The jewel of the Grenadines
The Tobago Cays are a small group of five islands in the Grenadines archipelago of the Caribbean. These Cayes - small low islands composed of sand and coral - are located east of the island of Mayreau and southwest of Canouan, which has a rental base and is only 3 miles from the string of islands. Alternatively, you can rent your catamaran in Martinique for a cruise to the Grenadines.
Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Baradal, Jamesby and Petit Tabac are small uninhabited islets connected by a coral reef. The last island is separated from the others by a reef. Their circular anchorage is protected by a horseshoe-shaped coral reef, called "Horse Shoe reef".
These islands and their seabed were purchased in 1999 by the government from a private owner. This is how Tobago Cayes Marine Park was born, a reserve for the preservation of wild marine life.
The water is shallow (2 to 4 m), with incredible shades of blue and especially very warm (about 30 °C). The white sandy beaches, coconut palms and seabed that shelter the most beautiful coral reef in the Caribbean make it a small paradise on earth and one of the most beautiful anchorages in the Caribbean.
But this postcard landscape - a must in the Grenadines - attracts crowds. Indeed, the Tobago Cays are very touristic. While there are many sailboats at anchor, which spend several days there, there are many day trips from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Plan to spend at least a day there and why not several days.
The tourist season extends from December to April, but sailing is pleasant until the end of July. Choose the period from May to June, a little less frequented by charter catamarans. The period from August to October is rainy (but a good warm rain is so pleasant) and also corresponds to the cyclonic period.
Or mouiller??
We reach Tobago Cays through the channel that separates Petit Rameau from Petit Bateau before entering this incredible circular cove where incredible shades of blue mix. Don't forget to complete your administrative formalities in Clifton Harbour, east of Union Island.
Anchoring is not free and the rangers come every day to collect the tax of about 3 ? per person per day. There are few buoys, so it is necessary to anchor on the sandy bottoms, avoiding the protected meadows.
The Baradal anchorage is the busiest, and it is not uncommon to find dozens of boats there. However, beware of the chop and roll in a northeast wind. If you want some peace and quiet, prefer to anchor between Baradal and Petit Rameau or anchor at Jamesby.
The "Boat boys" spend every morning in their small boat to offer you fresh bread, but also throughout the day with fish, ice cream or vegetables.
What faire??
Snorkelling
Plongez?! Tobago Cayes are highly appreciated by boaters for the beauty of their landscapes and seabed. The white sand, palm trees and turquoise water are a real postcard setting. But above all, its turquoise waters are home to an incredible fauna and flora. Put on your fins, masks and snorkels and discover the many species in clear, warm water.
The area is home to the most beautiful coral reef in the Caribbean, which contains shellfish and multicoloured fish: groupers, surgeons, box fish, but also rays and turtles and reef sharks.
The bottoms are sublime and varied, even if in some places the corals are dead. Turtles are present in large numbers in this protected area, particularly along the small island of Baradal to the east of the lagoon.
Attention, fishing is prohibited in Tobago Cayes?!
Kite and surfing
The place is also famous for its kitesurfing and surfing spot. The wind is steady, the lagoon offers a flat spot and the reef some waves.
Stroll ashore
The islets of Tobago Cayes are worth a look. In Baradal, you can laze on the white sandy beach, but also discover many iguanas. The island is remplie?! You will also discover many birds and a magnificent flora, including some very beautiful orchids. Visit also Petit Bateau, with a nice view at the top.
Taste it
On Petit Bateau Island, enjoy a lobster barbecue on the beach, accompanied by plant bananas and a succulent fruit salad, all sprinkled with a planter. For information, the purchase of lobster is prohibited from May to September.
Do you think you're a pirate?
On the islet of Petit Tabac, a few scenes from the film Pirates of the Caribbean, the Curse of the Black Pearl, were shot.
