Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Trini Tuesday-Toco Beach

Last week I took you all to Maracas Bay, which is a popular tourist destination. While Maracas is special for all the reasons I shared I have a beach I like even more.

Welcome to Toco.
lighthouse

Toco is found at the extreme northeast point of Trinidad. On a very clear day you can see the sister island of Tobago on the horizon if you stand at or beneath the lighthouse. Like Maracas it requires a very long drive along winding roads that pass through lush rainforests. Unlike Maracas, it is not a well known tourist spot and so as of 2002 (my last visit) it remained quite undeveloped and raw. There is a small guest house within a 15 minute drive and some rustic rentals within walking distance of the beach but the beach has zero amenities. There's no shark and bake to buy here, no locals selling fruits or coconuts, no bathouse. It's just a peaceful beach at the end of the island. Some might not like that but as far as I'm concerned it is what makes the beach so wonderful. It means there are very few people there so it's just secluded serenity in the sunshine. I heard talk of developers putting up some hotel or resort and I can honestly say I'd hate to see that happen.


toco 001

The beach is narrow and rocky at the point unlike the wide, flat sand beach of Maracas. Passing along the north side of the point and moving west you'll come to the sand beach.

toco

The rocks are fun to climb around on or lay out on during low tide. the fallen palms and lush growth provide a place to find good shade.

lagoon

The lagoon behind the sand beach for some reason always made the wonderful sense of remoteness even more keen for me.

tocosea

The ocean here is warm and calm. The waves are very small and gentle but the current is absolutely sideways since it flows along either side of the point. There is very little undertow to carry you out and you can walk out quite far at low tide and still only be up to your waist in the water, but that sideways current is something that seems really unusual to me.
Ah, Toco!

Happy Trini Tuesday!

18 comments:

Logophile said...

OK, I want to go there too.
looks lovely!

Belizegial said...

I can almost smell the salty sea air on your favorite beach. Reminds me somewhat of our own beaches down here in the tropical paradise of Belize.
Great pics. Happy Trini Tuesday to you too!

Enid

Fred said...

You're hired. I want you as my tour guide. :)

lecram sinun said...

Beautiful! Reminds me of a few "secret beaches" (arn't thise just the best?) I use to frequent when I was back in Malaysia.

James Goodman said...

Oh, that is absolutely lovely. My company is negotiations with Trinidad to build a plant with our gas to liquids technology there. I might get to spend some time there.

James Goodman said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
CozyMama said...

simply stunning as far as beaches go!!

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Stephanie said...

That is just beautiful.

Breazy said...

Happy Trini-Tuesday to you as well !! I am BACK !!! I am trying to get back in the swing of things here after being gone for two weeks and I plan on doing a post some time this week complete with pics and the stories behind them ! I love the pics of the Trini beaches!

Cosima said...

Looks like paradise to me.

Bridget Jones said...

Water looks SO BLUE there!!!!!

(M)ary said...

ah, again, you tease us with a beautiful beach!

Semi-Gloss Lacquer said...

...while reading this I keep hearing '....hoookie-looka, looka-lookie, hooka-lookie-lau...' Don Ho?
Reminds me of St. Maarten, (lying on the sand, with children playing in the surf, calling to each other in french... way cool... naked belgian lady wanting me to play volleyball, -also interesting.' (that's a lot of sunblock.)
--thanks for the comments on my piece... you caught in while being edited, it's a bit more filled out... They need beaches in Fresno... they need something... anything... Dorney Park,,,, freakin' anything...

Hale McKay said...

That's definitely on the top of of the list of "Places To Go."

I like secluded beaches - no amenties? To me, that is an amenity.

Moosekahl said...

Oh my God...take me there, please! I have 10 days in the mountains coming up but I could hang there for sure too. Some books, a blanket and maybe a little sunscreen...maybe. Take me away :)

Boysenberry said...

Stop it! If you keep showing pics of T&T, I'll go mad. Okay, I'll go madder. :)

Lovely spots... just makes me want to be there.

Kelly said...

If I click my heels together, will I magically appear there?