Why is Tobago always twinned with Trinidad

Asks alicevida

A. The islands of Trinidad and Tobago are both located off the coast of Venezuela and share a government and central administration - so are always twinned together. They gained independence from the UK in 1962, and still remain part of the Commonwealth. The capital of both islands is Port of Spain in Trinidad.

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Q. Why is Tobago always in the shadow of Trinidad

A. It depends on your perspective, but Tobago is a lot smaller at 117 square miles (300 sq. km) compared with Trinidad, which is 1883 square miles (4828 sq. km), and home to less people. Its population is just above 51,000 compared to 1,300,000 living in Trinidad. Port of Spain in Trinidad is the main commercial centre of the islands and its beaches attract more tourists every year -so Trinidad is often considered the principal island out of the two.

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But if you're after beauty and a wildlife rich environment then Tobago is definitely the prize island - it is believed that Daniel Defoe based his desert island in Robinson Crusoe on Tobago and it is considered by many to be one of the last unspoilt islands in the Caribbean.

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Q. What is so good about Tobago

A. Located 12 miles (20km) from Trinidad, Tobago has fantastic beaches, coral reefs, wildlife and rich areas of rainforest. Its landscape is dominated by its central mountain range and deep fertile valleys that run down to the coast - which is marked by its bays and white sandy beaches. In the east, the volcanic part of the island is precipitous and heavily wooded, with the oldest protected rainforest in the western hemisphere.

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Animals and birds typical to the island include anteaters, armadillos, parrots, pelicans, osprey, and red howler monkeys plus hundreds of butterflies. The Scarlet Ibis can also be found and is the national bird of Trinidad and Tobago. Tobago is a lot more laid back and unspoilt than Trinidad, so is a great destination if you want to avoid the crowds.

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Some of its main attractions include the following:

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Crown Point: is the main resort area on the island and home to its only airport. It is the best place for shopping and a good place to find accommodation on the island - it also has some nice beaches, which are great for snorkelling.

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Charlotteville and Speyside: are attractive and small fishing villages that are not overrun with tourists. Pirate's Bay just off Charlotteville is another great place for snorkelling and is home to buried treasure, so local legend goes - it can only be reached by boat. From Speyside you can see the uninhabited islands Little Tobago and Goat Island, which are now bird sanctuaries and can be visited by boat.

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Scarborough: is the capital of the island and home to great Botanical Gardens and Fort King George.

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Fort King George: this is a good place to spend a morning as it boasts fine views over Tobago and is the last remaining British-built fort on the island complete with canon along its stone walls. Its old hospital is home to a very inviting arts centre, with caf�, which exhibits local art.

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Beaches: some of the best include Pigeon Point (1600m long); Store Bay attached to a big hotel and site of the annual Great Race; Mount Irvine, close to the most famous golf course in the Caribbean; King's Bay, Man 'O War Bay, Castara Beach, Englishman's Bay, Turtle Beach and Canoe Bay.

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Nature reserves: can be found on Little Tobago island (250 acres) - home to wild fowls and 58 known species of bird; St Giles Island (72 acres) home to 24 species of bird and difficult to reach, only by boat on calm days; Turtle Beach (Plymouth) - turtles can be seen on the beach at night during the breeding season (April-July) and also at Grafton Beach which operates a turtle watch, to protect the island's indigenous turtles.

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Q. Isn't Tobago an eco-tourist destination

A. It is one of the world's best eco-destinations as it has over 2000 flowering plants, 400 species of birds and 600 species of butterfly. Eco-tours can be organised from the UK, or locally for a couple of days while you're in Tobago through the following operators:

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Pioneer Journeys, Man-O-War Bay Cottages, Charlotteville, Tobago Tel: 00 1 868 660 4327.

Nature Tours, P. O. Box 348, Scarborough, Tobago Tel: 00 1 868 639 4276

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Q. What language is spoken in Tobago

A. English is the official language of Trinidad and Tobago. French, Spanish, Hindi and Chinese are also spoken on both islands.

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Q. Is it easy to reach Tobago from the UK

A. You can fly direct to Tobago (Crown Point) from London Gatwick on British Airways and Caledonian Airways. There are more frequent flights to and from Port of Spain in Trinidad, which is served by its national airline BWIA that regularly flies to and from London Heathrow. It takes approximately 10 hours from the UK to fly to Tobago. It takes half an hour to fly between Trinidad and Tobago or you can travel between both islands via boat, although the passenger ferry can take up to six hours.

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Q. When is the best time to visit Tobago

A. Low season is between April and December so it will be less crowded then and cheaper too. High season surrounds the carnival in Trinidad - it takes place two days before Ash Wednesday (usually in February or March) so is a great time to visit if you want to dance the calypso and party.

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By Karen Anderson