Nylon Pool Boat Tour: Tobago
Getting to Tobago
Before you go to the Nylon Pool, you have to get to Tobago. There are two major ways to get to the sister island. By plane from Port of Spain, it is a brisk 25 minute flight. Since it is a domestic flight, you can show up shortly before takeoff, so getting there is a breeze. However, if you’re trying to save some money or want to bring your car, you can take the newly renovated ferry. The Trinidadian government has subsidized ticket prices to keep flights at 200TTD (32USD) one way, and the ferry is only 75TTD (11USD), or to bring a car it’s 150TTD (22USD). Thankfully, the best ways to get to the Nylon Pool are all very close to the airport, so a short walk to Store Bay or a taxi can get you there quickly.
Renting a Boat
Before you hop on a boat, first a warning. Some of the boats are purely there for people to party. These boats serve alcohol, blast music, and allow smoking. If that’s what you’re here for, then proceed as normal. But if you’re not into that and just want to see the amazing Nylon Pool, it’s worth considering who you go with. There are many different boat tour providers in Tobago. Our recommendation is choosing a well rated tour from a booking service. This way, you can vet the service.
You can also find people selling tours at Store Bay, Buccoo Beach, and Pigeon Point. Since we were on a family trip with Trini natives, that’s what we did. We told the vendor clearly that we wanted a boat with no smoking, no partying, and to stop at Buccoo Reef. They assured us this would be the case, but sadly it was a lie. They sent us to Frankie Tour, which we definitely do not recommend. It was very noisy, with smoking and drinking, and despite initially promising snorkeling at the famous Buccoo Reef, they just drove on by. In the end, our tour was cut an hour short and didn’t live up to any of the promises of the vendor. We really regret not booking a higher rated tour from Get Your Guide.
Store Bay
Just across from the airport is one of the best beaches in Trinidad and Tobago. Store Bay is a nice area on the south western tip of the island, with soft sand and clear blue water. From here, there are plenty of vendors who will help you buy a ticket to the Nylon Pool if you haven’t already bought one. Because boat pickups come here, it’s a good option if you have no transportation from the airport. There are nice bars, and quality resorts on the peninsula, as well as the nearby Pigeon Point. This is an area you can spend the whole day exploring and relaxing.
Sometimes, the water at Store Bay can get a little rough, however during our visit it was perfectly smooth. When I say the water is clear blue, I mean CRYSTAL clear. This was the cleanest, clearest water I’ve ever swam in, a huge difference from Maracas on Trinidad. Not only is the water perfect, but the sand is incredibly soft and white. While a lot of people prefer Pigeon Point, I think Store Bay is very underrated. Next to Englishman’s Bay on the north coast, Store Bay was our favorite beach on Tobago. We only got to spend a few hours at the beach before it was time for our boat tour, so we made our way to the parking lot for our transport.
Nylon Pool
Despite the bad conditions of our tour boat, the Nylon Pool itself was a different story. From the shore, it’s only a few minutes boat ride to get there. As soon as the boat casts anchor, you can step on to the sand bar and walk into the shockingly blue water. Unlike the silky soft sand in Store Bay, this is a more rough coral sand bank. The waters visibility is a little lower because sand is being kicked up from the reef, but it is incredibly clean. Undeniably, the view is the best part. With a 360 panorama of electric blue water and tropical islands in the distance, it’s hard to imagine a more Insta-worthy spot.
Not only can you easily swim and wade in the calm waters, but there are several vendors with boats cruising around. There were a few mini bars with cocktails, beer, and non-alcoholic drinks to enjoy. We ended up getting a snow cone from one of the boats, which really hit hard after a while of swimming. Lots of people were have the party of their life, but if you just want to lime there’s more than enough space to wade out and find a quiet spot. After too short a time, our boat blast their horn and we had to head back.
No Mans Land
The last stop on the tour is No Mans Land. This isn’t technically an island, but a very remote peninsula that envelopes Bon Acord Lagoon. This “island” is full of tents with a ton to eat. Lobster, steak, chicken, everything you could want is there. However, the main event is pholourie. On the end of the island is a famous pholourie stand with every flavor imaginable, hot and fresh. We ordered beetroot, coconut, and saltfish. The flavor was amazing, super savory with the perfect spongey texture. Nothing beats fresh pholourie after a swim.
You can actually walk there from a forest trail near Buccoo Nature Center, but it is 40 minutes one way, and taking the boat is a lot more fun. Even though we were pretty upset about the tour company we went with, No Mans Land was a great way to end it. It’s hard to be too mad when you’re full of delicious fresh food. Lots of people seemed to just hang out here, grab some drinks and enjoy the island life.
Final Thoughts
Despite the troubles with our boat, the Nylon Pool is absolutely worth visiting. It is one of the most impressive places in Trinidad and Tobago, and a great way to spend a day partying, or just enjoying nature. Even if you only have a day in Tobago, we recommend considering a boat tour to see this natural wonder of the island.
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