The Ultimate Tobago Carnival 2022 Guide

A few days before my birthday trip to St. Maarten during SXM Carnival, I learned that Tobago would be hosting its own carnival separate from the “greatest show on earth” known as Trinidad Carnival this fall under the theme of Ritual, Revelry, Release. Although Trinidad offered a Taste of Carnival earlier this year, Tobago’s Carnival will be the first official carnival after the pandemic in the twin island republic.

If you didn’t know, there are several carnival parades in Trinidad & Tobago during the traditional carnival season, but they are often overshadowed by the popular Carnival in Port of Spain, Trinidad. In fact, masqueraders often travel to Tobago as a “post-carnival cool down” destination to relax before heading back home from Trinidad Carnival on Ash Wednesday.

The Tobago Carnival Committee hopes branching off to a separate carnival will allow Tobago to shine in its own light and “keep old traditions alive while simultaneously embracing new trends.”

The Tobago Carnival calendar of events was released and includes five main events with additional fetes hosted by private promoters. Tashia Burris, Secretary of Tourism, Culture, Antiquities, and Transportation stated that it “won’t be another Trinidad-style event but an opportunity for the island to show what it can do.” All of this is hoping that Tobago’s carnival will become an annual event.

After tons of research most of the summer and being on the fence about whether to attend the Miami or Tobago Carnival this year, I have decided to do both. If you’re planning on attending Tobago Carnival and don’t know where to start, here’s a complete Tobago Carnival guide sharing everything you need to know about planning for Tobago Carnival 2022.

When is Tobago Carnival 2022?

Tobago Carnival will run from October 28 to 30. Events leading to the carnival start as early as September.

Getting to Tobago

The airport code for Tobago is TAB. Airlines that fly directly to Tobago are Caribbean Airlines, British Airways, and Virgin Atlantic. While only a few countries have direct flights, you can also get to Tobago by flying into Trinidad (POS) and taking a flight or ferry to Tobago. This option gives you the ability to see both islands in one trip.

A round-trip flight from Port of Spain to Tobago costs $48 USD. Round-trip ferries are about $200 TT for premium and $50 TT for economy.

Tips from a local

A ferry ride from Trinidad to Tobago is about 3-4 hours. Bring snacks or you can buy on board.
You can bring your rental car on the ferry to Tobago for an additional fee.
If you get motion sickness take gravol or Dramamine, or get a motion sickness bracelet.
Check the schedules for ferries as they sell out quickly. If you know someone in Trinidad, have them buy ferry tickets for you before going down.
Trinidadian nationals ages 60+ with a valid ID card or passport ride the ferry to Tobago for free.
Flights from Trinidad to Tobago are scheduled every hour via Caribbean Airlines and are about a 1/2 hr.

Below are links to book a ferry or flight from Trinidad to Tobago.

Domestic Ferry Service

Domestic Flight Service

Getting Around in Tobago

The full length of Tobago is 115 square miles and events take place in different parts of the island. To see all of Tobago, it is best to rent a car. If you’re not comfortable driving on the left side of the road, Tobago has a public transportation bus service that spans the island and fares range from TT$3-TT$8. Options to hire a private driver/taxi service are also available.

If you’re staying in Crown Point, you can do a lot of walking as the beach, restaurants, and shops are common in this area. Like Trinidad, hired vehicles, maxi taxis, and buses have an “H” on their license plate while private vehicles have a “P”.

Where to Stay in Tobago

To take part in the main events, the best area to stay is in Crown Point or Scarborough. Prices for hotels, resorts, and guest houses in Tobago range from $50-600+ a night. I’ve stayed in a villa in Bon Accord and it was perfect for our group of 15+.

If you’re doing a solo trip to Tobago Carnival or visiting with 1-3 people, it may be cheaper to rent a guest house or stay in a smaller boutique hotel. Here are some hotels to check out. You can also research hotels based on availability and your budget on sites like Airbnb, TripAdvisor, or Booking.com.

Kariwak Village Holistic Haven and Hotel
The Villas At Stonehaven
Coco Reef Resort and Spa
Blue Waters Inn
Bacolet Beach Club
Mount Irvine Bay Resort
Shepherd’s Inn
Castara Inn
Comfort Inn & Suites
Viola’s Place

Official Tobago Carnival 2022 Schedule

Tobago Carnival includes five main events hosted by the Tobago House of Assembly: Pan in the Gayelle, J’Ouvert, Night Mas, Emerge Carnival Masquerade Gala, and ends with Parade of the Bands. Here is a preliminary list of events that will take place for Tobago Carnival 2022. I’ve also linked the ones I can find tickets for.

September 25 – Soaked at Roxborough
October 1 – Dream at the Shaw Park Cultural Complex
October 22 – The Hideout at the Argyle Waterfall
October 23 – Revel on the Harbour Master
October 26 – Wadap Wednesday at Canoe Bay
October 27 – Pink Brunch
October 27 – HUSH at Mt Irvine Golf Club
October 28 – Pan in the Gayelle
October 28 – Floats and Bikinis on the Harbour Master
October 28 – Daylight (venue to be announced)
October 28 – Finesse on board the Embassy.
October 29 – J’Ouvert
October 29 – Night Mas
October 29 – Emerge Carnival Masquerade Gala
October 29 – Mud Festival in Crown Point
October 29 – TUCO Tobago Lime at Tropikist Hotel
October 29 – Soiree (venue to be announced)
October 30 – Parade of the Bands

Tobago Carnival Bands

For its first official carnival separate from Trinidad, Tobago Carnival has over 30+ J’ouvert and mas bands available to choose from. Compared to the carnival in Trinidad, prices for costumes are significantly less ($250-800 USD) for male and female frontline, midline, and curvy options.

As with all Caribbean carnivals, in order to participate, you would need to register with a band. I will be playing with Jade Monkey Mas and j’ouvert with Fog Angels this year. These are some of the bands that I was able to find during my research online and via Instagram:

Tobago Carnival Jouvert Bands

Tobago Carnival Mas Bands

For a complete list of bands and how to register or contact the section leaders, visit the official Tobago Carnival 2022 website for the most up-to-date information.

Tobago Carnival Routes

Below are the routes for Crown Point J’ouvert & Tobago Carnival Parade of the Bands

Tobago Carnival Route + Tobago Carnival J'ouvert Map

Tobago Carnival Route + Tobago Carnival Parade Route

Things to do in Tobago

If you ask any masquerader, they will tell you that Carnival is NOT a vacation and I am here to tell you that it certainly can be. I am all about balance and as a traveler and carnivalist, I don’t necessarily have to be at every fete to have a great time.

For this trip, I plan to include touristy activities around the island, eat the food, visit family, as well as get some rest. Below are some places to visit in Tobago that you can include before or after celebrating carnival in Tobago.

Tobago Museum
Scarborough Botanical Garden
Pirate’s Bay
Buccoo Reef
Nylon Pool
Tobago Cocoa Estate
Little Tobago Island
Flagstaff Hill
Fort King George
Argyle Waterfall
Pirate’s Bay
Pigeon Point Beach
Englishman’s Bay
Store Bay

If you’re someone that has been wanting to visit the country and looking for a carnival experience that highlights the music, history, and culture of Trinidad & Tobago, I would give Tobago Carnival a try. Make sure to come back as I share my full Tobago Carnival 2022 review.