St Lucia vs. Tobago: Where Should You Go & Why?

When picking the ideal Caribbean island for your escape, there are a number of paradise-like locations that keep popping up Saint Lucia and Trinidad & Tobago are 2 such examples. But even when you’ve narrowed down your choice to those two, how do you pick a winner? We’ve hosted the St Lucia vs. Tobago battle royal, so you can decide where to go and why! 

There are over 7,000 islands in the Caribbean. So if you’ve managed to whittle your holiday battle down to just St Lucia vs. Tobago, then you deserve commending already. 

But, where do you go from here? Literally. 

In this blog, we’ll tell you where you should be looking to pitch your towel depending on what you want from your escape. Plus, if you still can’t decide, we’ll even offer a tailor-made solution to satisfy both sides of the argument – arguably rendering the whole discussion pointless! 

Split shot of a St Lucian beach and rainforested road in Tobago
St Lucia vs. Tobago: Choose your fighter


St Lucia vs. Tobago: What’s the Quick Answer?

If there is a quick answer to such a tough subject it’s this:

If you like getting out and about when you’re away, then choose St Lucia. Put simply, there is a little more to do in St Lucia. But at over double the size of Tobago, it’s no wonder. 

Having said that, Tobago is perfect if you’re more interested in kicking back on the beaches and chilling. There are some incredible wildlife spotting and diving opportunities here too.

But there’s obviously more to it than that. So, let’s dig deeper into why each island would suit you.

Split shot of a beach in Tobago and an aerial image of a St Lucian seafront
There are plenty of incredible reasons to pick St Lucia or Tobago for your next escape.

Choose Saint Lucia for… 

  • Luxury resorts
  • Plenty of activities
  • Vibrant nightlife

Choose Tobago for…

  • Secluded beaches
  • Wildlife
  • Diving

Is St Lucia Worth Going To?

St Lucia is a beautiful destination. Full to the brim with incredible things to do and see. Plus, although it is a Caribbean island, the warm climate means it doesn’t always matter what time you visit

But, while St Lucia has more high-end resorts than Tobago, you will definitely want to get out and explore more here. 

Climbing the Pitons is a must for adventurous travellers. Although, if you do fancy decelerating your break and having a good pamper, the rejuvenating mud baths of Sulphur Springs are perfect too. 

That’s your days in the sun taken care of. But what about the nights?

Take a night off from your five-star resort restaurant and journey down to Rodney Bay. Especially on a Friday night when the Jump Up street parties start. 


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Is Tobago Worth Going To?

While there are still plenty of things to do in Tobago, you will find a slightly slower pace of life here. But it’s still well worth a visit!

However, if there’s one thing Tobago does extremely well, it’s beaches. The stretches of sand here are absolutely idyllic. Plus, the calm Caribbean Sea water surrounding them makes for perfect swimming conditions. 

If you’re a wildlife lover, you can strike out into the green heart of the tiny island in search of unique critters. Main Ridge Forest Reserve or the Asa Wright Nature Centre are the best spots. Although, there’s more to see under the surface here.

Buccoo Reef is one of the top diving locations in the Caribbean. Thick with kaleidoscopic marine life, the combination of vast coral and gentle currents make it ideal for beginners too. 


Can You Do Both St Lucia & Tobago in One Trip?

All this friendly competition is great, but if you still can’t pick then maybe the battle of St Lucia vs Tobago could end in a draw? 

You can complete a tour of both islands in one trip. There are a couple of options for this, one being an island-hopping Caribbean cruise. However, if you prefer to spend a little more time ashore exploring each destination, then a St Lucia & Tobago Twin-Centre might be a better fit for you.

One example of our Tobago and Saint Lucia multi-centre offering is a Bay Gardens and Magdalena Grand Beach trip which allows you to stay in luxury while offering enough time to get out and thoroughly explore the sights of St Lucia and Tobago.

The 14-night itinerary keeps things simple too.

So why don’t we unpack the trip a little more? What are those resorts like?


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Bay Gardens Marina Haven 

The awesome thing to note about staying at Bay Gardens is you have the added luxury of accessing 4 resorts for the price of 1. 

While you’ll be based at Bay Gardens Marina Haven, you’ll also be able to move freely between the 3 sister resorts: Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa, Bay Gardens Inn and Bay Gardens Hotel.

So there’s even more bang for your holiday buck.

At the Marina Haven hotel, you’ll find a boutique feel with just 35 rooms and 1 pool, as well as a restaurant, bar, fitness centre and soothing resort spa area to help keep your strength up.

Plus, if you fancy adding more excitement to the trip, you could explore the Caribbean’s first inflatable sports park available at the Beach Resort & Spa

Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort
Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort

Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort

Meanwhile, Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort offers a verdant paradise set in the middle of a plantation estate. The 2 resort pools, 3 restaurants, 4 bars, spa area and fitness centre break up that greenery, while the stunning 18-hole championship golf course enhances it. 

Not a golf fan? Take some time to liberate your senses in that resort spa. Or sink into the deep blue with a scuba or snorkelling excursion at Buccoo Reef – one of the best diving locations in the world. 

Magdalena celebrates the natural beauty of Tobago with its beachfront positioning. But a burgeoning selection of tours and events at the resort also allows you to immerse yourself in the island’s culture. 

Spend a day exploring the history of the plantation grounds and learn about cocoa production on the island. Or stay in tune with nature by travelling to Nylon Pool – a shallow “pool” in the middle of the Sea that offers crystal clear waters and superb snorkelling conditions (absolutely ideal for the ‘Gram). Time your break right and you could also go turtle watching – these gentle giants head to the warmer Caribbean wagers around March-August. 


Book Your Adventure Today

When it comes to St Lucia vs. Tobago, choosing the best destination for your holiday all depends on what type of escape you want to achieve. Both islands offer something to suit different souls.

But, as our Caribbean Twin-Centre offers showcase, you don’t always need to “pick a winner” in these debates. Sometimes compromise is the perfect plan of action to get a good result for all.

So, save yourself the agony of deciding. Just click the button below and choose the perfect adventure for you. You’ll get to explore both islands either way. We’d call that a true win-win!

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