Things to Do in Tobago Cays

Snorkel with turtles inside the the reef

Slip in off the back of your boat and within minutes you'll likely spot a hawksbill munching seagrass, its shell dappled like sun through palm fronds. The reef crests so close to the surface you can hear parrotfish nibbling coral. Feel the push of tiny wavelets against your mask.

Kite over the shallows between Baradal and Petit Rameau

The waist-deep lagoon acts like a giant salt-water runway. Steady easterlies pull your kite while rays scatter like brown leaves below. From ten metres up you can see the darker coral heads scribbled across the sand. Hear only the hiss of your lines slicing air.

Beach BBQ on Petit Bateau with local lobster

Rangers will grill lobster tails over a driftwood fire, the shells turning sunset-orange while garlic butter sizzles onto the coals. Eat with your fingers as night-blooming cactus opens behind you, the air thick with smoke and lime.

Drift-snorkel the Horseshoe Reef drop-off

Start at the reef entrance and let the outgoing tide ferry you along a purple wall of sea-fans; tarpon appear like silver ghosts and you can hear parrotfish crunching coral somewhere below the blue haze.

Camp under the palms on Petit Tabac

This sliver of sand starred in Pirates of the Caribbean. But after day-trippers leave you'll have it to yourself except for rustling coconut fronds and the glow of plankton in the shallows. Fall asleep to the soft slap of waves against your tent fly.

On your yacht - anchoring inside the park is allowed with paid mooring

Petit Tabac sand-spit camping for permit-holders

Back on Union Island: Clifton guesthouses give you an early-start advantage

Mayreau's hillside shacks, ten-minute boat ride away, swap lagoon quiet for village reggae at dusk

Luxury live-aboard catamarans out of St. Lucia that circle through for two-night stops

Day-trip only: most visitors sleep aboard their charter boats elsewhere