Scarborough Inner Roads
Scarborough Harbour · Scarborough Tobago
11°11.0'N 60°44.2'W
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
80m
Holding
Good
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
80m
80m for good holding in mud/sand 4–10m. Scarborough is the main customs and provisioning port for Tobago. Commercial port with ferry traffic — maintain anchor watch. Best shelter in the inner harbour north of the ferry terminal.
About This Anchorage
Scarborough is the administrative capital and main commercial port of Tobago — and the official customs and immigration clearance point for visiting yachts arriving from Trinidad or other islands. The inner harbour offers reasonable shelter from the northeast and east with good holding in mud and sand. The town has the best provisioning on Tobago — supermarkets, hardware stores, chandlery supplies, and a fish market. The Port of Spain–Scarborough fast ferry (2.5 hours) arrives regularly and the harbour is busy with commercial shipping. Fort King George, built by the British in 1777, overlooks the town from the hilltop and is well worth a visit. Scarborough has a distinctive, slightly faded colonial-era character — a working Caribbean port town rather than a tourist destination.
Protected From
N · NE · E · NW · W
Exposed To
S · SE
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Free anchoring; customs fee on arrival in T&T
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit details
- Customs + Immigration at Scarborough Port Authority office. Bring crew list, ship's papers, passports. T&T cruising permit issued here.
Restrictions: Customs + immigration mandatory for vessels arriving from outside T&T; Q flag required; keep clear of ferry terminal approach channel; commercial shipping movements require vigilance
Hazards
- !Ferry and commercial cargo traffic in the harbour — anchor clear of approach channels; maintain vigilant watch
- !Exposed to south and southeast — in southerly conditions, anchorage can be uncomfortable
- !Port Authority speed limits in harbour — dinghy at displacement speed only
- !Active commercial port — noise and activity 24 hours; not the most peaceful anchorage
Skipper's Tips
- →Clear customs here if this is your Tobago entry point — the immigration office is at the port authority building
- →Scarborough fish market has outstanding fresh catch at excellent prices — kingfish, snapper, flying fish daily
- →Fort King George (above the town) has a museum and outstanding views over the harbour and south Tobago coast
- →Best Buy and Lo-Cost supermarkets are 10 minutes walk from the harbour — best provisioning on Tobago
- →Use Scarborough as a provisioning stop and continue to more scenic anchorages (Crown Point 12nm west, Castara 20nm) after stocking up
Facilities
Scarborough town has numerous restaurants and local food vendors. Supermarkets (Best Buy, Lo-Cost). Fish market with excellent fresh catch. Fuel at commercial dock or local suppliers.
Nearest provisions: Scarborough town centre (0.3nm)
Best Months & Season
Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Year-round facility. South of hurricane belt. The main functional port stop for provisioning and customs — not a destination anchorage. Stay here as long as needed for customs and provisions then move to more scenic anchorages.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 80m
On Tobago's Caribbean coast, north swell can enter exposed bays without warning. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS position continuously so you can enjoy the beach, the villages, and the turtle watching with confidence.
Download Free for iOS