Articles
Miscellaneous
Tobago Travel Guide
Just north of the equator, Trinidad and Tobago sit south of the
hurricane belt. The marinas of these islands are considered safe
havens for yachts during the official Atlantic hurricane season
- June 1st to November 30th.
Whilst Trinidad is a bustling commercial island,
Tobago is tiny - just 26 miles by 7, and enjoys a cooler, breezier
and more comfortable climate. Average temperature 30C (86F).
Tobago boasts the oldest protected rainforest in
the western hemisphere, the largest brain coral in the world,
is home to the beautiful leatherback turtles who lay their eggs
around Stonehaven Bay, and divers flock to Speyside to swim with
giant Manta Rays. Speyside, at the north of the island, is where
the outflow from South America's Orinoco River, the Caribbean
Sea and the Atlantic Ocean all meet, providing a rich soup of
nutrients for a myriad of sealife, and making this a diver's Mecca.
The island's population is about 50,000 and the
Tobago people can trace their roots back to India, Africa, China,
Europe and the Middle East. Local festivals and cuisine reflect
this. A typical Tobago meal may be crab and dumpling, chicken
pelau with spices and coconut, or hot roti - a delicious and spicy
concoction of chick peas, potato and chicken or beef in a tortilla
wrap.
The official language is English, and car users
drive on the left. The local currency is the Trinidad and Tobago
dollar. A beautiful and fertile land, Tobago has been fought over
by the English, French, Spanish and Dutch. Its rich history is
evident just from the names of villages you pass through - Glamorgan,
Parlatuvier, Plymouth, Lambeau , to name but a few.
The island hasn't been spoilt by tourism. It still
has an unsophisticated and wild look about it, although the infrastructure
is better than some Caribbean islands.
Tobago has beautiful beaches. Store Bay and Pigeon
Point are the most photographed. Pigeon Point is front page brochure
stuff - white sand, turquoise sea with swaying palms leaning over
the lapping water. Now officially called Club Pigeon Point, there
is a small entry charge to cover the cost of its various facilities.
In contrast, Englishman's Bay has no facilities but for a small
hut selling soft drinks and hot pies. This beautiful bay is untouched
by man, and edges onto the rainforest so the air rings with the
sound of wild parrots.
The north of the island is a real away from it all
haven, with beautiful villages like Charlotteville with its little
pink houses dotted in the hillside, and beaches like Man O'War
Bay and Pirates' Bay, which can only be reached by boat.
This island is also an ornithologist's dream - Tobago
is home to over 230 species of birds. It was once an extension
of the South American continent, and its wildlife very much reflects
this geological link.
Coral reefs, waterfalls, championship golf, yachting
festivals, goat and crab racing, game fishing and a vibrant watersport
culture make this a tiny island packed with something for everyone.
Nightlife is limited but varied enough for a small island. Sunday
School is a weekly gathering at the non-touristy village of Buccoo.
Not a church led event, but an outdoor 'rave' of calypso and reggae,
with street stalls and barbeque where locals and tourists 'lime'
together till the early hours.
The majority of hotels put on super entertainment
most evenings. The Tobagonian people are talented performers.
The island has a charm and friendliness not matched
by many other islands, and a surprising modesty. They love tourists
and will make you feel very much at home.
A beautiful island for those wanting to feel special,
get away from it all and relax without having to worry about being
ripped off.
Get Married in Tobago
Requirements for a Special Marriage License:
Both parties must be non-residents of Trinidad and Tobago
Three days’ residence in the country must be established
(calculated from the day after the date of arrival)
The following documents must be produced:
Proof of residence
– passport and airline tickets
Identification of applicants
– passport
If divorced, original or notarised copy of degree absolute
If widowed, original death certificate of spouse.
Deed poll or other proof of name change where name differs on
documents.
Apply for your marriage license at one of the following offices.
The license costs $TT337.50 (about £38) which is payable
in cash or in postage stamps obtainable from the General Post
Office.
Tobago Registrar General’s Office
Jerningham Street, Scarborough
Tel: 001 868 639 3210
Warden’s Office
IDC Mall, Scarborough
Tel: 001 868 639 2410
.
Article published with the kind permission of
Simply Tobago (UK) Ltd.
(Click
here to visit their site)
