The Best Beaches in Tobago – map included!

All beaches in Tobago are beautiful in their own right, but they certainly aren’t all the same. Some are perfect for all-day relaxation and comfort, others are ideal for falling completely off the grid. Some are good for a little adventure, while others have all the right conditions for your favorite water sport. If you’ve got all the time in the world you can make it your business to try and discover each and every one of the 55 beaches Tobago’s claims to possess. However, if you only have a few days to spare, and you want to maximize your beach time, these are my recommendations for the best beaches in Tobago.

Editor’s Note: This post was updated on December 4, 2019 to include new beaches and a helpful map. 

Pigeon Point Heritage Park

Pigeon Point is the most popular beach on the island. With good reason. Ranked among CNN’s Top 100 Beaches in the World, Pigeon Point is the beach you envision when you think of Caribbean paradise. Aquamarine waters, white sand, and coconut trees are the order of the day. And everywhere you turn, everything you see, presents an ideal photo op. Apart from being blessed by nature though, Pigeon Point also has all the amenities required for a comfortable, hassle-free day at the beach. From dine-in restaurants and bars to tours and water sports, its the place to go when you want to do it all. All of this comes at a price, however, I think we can all agree US $3 or TT $20 is more than worth it for a day in paradise!

• Amenities: Beach chairs and umbrellas; two restaurant and bar establishments; well-maintained restrooms; lockers; shops with beach gear and souvenirs on sale
• Activities: Glass Bottom Boat Tours and Water Sports (wind and kite surfing, stand up paddle and jet skiing)
• Highlight: The Pigeon Point Jetty is said to be the most photographed jetty in the world. Makes for great photo ops!
• Best Beach in Tobago for: All-Day Relaxation

Englishman’s Bay

Every time I’m craving quality beach time without quality people time I head east to Englishman’s Bay. Tucked away amidst the lush vegetation of the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, Englishman’s Bay is one of those idyllic beaches you conjure up when you think of going completely off-the-grid. As well-known as it is, this little stretch of coastline still manages to remain relatively secluded on any given day. With its cinnamon-colored sand flanked by emerald green water on one side and forest green trees on the other, Englishman’s Bay delivers the wild and untamed environment craved by those seeking to truly unplug. Facilities are limited, but this isn’t the place you go for convenience, it’s the place you go to maximize on nature and minimize on frills.

• Amenities: Beach chair rentals; one restaurant with limited menu; rough-around-the-edges; restroom facilities; two souvenir vendors
• Activities: You’re free to lounge, swim and snorkel on your own but there are no organized activities
• Highlight: With hardly anyone around you feel like you have the beach all to yourself!
• Best Beach in Tobago for: Serenity and seclusion

Store Bay Beach Facility

A stone’s throw away from the airport, Store Bay is often the first and last beach many visitors experience. Apart from its convenient location though, Store Bay has some of the clearest water in Tobago, as well as all the fixings for a budget-friendly beach day. Free entry is only the start of it – the food court features small takeaway eating establishments with wallet-friendly prices; the entrepreneurs handling rentals and boat tours are generally more open to negotiating prices than anywhere else on the island, and its the only beach you’re guaranteed to get cheap local sweets such a tamarind ball and sugar cake.

• Amenities: Beach chairs and umbrellas; food court; three bars; well-maintained restrooms; craft market
• Activities: Glass Bottom Boat Tours and Dive Shop
• Highlight: My fave feature is the little alcoves cut into the rocks that are perfect for setting up camp
• Best Beach in Tobago for: Budget-friendly fun

Pirate’s Bay

The unbridled beauty of Pirate’s Bay is enough to land this beach on any round-up of the best beaches in Tobago. The horseshoe-shaped strip of coastline is bordered by the rainforest and features soft sand and clear, calm waters. Narrow outcroppings of rocks create small coves that allow early birds to claim a bit of privacy. It’s no wonder it was featured in the Robinson Crusoe film! But what makes this coastal destination even more intriguing, is the art of getting there. If you’re not averse to exerting energy, you can venture there by land, climbing uphill along a narrow roadway then downhill through the trees. However, I prefer to go by boat. Keep in mind, there’s no official water taxi, no set schedule, and no set rate for this service, but that’s all part of the fun! Just make a deal with one of the eager boatmen on the jetty and they’ll get you there in under 5 minutes.

• Amenities: One restaurant that opens at the whim of owner and beach chairs that are sporadically available
• Activities: You’re free to lounge, swim and snorkel on your own but there are no organized activities
• Highlight: Arriving on the beach by boat is super cool
• Best Beach in Tobago for: Feeling like a castaway

Batteaux Bay

Batteaux Bay is a gorgeous stretch of coastline with deep sapphire blue waters that invite you to dive right in. And, after making the hour-plus long drive to Speyside, a nice, soothing sea bath is exactly what you’ll need. This beach exists within the perimeters of Blue Waters Inn, however, it is accessible to the public. The boutique hotel is relatively small, which means the beach is never overrun with bathers and you’re able to relax and unwind under the shade of the many trees that seem to creep right up to the edge of the water.

• Amenities: Restaurant
• Activities: Dive shop. Non-guests can’t access complimentary hotel activities but the ocean is your playground!
• Highlight: Just a few meters off the jetty there’s a gorgeous reef perfect for snorkelling
• Best Beach in Tobago for: Road trip rest stop

Arnos Vale Beach

The seafront real estate of an abandoned, dilapidated hotel doesn’t sound like the ideal place to spend your day, but what Arnos Vale lacks in charm and polish it makes up for in experiences. A great three-for-one deal, this beach offers the cool, clear waters on the main stretch of coastline, as well as two “hidden” beaches, accessible to those adventurous enough to scale the rocks and navigate the minefield of sea urchins. The trek to the secluded alcoves aren’t for the faint of heart, but I promise you they’re worth it. Whether you’re looking for photo ops or just some privacy, you’re going to love these bonus beaches!

• Amenities: None
• Activities: You’re free to lounge, swim and snorkel on your own but there are no organized activities
• Highlight: Bonus hidden beaches!
• Best Beach in Tobago for: Mini-adventures

Parlatuvier Bay

Parlatuvier Bay may not be top of mind when thinking about the best beaches in Tobago, but trust me when I saw, this idyllic stretch of coastline is absolutely deserving of the kudos. After years of admiring the view of this bay from Glasgow’s Bar, I finally made a point of giving it a try. No regrets. Just pleasant surprises. The sugar-brown sand is fine and much softer than I anticipated. The deep blue water is cool, clear and often populated by swarms of fish. The coconut trees lining the shore provide ample shade. And the fact that many visitors bypass this quiet hamlet en route to more popular spots like Englishman’s Bay and Castara Bay, means this beach is usually pleasantly uncrowded. 

• Amenities: None
• Activities: You’re free to lounge and swim on your own but there are no organized activities
• Highlight: Sometimes fishermen pull in seine and if you help you can get free, fresh fish!
• Best Beach in Tobago for: Solo beach run

No Man’s Land

A strip of untouched coastline stretching out into the Bon Accord Lagoon, No Man’s Land can only be accessed by boat. It’s the last stop on most glass-bottom boat tours and one of the beaches in Tobago that’s ideal for low-key liming (a.k.a. hanging out). This little spit is all soft sand, clear waters and overgrown greenery. It’s ideal for a no-frills beach day as there are absolutely no modern conveniences – not even restroom facilities. Anything you need you’ll need to bring it yourself, whether its chairs, drinks, food and most importantly, garbage bags to take your trash back with you. Due to limited access, the small beach is never overcrowded but the communal, makeshift BBQ grill is always loaded up with a variety of meats and freshly caught fish and strangers always seem happy to share!

• Amenities: Makeshift BBQ grill, nothing more
• Activities: Liming a.k.a. hanging out
• Highlight: The beach is so wild and untamed it almost feels like camping!
• Best Beach in Tobago for: Liming

Buccoo Beach

I’m ashamed to admit that it has taken me this long to visit Buccoo Beach but now that I have, I’m hooked! I finally visited on the advice of a Norwegian friend and discovered that this beach meets all of my #beachgoal criteria. Power soft white sand? Check! Clear, calm water? Check, check! Uncrowded? Check! But with the added bonus of not actually being lonely! Meaning that even though it’s usually full of people (including the moment I captured this photo) everyone takes advantage of the shade provided by the low hanging trees and they set up camp beneath the thick foliage. There are also cute wooden structures set up in a few spots that can be claimed on a first-come, first-serve basis, making it an ideal place for a more authentic and rootsy all-day beach lime.

• Amenities: Wooden huts
• Activities: Inflatable water park
• Highlight: The beach gives the appearance of being secluded even when it isn’t, which makes it ideal for a solo beach-goer seeking serenity without the concerns of being truly alone.
• Best Beach in Tobago for: No-frills beach lime

King Peter’s Bay

King Peter’s Bay is located in the village of Moriah. I discovered this beautiful, bathable beach thanks to a coworker who lives in the area. It’s a bit of a winding detour off the North Coast Road but the drive is absolutely worth it. Lined with lush green foliage on one side and solid, dark rocks on the other, this is one of those beaches in Tobago that’s all-natural and primarily isolated. From the vantage point atop the rocks, you can appreciate just how clear the water is, as you can actually see the bright hues of the parrot and angelfishes swimming just below us. With absolutely no amenities and few to no people at any given time, I wouldn’t advise staying here for an extended period of time but I definitely recommend it for a refreshing swim and even a snorkelling session to take in the beautiful marine life that exists so close to shore!

• Amenities: None
• Activities: Snorkelling (once you have your own gear)
• Highlight: You’ll be amazed by the beautiful marinelife you can encounter so close to shore
• Best Beach in Tobago for: Actual seclusion. Literally.

Indian Bay

Indian Bay is a gorgeous stretch of beach hidden away in the village of Speyside. Clear, calm waters make it ideal for swimming and the soft sand is perfect for lounging. While the beach technically exists within the privately own Agostini compound, it remains public property. Yay! The beachfront itself is lined with lovely green foliage and outfitted with a cute cabana that offers much-needed shade. Due to the fact that few visitors know of its existence, Indian Bay offers the privacy and seclusion we all crave in an island getaway. To top it off, the grounds are lush and so beautifully manicured, it’s an ideal spot for photo ops. Bonus: make your way up to the lookout point and you’ll be treated to views of the bay on one side and the dramatic crashing surf of the Atlantic on the other!

• Amenities: Beautiful gardens
• Activities: Swimming
• Highlights: The Agostini grounds are perfect for photographs and the view from the lookout point is second to none!
• Best Beach in Tobago for: Cozy beach lime

Mt. Irvine Bay

One bay. Two beaches. At Mt. Irvine Bay, you get the best of both worlds. Love to surf? Dig the authentic island, beach bar vibes? Don’t mind swimming with fishes? Then Mt. Irvine’s Beach Facility is the spot for you. It’s shabby chic Anchor Bar & Grill is one of the best bars in Tobago. When conditions are just right the surf climbs to heights that attract dozens of surfers. And schools of fish frequently make their way close to shore. If however, you’re seeking sunshine and some water activities, then pop on over to the other side of the bay run by the Mt. Irvine Beach Resort. There you can rent kayaks, sunbathe, and swim to your heart’s content.

Mt. Irvine Beach Facility

• Amenities: Restroom facilities, Anchor Bar & Grill, Picnic Tables
• Activities: Surfing and swimming
• Highlight: Surfer’s paradise
• Best Beach in Tobago for: Family lime

Mt. Irvine Bay Resort

• Amenities: Restroom facilities, Mt. Irvine Bay Resort Beach Bar
• Activities: Swimming and kayaking
• Highlight: Kayak rentals allow you to venture further out to catch a peek of Mt. Irvine’s beautiful reefs 
• Best Beach in Tobago for: Easy swimming

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Of course, this list is by no means the beginning and end of epic beaches in Tobago. There are so many more to share with you and I intend to do so with every special new stretch of coastline I encounter. So be sure to keep checking back for updates as I continue to seek out the best beaches in Tobago!

Have you ever been to Tobago? Can you think of any that aren’t on this list? Drop a note in the comments and if I haven’t already been there I’ll happily add it to my beach hopping itinerary!

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