Carribean Pigeon Point Trinidad and Tobago Beaches

Located on the leeward side of Tobago is perhaps the island's best sea and land encounter with over 1600 m of white sand. Swimming is ideal in these calm waters and visitors can leave from there for the famous Buccoo Reef. Restaurant, bathroom and changing facilities, sporting and shopping facilities are available at the privately owned resort and a new hotel has been opened nearby. The Division of Tourism also provides lifeguards on request.

Pigeon Point was for many years privately owned and the subject of legal disputes, but has just been re-purchased by the Government 'for the people'. This is good news for locals and tourists alike and the rejuvenation of PP is underway.

If you could paint a picture of a perfect Caribbean beach it would be Pigeon Point. 
Still, turquoise water lapping onto a white beach, scattered with grass roof huts, a wooden jetty with a grass roof hut on the end of it, and swaying palms leaning over almost touching the water. That is Pigeon Point. And you've probably seen it many times - on the front pages of many Caribbean holiday brochures

You have to pay TT$18 per person to get to the beach and use the facilities. Sadly, there have been a lot of changes to Pigeon Point in recent times and it is becoming very commercial. The officious security guards insist you wear a day-glo wrist band to show you've paid the entrance fee and there are several trinket shops and fast food bars at the main end of the beach. The far end is dedicated to watersports - windsurfing and jet skis, so swimming isn't so tranquil. Tobago is keen on accommodating cruise ships, and when in port, busloads of cruisers head for Pigeon Point and you literally can't see the sand for people. Fortunately it's not a frequent occurrance, but best to find out in advance if there's a ship in and avoid PP for that day. 

It's still a gorgeous place to visit and you should go - but Pigeon Point no longer typifies Tobago - Club Pigeon Point could be anywhere in the Caribbean. Other beaches in Tobago like Englishmans Bay, Pirates Bay and Mount Irvine are more typically Tobago. You'll love them. The other main beaches are all at the largest hotels on the island. 

The beach at the Coco Reef Hotel is man made but very pretty. The hotel makes a lovely backdrop, and the bar food and service here is excellent. Non-residents are now charged a whopping TT$125 per couple (about £12) to go on this beach. 

The beaches at the Grafton Resort, Courland Bay and Turtle Beach are large by Tobago standards, and have crashing waves, even though they're on the Caribbean side. The sand is clean and white and there's plenty of watersport facilities. Between March and July, these beaches are the nesting areas for the giant turtles, and staff at the hotel will , if requested, wake residents to see turtles laying eggs, or to watch the hatchlings run to the sea. 

The islands most famous beach can boast of powdery white sand and leaning coconut palms. Located on a private coconut estate, the small admission fee entitles you to use of the beaches facilities. There is a gift shop, washroom/showers, snack shop and entertainment stand. Trips to Buccoo Reef can be arranged here. One of the most memorable landmarks of Tobago is the little coconut palm covered shelter at the end of the jetty.