Tobago Cays - Docking
It is normally very windy here.
Moorings:
Some 30 moorings have been laid here, strategically placed to deter yachts from dropping their anchors too close to the turtle nesting area and the coral reefs. The moorings are managed by the TCMP park rangers, who collect the fees at a rate of $60EC per night, plus $15EC Marine Park charge for each person on board.
The fixed moorings provide an excellent alternative to anchoring and are recommended to avoid the risk of anchor damage to coral reefs.
Warnings have been posted in the past about the poor maintenance of these moorings, so be sure to check for strength.
Anchoring:
Significant damages to corals caused by the anchoring of yachts in and around the Petit Tabac area of Tobago Cays has resulted in the Tobago Cays Marine Park management placing a ban on ALL anchoring in that area. The change in permitted anchoring zones removes the small anchoring zone adjacent to the cay of Petite Tabac, which is located outside the main lagoon of the Cays, on the windward side of Horseshoe Reef.
Anchoring in sand will still be permitted in the main lagoon of Tobago Cays, with cruisers requested to avoid anchoring in seagrass, which is home to an aggregation of juvenile green sea turtles.
It is possible to anchor in the cut between Petit Rameau and Petit Bateau with a bow and stern anchors, as the current is strong. Holding is good. Anchored boats still have to pay the Marine Park charge per person.
Anchoring in the park now attracts a fee equivalent to the mooring fee, so there’s no cost saving to visitors from anchoring.
Ashore:
It is possible to pay for a fish BBQ ashore (see TCMP website for the latest prices). If you do your own BBQ, be sure to dispose properly of your debris and charcoal, i.e. take it with you, as there is no garbage facility ashore here. (If local youths offer to remove your garbage for a fee avoid this temptation, as some are known to dump it without care.)
Last updated: May 2023
Security:
There have been thefts reported from boats here. The latest in February 2022 when an unlocked dinghy and outboard tied to the back of a boat was stolen overnight. As with everywhere in the world, if you don’t want to lose it – lock it and lift it.
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Related to following destinations: St. Vincent & the Grenadines, The Grenadines, Tobago Cays
Port Navigation
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Tobago Cays
Beautiful setting – very, very windy. Anchored in 3 meters between Petit Rameau and Petit Bateau. Great holding and hardly moved sideways at all – due to strong wind from same direction all night. Charged EC$10 per person Marine Park Charge. A lot of boat boys. Beach BBQ offers from EC$70 – EC$120.
We bought a fresh Tuna for EC$90 fed the four of us x 2 and we got good instructions on how to fillet. Snorkelling off the boat was fabulous – turtles, rays and colourful fish. Snorkelling over on Baradal disappointing, visibility was poor and didn’t see anything other than suffering white coral.
Jan 2018;
Beautiful place but quite windy and rocky on the water. Lots of dead coral on the beach. John helped us get a mooring buoy at $45EC per night + $10EC per person, to be paid to the Tobago Cays marine staff who come along each day.
We also gave John 10EC for securing us to the buoy, it was very windy!
John organised a Beach BBQ, he charged 100EC EACH, we should have negotiated! Drinks could be bought on the beach but were expensive so take your own.
All the BBQ’s are cooked by Big Mama, but you pay who you booked through. I’m sure if you turned up with no reservation then you would be able to get dinner.
There is nowhere for rubbish, so take it with you.