t Tobago Cays – where you can Sail and Snorkel in the pristine turquoise blue waters teeming with wildlife
Sheltered by the aptly named Horseshoe Reef, the Tobago Cays are a group of uninhabited isles. The waters are exceptionally clear, and the diverse marine life includes squirrel fish, angelfish, and grouper.
t Tobago Cays – where you can Sail and Snorkel in the pristine turquoise blue waters teeming with wildlife
Experience St. Vincent and the Grenadines
t A scrumptious Vincentian seefood barbeque
Five magical islets make up the Tobago Cays, which lie just off Mayreau, the smallest inhabited isle in the Grenadines. The 2-mile- (4-km-) long Horseshoe Reef encloses four of the cays (Petit Bateau, Jamesby, Petit Rameau, and Baradal) within a sandy-bottomed aquamarine lagoon. The fifth cay, palm-topped Petit Tabac, is the perfect desert island fantasy, and was even chosen for such a role in the first Pirates of the Caribbean movie.
To protect these delicate ecosystems, the islands were declared a marine park in 1997 by the Vincentian government, though their popularity is putting them under increasing pressure. Comprising a mere 1.5 sq miles (4 km sq), the cays are the favorite stop on any tour of the Grenadines, attracting thousands of visitors annually on visiting yachts, cruise ship excursions, or day-trips from the populated neighboring islands.
In addition to the abundant shoals of fish supported by the reefs, the park’s other highlight is a turtle sanctuary off the rocky outcrop of Baradal. Here, it’s possible to snorkel among the seagrass watching green turtles feed, with stingrays and eagle rays even making the odd appearance. Anchoring dinghies and fishing is prohibited.
There’s wildlife of interest on land too: a stroll along the short trails of the larger cays takes you through rare dry tropical forest peppered with the occasional flowering shrub that supports a surprising amount of birdlife. Resident seabird populations include bridled terns and brown pelicans, but plenty of migratory birds stop over here too.
Insider Tip
If anchored overnight in the cays, ask the boat captain to reserve a spot at the nightly fresh lobster BBQ (except in the closed season, May through August). It’s held on Petit Bateau beach and run by local fishermen.
EXPERIENCE St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Swim with Turtles
It’s a heavenly experience to swim silently alongside the turtles as they forage in the seagrass.
Picnic on the Beach
The dazzling soft sands of Petit Tabac make for a lovely picnic spot while gazing out at the sea.
Seek out Iguanas
Basking in the sun or lurking in the under-growth, green iguanas are widespread on the cays.
Snorkel on the Reef
Seek out puffer fish, barracuda, and nurse sharks around Horseshoe Reef.
Birdwatch
A keen eye through a pair of binoculars can pick out scores of roosting and nesting seabirds on Catholic Rock Bird Sanctuary.