Photo: Courtesy of twenty20photos 

The Tobago Cays—A Snapshot of Paradise

Imagine the most iconic beach paradise: dreamy, crowd-less beaches; dazzling, white sands, vivid coral reefs; brilliant aquamarine waters. You have just pictured the Tobago Cays of Saint Vincent and Grenada. The wild, uninhabited islets and reefs of the fabled Tobago Cays have been long known among yachtsmen and sailors as some of the most spectacular in the Caribbean (dreamyachtcharter.com). It is the Caribbean of old where one conjures unparalleled beauty, hidden treasures, and famous legends. Several memorable scenes from The Pirates of the Caribbean were even filmed here (travelsauro.com)! Seasoned cruisers often list the Tobago Cays as their most cherished experience (dreamyachtcharter.com). According to one traveler, "Few places on the entire planet can rival this Caribbean destination for sheer awe-inspiring, natural beauty. It's almost as though a divine architect took a poll of our deepest tropical desires only to render them in a masterpiece of turquoise, ultra-marine, pink, and emerald" (afar.com). "Magical. Enchanting. Spell Binding. The Tobago Cays are all that and so much more" (uncommoncaribbean.com). 

"Known as the 'Jewel in the Crown' of the Southern Grenadines, Tobago Cays comprises five picture-perfect, uninhabited islands surrounded by a clear lagoon. Here, you'll find sea turtle nesting sites and feeding areas, small systems of mangroves, and the most well-developed coral reef complexes in Saint. Vincent" (afar.com). You will also enjoy some of the best beaches for swimming, tanning, and snorkeling in the Caribbean (tripadvisor.com). 

The five cays that make up Tobago Cays are Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Baradal, Petit Tabac, and Jamesby, which are all part of Tobago Cays Marine Park. Run and owned by the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Government, the marine park consists of a massive 1,400-acre, shallow, crystal-clear, sand-bottom lagoon. It encompassing the five cays, the inhabited island of Mayreau, and the 4 km Horseshoe Reef. 

According to US News & World Report, visiting the Tobago Cays is number one on their "best things to do in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines" list. (travel.usnews.com). Major area users include cruise ships, yachts, day charters (from nearby hotels), scuba divers, snorkelers, and fishing enthusiasts (en.wikipedia.org). Nature and water sports lovers will find no match for the heavenly beauty and legendary experiences found at Tobago Cays (dreamyachtcharter.com).  

Scuba Diving 

The most popular sites for scuba diving are Mayreau Gardens, Horseshoe Reef, and World's End Reef (en.wikipedia.org). Scuba divers will find incredible options for every skill level. The horseshoe lagoon area offers shallow, easier dives with various vibrant, healthy hard and soft corals (dreamyachtcharter.com). Gentle nurse sharks and eagle rays are also common sightings in the area (dreamyachtcharter.com).  

World's End Reef offers at 70 ft. numerous rays burrowed in the sand and squadrons of spotted eagle rays gliding in formation (dreamyachtcharter.com).  

Sail Rock is ideal for advanced divers (dreamyachtcharter.com). This unique diving experience includes colorful coral, a cave, stingrays, and an old weathered canon (dreamyachtcharter.com). 

Snorkeling 

Snorkeling is also popular at Horseshoe Reef, where you can swim with sea turtles, stingrays, and colorful fish. The shallow lagoon will also wow you with its impressive coral.   

Hiking 

Hiking through the pristine landscape is also popular. The vegetation includes mainly beach vegetation (including coconut trees) and dry forest (en.wikipedia.org). Along the way, you will likely find box tortoises lumbering across the ground; long, tan iguanas lounging in the trees; and sea birds calling from their nests in the rocks or from the air as they carelessly circle high in the sky (afar.com). Catholic Rock Bird Sanctuary is a protected area for nesting seabirds and roosting colonies (dreamyachtcharter.com). As you go, you can climb up the hills to get a breathtaking, panoramic view of the Grenadines and the infinite turquoise (travelsauro.com).  

Picnic on the Beach 

While there are no restaurants on the uninhabited Tobago Cays, there is an even more enticing dining option, a fully prepared barbecue dinner on the beach (dreamyachtcharter.com)! "This much beloved outdoor feast is offered up by 'boat boys' that go from boat to boat taking dinner reservations. Expect the freshest lobster, snapper, and conch you've ever tasted, with all the traditional Caribbean sides. Dinner is accompanied by cool breezes, gently lapping waves, and sometimes even a bit of steel drum music, an experience nothing short of magical" (dreamyachtcharter.com). 

Getting There 

Since the Tobago Cays can only be accessed by water, you must fly into an airport nearby, such as Union Island, Canouan, Saint Vincent, and Grenada. Once in the islands of the Grenadines, you can hire a water taxi or join a day tour to access the Tobago Cays Marine Park. For a longer and/or overnight experience where you can linger and enjoy stunning sunsets and once-in-a-lifetime stargazing, a yacht charter is the way to go. 

Sources: 

afar.com 

dreamyachtcharter.com 

en.wikipedia.org 

travelsauro.com 

travel.usnews.com 

tripadvisor.com 

uncommoncaribbean.com