Luxurious Boutique Hotel Overlooking Tobago Coastline

Every year between March and August, leatherback turtles come to the small island of Tobago to nest and lay eggs. It's a ritual the reptiles have followed for thousands of years. And it's become a ritual in Tobago to watch the creatures as they make their pilgrimage. During nesting season, you can head to a wooden deck on the beach just steps from the Bacolet Beach Club and, if the timing is right, watch the turtles approaching the white sands of Bacolet Bay. Be sure to keep an eye out for other native wildlife, too, including West Indian manatees and tree sloths.

On the resort’s secluded beach, you'll find a bar right on the sand. Here staff members serve cold drinks and hand out complimentary lounge chairs and towels. Back at the hotel, take a dip in the infinity pool or head to your room’s private veranda, which has nice views of the bay and the Caribbean Sea.

In the evening, cross the quaint wooden bridge to Cafe Havana, an outdoor restaurant. Chefs fuse Cuban, Asian, and creole culinary traditions to create dishes such as ancho-chili-dusted calamari and spicy Cajun pork chops. A complimentary light breakfast is served each morning; it includes toast, croissants, juice, coffee, and tea. All stays come with two massages.

Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago: White-Sand Beaches, Unspoiled Rainforests, and a Historical Fort

The little island of Tobago floats on the southern end of the Caribbean Sea, fewer than 150 miles from the shores of South America. It’s just northeast of the larger island of Trinidad—together, the two islands comprise one republic. Tobago is the less developed of the two; it's known for its beautiful forests and unspoiled beaches.

Located in the center of Tobago is the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, which became a protected area in 1776—making it the oldest rainforest reserve in the Caribbean. Hiking trails crisscross the virtually untouched tropical wilderness, where you might see rare birds such as the island's famous blue-crowned motmot. Tobago’s white-sand beaches attract the biggest crowds you’re likely to find on the island, though some of them, such as Englishman's Bay, are often empty.

The island's capital city, Scarborough, is home to only 17,000 people, but it's packed with traditional Caribbean restaurants and handicraft markets. To get an idea of Tobago's past as a colonial port, stop by the sprawling Fort King George. Set amid views of the coastline, the fort's landscaped grounds are still dotted with original cannons.

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