Recommend July 2013 - (Page 72)

Radical Sports offers watersports on Pigeon Point in Tobago. People wishing to do these things might want to spend a day or two in Port of Spain, on the northwest coast of the island, followed by a couple of days in the hinterlands. For reasons of both safety and navigation, we recommend hiring a guide for Port of Spain. Contact Sensational Tours and ask for Mr. Nick. There are several good lodging options on the island of Trinidad; see page 69. let's get active on tobago  WHAT TRAVEL AGENTS ARE SAYING... Terrence M. Regan, president and owner of Berkeley’s Northside Travel, in Berkeley, CA, has an affection for Trinidad & Tobago that dates from when he trained there for the Peace Corps. “Geographically, these sister islands are quite different,” he says, “Whereas Tobago is a true Caribbean island with white coral beaches, Trinidad was once connected to South America, so the beaches are a darker sand, and you Rural Tobago is less of a cipher to Americans than Trinidad: Most travelers know that this island has beaches, rainforests with trails and waterfalls, superb diving and snorkeling, and hundreds of species of birds. It’s easy to reach, too, because Caribbean Air runs roundtrips from Trinidad for just $48. So here are the best options for the active traveler: • Harris Jungle Tours: Harris McDonald’s walks feature not just birds, trees, and ﬂowers, but great shenanigans like tasting termites, swimming in Argyle Falls, and swinging across a pit on a tropical vine. • NG & Co. Nature Tours: Veteran birder Newton George can spot shy birds in the foliage that most of us would never notice. He packs a mighty scope, extra binoculars, and a bird-call app, and the darned thing really works. • Frankie Tours & Rentals: Michael Frank offers everything from dolphin watching to speedboat rides. On the full-day snorkeling trips, which include a beach BBQ, he follows the reefs on the Caribbean side, but if the passengers’ attention drifts toward the ship’s bar, he deftly converts the snorkeling cruise to a party boat. • Top-Ranking Glass-Bottom Boat Tours: Departing from the dock near the Blue Waters Inn, Max Davidson’s crew point out giant turtles under the glass, then lead snorkelers over angelﬁsh and parrotﬁsh and the world’s largest brain coral. • Radical Sports: This Pigeon Point watersports shop offers water skiing, kayaking, windsurﬁng, paddleboarding, Hobie Cat sailing, and (manager Brett Kenny’s passion) kite-boarding, which is huge here. Instruction and equipment are ﬁrst-rate. But where to stay? See page 70. ● see plants and wildlife there that you don’t see anywhere else in the Caribbean.” He considers the scarlet ibises in Caroni Swamp one of the great sights of the islands. “The food of Trinidad is the most interesting in the Caribbean, too, because of the cultures who settled there,” he says. “Perhaps 10-15 percent of the population is Creole, 40 percent is Afro-Caribbean, and another 40 percent or so is the descendents of 19th century indentured servants from Archived related articles (available on recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive): Magdalena Grand Beach Resort, Tobago (July 2012) contact information wants to visit that part of the world, he doesn’t hesitate. Caligo Ventures: (800) 426-7781; caligo.com Caribbean & Sun: caribbean-sun.com Caroni Swamp; Nanan Ecotours: (868) 645-1305; nananecotours.com Frankie Tours & Rentals: (868) 631-0369; frankietourstobago.com Harris Jungle Tours: (868) 639-0513; harris-jungle-tours.com NG & Co. Nature Tours: (868) 660-5463; newtongeorge.com Radical Sports: (868) 631-5150; radicalsportstobago.com Sensational Tours: (868) 315-3652 or (868) 702-4129; sensationaltours@gmail.com Top-Ranking Glass-Bottom Boat Tours: (868) 660-4904; “Tobago.” toprankingtobago.com India and Pakistan. The rotis, the curries...” Regan feels that Trinidad has the best music in the Caribbean. “Calypso started there, steelpans were invented there, and if you go to Carnival, you’ll experience two weeks of nonstop partying.” But if Regan’s heart seems to be with the island of Trinidad, when he’s asked where he’d send a honeymoon couple that 72 july 2013 68-75 CB T&T StLucia.indd 72 recommend.com 6/19/13 3:01 PM http://www.recommend.com/magazine/issue-archive http://www.caligo.com http://www.caribbean-sun.com http://www.nananecotours.com http://www.frankietours.com http://www.harris-jungle-tours.com http://www.newtongeorge.com http://www.radicalsportstobago.com http://www.toprankingtobago.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend July 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Eleven Experience
Tour Talk: DuVine Cycling + Adventure
Expedition Cruising: Explore the Unexplored
Eleven Experience's Chalet Pelerin
Brazil Travel Planner
Grand Solmar Land's End Resort & Spa
Guatemala Travel Planner
Latin America Specialist Courses
The Broadmoor, Colorado Springs
5 Ways to Adventure in North America
Swain Tours Shines in the Land Down Under
Seeing African Wonders Through a Viewfinder
Trinidad & Tobago
Soaring to New Heights in Saint Lucia

Recommend July 2013