Tobago

Tobago is the smaller of the two islands comprising the Caribbean country, Trinidad and Tobago, closest to South America. Its main source of income is oil and gas, making it one of the wealthiest Caribbean countries. Tobago has a population of 61,000 with Scarborough being its capital. Like many of the islands in the region it has a history of being ruled by several European countries, ending with the British until independence in 1962. This leads to some familiar place names in unfamiliar surroundings – Glamorgan, Argyle and Speyside for example.

Oil and gas has made the population relatively comfortable with 60% of the people working (using the term loosely, according to a number of locals we met) for the government. Tourism is important but underdeveloped, which is part of its charm. It has the oldest protected rainforest in the world, designated in 1776. Consequently Tobago is a haven for bird life and the twitchers that follow !

We did a few trips around the island including the rainforest, Little Tobago (an adjacent uninhabited island), beaches and a number of fishing villages, including Buccoo, famed for goat racing and “Sunday School”, a large street party every Sunday night.