Beyond Crown Point: 6 Places to Explore in Tobago
Crown Point, Mount Irvine and Buccoo are some of the best-known places in Tobago, and for good reason. They’re home to beautiful beaches, restaurants, accommodations and some of the island’s most popular attractions.
But one of my favourite things about Tobago is getting away from the places everyone already knows.
Take a country drive. Follow the road a little farther. Turn down a road simply because you like the view. Stop at a beach you’ve never heard of.
Some of Tobago’s most memorable places aren’t necessarily the ones you’ll find at the top of every travel list. They’re the quiet fishing villages, long stretches of coastline, mountain viewpoints and little trails where you can spend an afternoon without much of an agenda.
So if you’ve already explored the popular spots, or you’re simply looking for a slower way to experience the island, here are six places in Tobago worth adding to your list.
In This Guide
- Lambeau: A Quiet Fishing Village
- Speyside: Islands, Diving & Coastal Views
- Bloody Bay: Beach, River & Rainforest Views
- King’s Bay: A Peaceful Local Beach
- Flagstaff Hill: One of Tobago’s Best Viewpoints
- Castara Waterfall: An Easy Rainforest Escape
1. Lambeau
Lambeau is one of those places that feels a little removed from the Tobago most visitors first encounter.
The quiet fishing village reminds me of Manzanilla in Trinidad, particularly because of the clusters of coconut trees that line the coast. There’s something wonderfully simple about the landscape here.
The beach stretches for a long way, making it a great place to get some exercise and take a quiet walk along the water. Depending on the time of year, however, sargassum can accumulate along the shoreline and change the experience considerably.
When the coastline is clear, Lambeau is a lovely place to slow down.
You may see windsurfers taking advantage of the breeze, local fishermen selling their catch along the roadside, or, occasionally, cattle wandering along the beach.
And that’s part of what I like about it.
You don’t necessarily come to Lambeau for a packed itinerary. You come to walk, look around and see a slightly more everyday side of Tobago.
Good for: beach walks, photography, windsurfing and experiencing a quieter side of Tobago.
2. Speyside
Speyside is one of the best places in Tobago for getting out on the water, particularly if you’re interested in diving, snorkeling or exploring the islands just offshore.
The village sits on Tobago’s northeastern coast and is the jumping-off point for excursions to Goat Island and Little Tobago. Little Tobago is an important seabird sanctuary, while the waters around Speyside are known for their coral reefs and marine life.
If you’re a diver—or have always wanted to try diving—Speyside should be on your Tobago itinerary. The area is home to famous dive sites, including Kelleston Drain, which is known for its enormous brain coral.
And then there’s the white house on Goat Island.
There’s a long-standing story that the house was once associated with James Bond author Ian Fleming. The story has been disputed, including by Fleming’s biographer, so I’d treat it as local lore rather than established fact. Either way, seeing the white house sitting among the greenery of Goat Island makes for an interesting view from the water.
Even if you’re not diving, Speyside is worth visiting simply for the scenery. Stop at the Speyside Lookout, take in the view and give yourself some time to watch the water.
This is one of those parts of Tobago where the journey really is part of the destination.
Good for: diving, snorkeling, boat trips, birdwatching, photography and spectacular coastal views.
3. Bloody Bay
I’ll admit it: the name Bloody Bay doesn’t exactly make it sound like somewhere you’d want to spend an afternoon.
But this is actually one of my favourite places to explore in Tobago.
Not every beach needs to be about swimming.
Some beaches are perfect for getting in the water—Crown Point and Castara come to mind—while others are worth visiting because of the landscape surrounding them.
Bloody Bay is one of those places.
The beach sits beneath the lush hills of the Main Ridge, creating a completely different feeling from the flatter, more developed areas around Crown Point. The Bloody Bay River also reaches the coast here, and the surrounding landscape gives you a beautiful combination of rainforest, river and sea.
It’s a particularly lovely place to stop if you’re driving around the island and want to stretch your legs.
Take a walk along the beach. Look back toward the mountains. Watch the water change colour with the weather.
And don’t let the name scare you away.
Good for: beach walks, photography, rainforest views and exploring Tobago’s northern coast.
4. King’s Bay
King’s Bay feels like the kind of beach you discover because someone who lives in Tobago tells you to go there.
It’s well loved by locals, but it doesn’t seem to receive nearly as much attention from international visitors as some of Tobago’s better-known beaches.
Coconut trees line the beach and the water is generally calm, making it a beautiful place to spend a few hours swimming, snorkeling or simply sitting beneath the shade.
There are sheltered picnic areas and benches around the site, and you’ll often find a lifeguard on duty. The facilities can feel a little mysterious—there are huts and buildings around the beach that you can’t always tell are open—but I think that’s part of the charm.
For me, King’s Bay is another great walking beach.
It’s also one of those places where it’s worth keeping your camera out.
You might find a butterfly, a cat, cattle wandering nearby or some other little piece of island life that you weren’t expecting.
And then there’s the white house overlooking the bay.
I’ve always wondered whether it’s someone’s home or a rental. If you know, please tell me!
Good for: swimming, snorkeling, picnics, beach walks and photography.
5. Flagstaff Hill
If you’re looking for one of the most breathtaking viewpoints in Tobago, put Flagstaff Hill on your list.
Getting there is part of the experience.
The road up can be steep enough to leave your knees a little wobbly, particularly if you’re not accustomed to Tobago’s mountain roads. But once you reach the top, the views make the drive worthwhile.
Our most recent visit started with rain.
We had driven all that way and thought we’d made the trip for nothing. Then, almost as quickly as it arrived, the weather began to shift.
The sun started shining through the clouds and the landscape below us lit up.
It was cinematic.
Flagstaff Hill offers sweeping views across northeastern Tobago, including the surrounding islands and coastline. The lookout also has an interesting history: it was used as a military lookout and radio/radar station during World War II.
This is one of those places where I would give yourself time to simply stand there.
Don’t get out of the car, take one photograph and immediately leave.
Wait for the clouds to move. Watch the light. Look toward the sea.
On a clear day, you may even be able to make out the meeting of Tobago’s Atlantic and Caribbean coastlines.
Good for: panoramic views, photography, sunsets and scenic drives.
6. Castara Waterfall
Castara itself is becoming one of the better-known villages in Tobago, particularly among international visitors. And honestly, I understand why.
It’s a beautiful fishing village surrounded by lush hills, with a laid-back atmosphere that makes it easy to slow down. Tobago’s tourism authority describes Castara as a community known for its warmth and hospitality, as well as swimming, snorkeling and fishing.
Most visitors who are looking for a waterfall in Tobago immediately think of Argyle Falls, the island’s highest waterfall.
But don’t overlook Castara Waterfall.
This is one of my favourite little escapes on the island.
The trail is relatively short and accessible, making it much less of an undertaking than some of Tobago’s longer hikes. The trailhead is near the Castara Government Primary School and the walk follows the river for less than half a kilometre.
Once you leave the village behind, the landscape changes quickly.
The sounds of the road and beach begin to disappear, replaced by birds, flowing water and dense tropical greenery. Before long, you’re surrounded by rainforest.
The waterfall itself isn’t enormous, and I think that’s part of what makes it so special.
It’s peaceful.
It’s cool.
And on a hot Tobago afternoon, there are few better places to slow down for a while.
Good for: an easy nature walk, swimming, cooling off and escaping into the rainforest.
Take the Long Way Around Tobago
One of the best ways to experience Tobago is to stop trying to see everything.
Rent a car. Pick a direction. Take the long way around.
Yes, you should visit Pigeon Point. You should see the beaches around Crown Point. You should spend time in Buccoo and Mount Irvine.
But leave room for the places in between.
Drive through a fishing village. Stop at a lookout. Walk a beach you’ve never heard of. Follow a short trail into the rainforest.
You might find that these are the moments you remember most.
Tobago doesn’t have to be rushed.
Sometimes the best way to explore the island is simply to see where the road takes you.
Planning a trip to Tobago?
If you’re looking for more places to explore, start with our Ultimate Tobago Beach Guide, where we’ve broken down the island’s beaches by coastline and included practical tips to help you decide which ones are worth adding to your itinerary.
And if you’re planning a longer stay, explore our Tobago Travel Guide for ideas on where to stay, where to eat, what to do and how to get around the island.
