Tobago
has the world's most beautiful beach: But which one is it?
Featured
in every travel brochure but actually to be found in Tobago: White sand,
turquoise seas and palm trees bowing gracefully toward the lapping
waves. Experts agree that the Robinson-Crusoe-Island comes top of the
world in the contest between picture book beaches. For insiders however,
Pigeon Point, possibly the most photographed dream coast of the
Caribbean, is by far not the most beautiful shore of the island…
By Bernhard Grdseloff |
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beautiful
beach
Giselle
Beaunburn, Shore Things: The perfect beach has clear water, shade,
clean sand and must not be crowded with to many people. Therefore, my
favourite beaches are Pirate’s Bay at Charlottesville and a secluded
stretch of sand just past Mt. Irvin Bay.
Patrick
Dankou, Nature Resorts: The beach between Mt. Irvin and Stone Haven
Bay offers a perfect scenery. You are usually on your own and you can
surf and snorkel. My second favourite beach is located at Culloden Bay
but its not publicly accessible. |
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The
unequivocal favorites with the locals: First comes the Englishman’s
Bay, a magical, untouched place, on the Caribbean coast about one hour
drive from the main tourist areas. Second, a hidden paradise between Mt.
Irvin and Stone Haven Bay, with no signs marking the dirt road leading
to it.
"Tobago
fulfills every cliché of picture book beaches" enthuses Volker
Hinz. During his career the Star photographer of the German Magazine
"Stern" captured nearly every known Vacation Paradise on film.
"As a child I was fascinated by the story ‚Treasure Island‘ and
many beaches in Tobago looks exactly like the one in the bay where the
Pirate‘s ship first anchored".
If
it takes Pirate tales to make a dream beach, then Tobago has, in all
events, much to offer. Not only can you find a "Pirate’s
Bay" which the locals reckon has one of the most beautiful beaches.
There also is a "Bloody Bay" and a "Man O’War
Bay", on the chart of the island.
According
to Edward Hernandez curator of the Tobago Museum, different legends of
bloody battles are woven around those places. But the names also have
more peaceful explanations: "In the old times Mangroves were cut
down in Bloody Bay to gain coloring agents. Their juice made the waters
look blood red. And ‚Man O‘War Bird‘ is the local name for Frigate
Birds, which nest in large numbers on the rocks close to the East coast
of Tobago." |
The
Island's most
Ted
Greig, Ted‘s Sunshine Tours: My
two favourite beaches are at Charlottesville. Pirate’s Bay is ideal
for snorkelling, Lover’s Bay romantic and only accessible by boat.
Both have clear water, silky white sand and palm trees providing shade.
Manfred
Hirschmann, Dive instructor: Starwood Bay is my favourite: The most
secluded and untouched beach of the island. You are all on your own –
but you can only get there after a one-hour hike. Englishman’s Bay is
the most beautiful, easily accessible beach. |
