In the warm Caribbean Sea, just North-East of Trinidad you will find the largely undiscovered paradise island of Tobago. With an environment of sandy, white beaches, coral reefs, quaint fishing villages, waterfalls and lush rainforests, Tobago is the dream vacation destination for the avid adventurer.

Tobago is rumored to have been the model island for Robinson Crusoe and it is not hard to understand why. One of the oldest forest reserves in the western hemisphere is found here. The hiking trails through this reserve meander through the hills and valleys, up cliffs and through waterfalls and enable you to be up-close and personal with a wide variety of birds, butterflies, plants and creatures that often are found no where else in the world.

The reserve is also home to a Lower Tropical Montane Rainforest. Hiking tours are plentiful in this region and even the most novice hiker will find the trails here manageable and rewarding. Anyone who is modestly fit will be able to experience first-hand the "super-sized" world of the rainforest; with its vines as thick as tree trunks and leaves as large as a your uncle!

Another fantastic hiking destination is the Argyle waterfalls. These are the tallest falls in Tobago and reaching them will only take you about 20 minutes of mild hiking. You can remain down below at the basin if you choose, but if you are truly adventurous you might want to hike to the three different stages at the top of the falls; a bit more challenging but immensely rewarding!

A short sail on a glass bottom boat will take you to Little Tobago Island. Here, there are several species of floral and fauna jam-packed into a tiny area, making the hiking here an adventure unto itself.

You may choose to explore Tobago on your own or hire a guide to take you on your hike. The latter is a wonderful way to explore the region. The guides here are very knowledgeable about the history of the island, as well as the plants, animals, birds and insects that inhabit it. On some tours you will be able to experience the island, not just see it. You may be able to drink coconut milk as well sample cocoa from the pod, a variety of citrus fruit and sugar cane. There are even tours that will take you into the rainforest at night, for an entirely different perspective!

For the nature lover, there is nothing finer than hiking in Tobago. There are over 600 species of butterflies and 200 species of birds on this island paradise. There are several species of turtles and reptiles but absolutely no poisonous snakes to fear! You may stumble across a constrictor, however, which would be an exciting treat! The animals of Tobago are small and of no threat to humans, so as far as family-friendly hikes go, Tobago has the best to offer! Where else in the world could an octogenarian take their 10 year plunging through a rainforest, without a care in the world?

The answer of course is no where…. no where but Tobago, that is!