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Rain Forest

ByTobago Guide

The Main Ridge Forest Reserve is a protected area located in Tobago, a small island nation in the Caribbean. Established in 1776, it is the oldest forest reserve in the Western Hemisphere and covers approximately 10% of Tobago’s land area.

The Main Ridge Forest Reserve is home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including over 200 species of birds, over 600 species of butterflies, and numerous species of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. It is also an important watershed that provides drinking water to local communities.

The forest reserve offers numerous hiking trails and nature walks, as well as opportunities for birdwatching and wildlife viewing. The reserve is also an important site for research and education, with several institutions conducting studies on the ecology and biodiversity of the forest.

The Main Ridge Forest Reserve is a crucial component of Tobago’s natural heritage, and its protection and conservation are vital to the island’s future sustainability.

Tobago Guide

Useful Information from locals, to help you have the best experience while on the island of Tobago.

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    October Carnival

    Tobago Carnival is an annual festival held on the island of Tobago in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The carnival takes place in the weeks leading up to Ash Wednesday, which falls in February or March each year.

    The Tobago Carnival is a vibrant celebration of music, dance, and culture, with a focus on the island’s unique traditions and heritage. The festival features colorful costumes, lively music, and energetic dance performances, with participants taking to the streets to dance and celebrate.

    The Tobago Carnival is a smaller and more intimate version of the larger Trinidad Carnival, which takes place on the neighboring island of Trinidad. However, the Tobago Carnival still attracts a large number of visitors and locals each year, with events including calypso competitions, steelpan performances, and a grand parade on Carnival Tuesday.

    One of the highlights of the Tobago Carnival is the traditional J’Ouvert celebration, which takes place in the early hours of Carnival Monday. During J’Ouvert, participants cover themselves in mud, paint, and powder as they dance through the streets to the beat of steel drums and soca music.

    The Tobago Carnival is a lively and colorful celebration of Tobago’s culture and heritage, and is a must-see event for anyone visiting the island during the Carnival season.

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    Little Tobago

    Little Tobago is a small island located off the northeast coast of Tobago, which is itself an island in the southern Caribbean Sea and part of the nation of Trinidad and Tobago. Little Tobago is also known as Bird of Paradise Island, due to its abundance of exotic birds, including the red-billed tropicbird, the white-tailed sabrewing hummingbird, and the magnificent frigatebird.

    The island is home to a bird sanctuary and nature reserve, and is a popular destination for birdwatchers and eco-tourists. It is accessible by boat from the village of Speyside on Tobago’s main island.

    The island is popular for

    • Naturalists
    • Bird-watching
    • Angel reef
    • Scuba diving
    • Glass-bottom boat tours

    Angel reef is also a popular site around the island for divers and glass-bottom boat tours.

    The largest brain coral in the caribbean is also located on the reef system.

    The island is an important breeding site for seabirds such as red-billed tropicalbird, bridled terns and many more.

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    Bon Accord Lagoon

    Bon Accord Lagoon is a shallow lagoon located on the southwestern coast of Tobago, which is an island in the southern Caribbean Sea and part of the nation of Trinidad and Tobago.

    The lagoon is separated from the ocean by a narrow strip of land, and is connected to the sea by a narrow channel. The area surrounding the lagoon is known for its mangrove forests and wetlands, which provide important habitat for a variety of bird species, including herons, egrets, and kingfishers.

    The lagoon is also home to a variety of fish, crabs, and other marine life. The area is popular for nature walks, birdwatching, and kayaking tours. Visitors can explore the lagoon and its surrounding mangrove forests on guided tours or by renting kayaks.

    The lagoon is located near the village of Bon Accord, which is accessible by car or taxi from the nearby Crown Point area.

    The Bon Accord Lagoon is surrounded by the mangrove wetlands and the Buccoo Reef making it an important habitat for many species of animals and marine life.

    The lagoon is easier to access by water with boats, kayaks, paddle-board etc.

    What’s near:

    • Buccoo Reef
    • No Man’s Land
    • Mangrove Wetlands
    • Pigeon Point
    • Buccoo Bay
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    Cocrico

    The Cocrico bird, is a bird species native to Tobago. It is a large, ground-dwelling bird that is known for its distinctive call, which sounds like “cock-a-rico”.

    The Cocrico bird is found throughout Tobago and especially in Tobago’s Main Ridge Forest Reserve, a protected area of lush rainforest that covers over 14,000 acres. The bird is an important symbol of Tobago’s natural heritage and is featured on the country’s coat of arms.

    The Cocrico bird is a beautiful bird with a distinctive appearance. It has a brown body with a white-tipped tail, a bright red crest on its neck. The bird is primarily a fruit eater and is an important seed disperser in the forest ecosystem.

    Due to habitat loss and hunting, the Cocrico bird is considered a vulnerable species, and efforts are underway to protect and conserve the bird and its habitat. Visitors to Tobago can take guided tours of the Main Ridge Forest Reserve to see the Cocrico bird and other endemic bird species in their natural habitat.

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    Easter Goat Racing Festival

    The Tobago Goat Race is an annual event that takes place on the Caribbean island of Tobago. It is a unique cultural event that has been held for over a century and attracts both locals and visitors to the island.

    The Tobago Goat Race is essentially a type of goat-racing event, where trained goats compete against each other in a race. The goats are typically bred and trained specifically for this purpose and are often adorned with colorful costumes and decorations.

    Goat Racing – Buccoo Tobago

    The event usually takes place in Buccoo, a small fishing village on the island’s west coast. It is a day-long celebration that includes food, music, and other cultural activities in addition to the goat races.

    The Tobago Goat Race is not only a fun and entertaining event, but it is also an important part of Tobago’s cultural heritage. It is a way for the islanders to celebrate their traditions and showcase their unique way of life to the world. If you happen to be in Tobago during the event, it is definitely worth checking out!

    Easter Tuesday
    Buccoo, a small seaside village on the southwest coast of Tobago, has hosted goat racing since 1925. Goat racing developed as a poor man’s equivalent to horse racing In the early twentieth-century, since horse racing was reserved for the local elite. Since horse racing traditionally occurred on the Monday after Easter Sunday, Easter Tuesday was chosen to run goat races by the Buccoo Goat Race Festival Committee, a sub-committee of the Buccoo Village Council, that organises the event annually.

    Easter Monday
    The village of Mt. Pleasant is also hosts to the goat racing festival which occurs on Easter Monday. A large gathering of family, friends and acquaintances also adds to the event’s popularity and attendance on the day.