into the sunset with a breeze at your back. Come get carried away to tropical bliss at the 5-star Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina, a member of the Five Star Alliance collection.
It’s the island you’ve been looking for, the one in your dreams: a tiny speck of green afloat in a turquoise sea, encircled by a 360° white beach and a lone palm tree waving in the trade winds. Cruising aboard a catamaran, you’ll cross the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Tortola and sail along the coast to Jost Van Dyke. Soak in the gorgeous seascapes as your friendly crew chats about this beautiful island group with its historic lore of piracy and privateering.
