Local Culture, People & Heritage


“I’d definitely recommend the Harvest Festival if


you’re looking for a bit of culture. It’s a great way to try home-cooked food


any activity or development is carried out sustainably. Within the biosphere reserve is


Tobago Cocoa Estate, an organic cacao farm in the Roxborough hills, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, where you can go for a peaceful walk among the cocoa trees – to a soundtrack of birds chirping – while learning all about sustainable farming practices. And yes, you can indulge a sweet tooth with some of the premium chocolate that’s made from their beans.


HERITAGE AND TRADITION When not eating, drinking or liming, clients can gain an insight into Tobago’s past. On visits to its forts, such as Fort King George, they will hear a guide talk through the visible remnants of the island’s dramatic history. Tobago was handed back and forth a staggering 33 times and it’s possible to see Dutch, French and British cannons that were hauled out from shipwrecks and displayed around the island. It’s hard to imagine those days now, when nature is always front of


Fishermen haul their nets


and chat to villagers about life in Tobago. It offers a great insight into seeing how people live.”


Izzy Amison,


Did you know?


Visit the Speyside Waterwheel to see how it powered a successful


sugar plantation in the early 1900s. The wheel still stands today and is part of a National Trust site.


mind. Looking across the tranquil bay from Fort James, you may see frigatebirds soar above the trees, tropical mockingbirds rest in the branches and a long-legged southern lapwing stalk through the grass. After working up an appetite on


a history tour, foodie clients will love the fresh seafood. Crab and dumplings is a staple dish, while at Z’s Grill Shack, plates come piled high with lobster and shrimp and are best enjoyed with a few rum cocktails.


trade sales executive, Caribtours


For a truly unique way to eat – and


for a look into more Tobagonian traditions – Harvest Festival is a must. With its roots in church celebrations to give thanks for the harvest, these days it’s more of a neighbourhood party, with villages taking turns to host. People throw open their homes to anyone who shows up, dishing up home-cooking from huge pots and pans as friends and strangers drop in for a chat and a beer, children and grandparents included. Friendly locals in Tobago go


out of their way to make visitors feel welcome, and it’s noticeable. Whether it’s in the hotels, at Harvest Festival, Sunday School or one of the island’s many other events and celebrations, everyone is welcome to join the party. ■


PICTURES: TOBAGO TOURISM AGENCY/ALEXA FERNANDO; TOBAGO FESTIVALS COMMISSION; ALEX TREADWAY


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