Information
City: ScarboroughCountry: Trinidad and Tobago
Continent: North America
Scarborough, Trinidad and Tobago, North America
Overview
Scarborough, the capital of Tobago, is a charming seaside town and the island’s administrative heart, perched on the smaller of the two lands that form Trinidad and Tobago.Scarborough, with its bright waterfront, historic landmarks, and lively street life, sits at the heart of Tobago’s economy and draws visitors from around the world.Here’s a quick snapshot: Scarborough sits on Tobago’s southwest coast, gazing out over the deep blue stretch of the Caribbean Sea.Tucked between rolling green hills and the wide curve of the bay, it offers views that seem to glow in the afternoon light.Like the rest of Tobago, Scarborough basks in a tropical climate, with warm days year-round averaging 25–30°C (77–86°F).Scarborough sees a wet season from June to November and a dry stretch from December to May.Long before colonial ships appeared, the Caribs called this place home.By the late 1600s, Europeans had settled here, and over the years the town shifted under Spanish, Dutch, French, and finally British rule.In 1889, when Tobago was joined with Trinidad, Scarborough became the island’s administrative heart.Today, the streets hum with a mix of African drumming, European architecture, and indigenous traditions.Tobago bursts with festivals, from the Heritage Festival’s music, dancing, and fireside storytelling to a smaller but dazzling Carnival full of bright costumes and pounding soca beats; come Easter, you can even cheer at goat and crab races before ending the day with plates of crab and dumplings, callaloo, or just-caught seafood.Scarborough sits at the heart of Tobago’s economy, fueled by tourism that draws visitors to its golden beaches, historic sites, and eco-adventures, along with a thriving fishing industry that brings in fresh snapper at dawn, and a busy retail and service sector anchored by markets, shops, and government offices; the town’s landmarks range from Fort King George, with its sweeping bay views and a museum of island history, to 19th-century Botanical Gardens shaded by towering palms, the lively Scarborough Market brimming with spices and crafts, the seaside Milford Road Esplanade lined with cafés and boutiques, and the old Royalton Waterwheel from the sugar days just beyond town; connected by road, ferry, and an airport only 15 km away, Scarborough also offers schools, a library, and a museum, while nearby beaches like Store Bay and Pigeon Point, gentle nightlife, and outdoor pursuits such as hiking the Main Ridge make it a hub of island life-though its heavy dependence on tourism, aging infrastructure, and the threats of erosion and climate change remain pressing challenges.It’s the main doorway to Tobago’s sights, from quiet palm-lined beaches to bustling markets, and a must-visit for anyone exploring the island.
Landmarks in scarborough
