Destinations

1. Twelve months of sunshine
While it might seem obvious to praise a famously sunny destination for its glorious climate, even in Caribbean terms, Tobago enjoys splendid weather. This is partly due to its location. Sheltered by the hard shoulder of South America (Venezuela's tip is just 70 miles to the southwest), this island of easy atmosphere lies outside the Atlantic hurricane belt — ensuring that the fierce storms that trouble the rest of the region between July and September rarely come its way. Instead, Tobago enjoys year-round warmth, with the dry season — December to May — a great time to visit.

2. A day at the races
For an inimitable slice of Tobago, little is more idiosyncratic — or entertaining — than the annual Easter Tuesday races in Buccoo village. This extravaganza dates back 75 years and is woven into local lore. But don't expect horses. The main event sees a phalanx of goats — complete with 'jockeys', who run alongside them — careering around a course. Crabs have a similar, more chaotic contest on a smaller scale. Buccoo is a hive of activity across the calendar. Its weekly street party Sunday School, staged every Sunday night, is a rambunctious cocktail of steel bands, sound systems, beer and cheer.

3. Turtle love
Holidaymakers are not the only demographic to flock to Tobago's beaches. The northwest portion of the coast is 
a hatching haven for sea turtles, with giant leatherbacks, green turtles and hawksbills all visible on the likes of Stonehaven Bay and Turtle Beach during the peak nesting season (May to June). This delicate situation is treated carefully. SOS (Save Our Sea Turtles) Tobago offers guidelines on how discreetly to observe these cautious creatures (sos-tobago.org) — while the Turtle Beach resort (rexresorts.com) and Plantation Beach Villas (plantationbeachvillas.com) are fine vantage points for the show.

4. Still waters
Elsewhere on the island's northwest edge, Buccoo Bay has earned highlight status due to what waits in its waters. With its pretty clusters of coral, the Buccoo Reef, just off shore, is perfect for a lazy hour of snorkelling. Then there is the Nylon Pool, a patch of shallow sea where light bounces off the surface to picturesque effect. Legend has it that the name came from Princess Margaret, who visited the Pool in 1962, and remarked, somewhat oddly, that it was as clear as her nylon stockings. A brief dip here is reputed to leave you looking five years younger. Find out if it's true with Tobago Coastal Boat Tours (whateverboattourstobago.com), which runs a jaunt to both sites for £32.

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