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Quick Facts- The language of Tobago is English, but we also speak "Tobago Talk" - a dialect which will take the traveller a day or two to get used to.
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Tobago has been independent from England since 1962 as part of the 2 island nation Trinidad and Tobago. We are a Parliamentary democracy. In 1980 the Tobago House of Assembly became the internal government for this island.
- The main town of Tobago is Scarborough . The capital of the country is Port of Spain in Trinidad.
- Tobago has a population of 54,000people,90% are of African descent.
- Visitors to Tobago need a passport and a return ticket. Many UK- European countries don`t require a visa. To leave the country a Depature tax of TT$100.00 must be paid at the Airport. It is NOT a pre-paid part of your airline ticket.
Local time GMT- 4hrs or Atlantic Standard Time (Eastern Standard +1Hour)
- Tobago lies near the equator off South America - 11º N latitude and 60º W longitude - it is fanned by the north east trade winds year round. This gives you a quite pleasant climate with an average daytime temperate of 32 degrees C or 89 F. It is hot and sunny all year with more rain falling between June-November.
- The island is 300sq km/116sq miles in size.
- On Tobago (an ex-British colony) like Britain cars drive on the left. International Driving permit is not needed - your valid national drivers permit is accepted. The car rental business is alive and well in Tobago - but you must be 24 years or older to rent a vehicle.
- Our currency is in use - the Trinidad and Tobago(TT) Dollar with an exchange rate of approx TT$6 to US$1 Many businesses accept visa and master card, Travellers checks and US cash.
- The electricity is 110volts with 60Mhz, which is the N.American system - UK-Europe visitors should bring adaptors or transformers if they are bringing their electrical appliances.
- Cell Service: the local providers are TSTT and DIGICEL. A Tri band phone is important. Internet access is widely available.
Activities and events
The Trinidad carnival is called the greatest show on earth, and rightly so. Carnival is a 2 day kaleidoscope of colour, heart pounding music and revelling which leaves you sore for the next week. The smart people work out before carnival to avoid the aches and pains of it all. Tobago's carnival is on a far smaller scale to Trinidad but it's just as much fun. Held on the Monday and Tuesday before Ash Wednesday (usually February or March).
Easter is a big holiday in Tobago... it is goat and crab racing season, an event for the whole family and quite a lot of fun to watch. Best at Buccoo Village on "Easter Tuesday".
If you`re a lover of the wind, the Angostura sailing week regatta (usually occurs in May) brings sailors from all over the world. It is a week of fun and really good vibes. Held in Crown Point - Store Bay.
August brings the Carib Great Race - a large power boat race from Trinidad to Tobago ending with a huge party at the finish line(Store Bay beach) with food and drink. This party is usually carried live on the island radio stations.
Every Sunday everybody is in the village of Buccoo, where the popular open-air street party known as Sunday School provides a mixture of reggae music, bars, dollar gambling tables, food and lots of dancing.
Activities
Mountainbike Tours:
Tobago is fast becoming known for it`s Mountainbiking adventures,with trails along mountainridges offering breathtaking views of the ocean or in lush vallies where mountain streams cross your path along the way.
Sport fishing:
Twice a year Tobago host two sport fishing contests which bring fishermen
from all over the Caribbean.For the serious fisherman these events cannot
be missed with the record marlin caught so far over 700lbs. For these
four days of the tournament nothing else matters. Fisherman or not you
are pulled into the activity and excitement of seeing who has caught
what.
Scuba Diving:
Want to go diving? Then the Caribbean side is for you, lots of rock formations and soft coral with no drifts. On the north and east sides of the island there are mainly underwater pinnacles covered by a variety of coral and abundant species of pelagic fishes.
www.wildurtledive.com
For visitor information about Tobago, we recommend:
My Tobago info
Simply Tobago
TIDCO
Discover Tobago
GETTING TO TOBAGO - the airlines which serve the island
Caribbean Airlines replaces BWIA as the National airline
LIAT - Leeward Islands Air Transport
Delta Air Lines direct flights to Tobago
British Airways
Virgin Atlantic
WesternAir charter flights from between UK and Tobago on line
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