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St. David
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Explore St David in Tobago for forest trails, Argyle Waterfall, rural villages, cocoa country and the green hills of the island’s eastern interior.

St David is a predominantly rural parish in Tobago, centred on Roxborough and extending across the island’s greener, more heavily forested interior towards the Atlantic-facing east. It offers a quieter counterpoint to the beaches and resort areas around western Tobago, with steep hills, narrow valleys, small farming settlements and winding roads that reveal broad views of cultivated slopes and dense woodland. The parish is part of Tobago, one of the two islands forming the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, and its character is closely shaped by the island’s distinctive landscape and Tobago’s long history of small-scale agriculture.
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Roxborough is the principal settlement and administrative centre of St David. It is a practical base for exploring nearby countryside, arranging guided walks and learning about local food production. The town’s everyday life is connected to surrounding villages and farms rather than to large-scale tourism. Roadside stalls and small shops provide seasonal fruit, provisions and drinks, while the surrounding hills are associated with crops including cocoa, dasheen, plantains and other produce suited to Tobago’s tropical climate.
One of the parish’s best-known natural features is Argyle Waterfall, where a forested trail leads to a series of pools and cascades on the hillside above the Roxborough area. The walk combines a manageable outdoor excursion with an opportunity to see Tobago’s humid vegetation at close range. Conditions can be slippery after rain, and visitors should follow local guidance, particularly when swimming near flowing water. The eastern and interior roads also provide access to viewpoints, villages and stretches of countryside where the pace is distinctly more settled than in Tobago’s busiest coastal districts.
St David’s landscape is inseparable from Tobago’s protected forest heritage. The surrounding island contains the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, widely recognised for its importance as a historic tropical forest reserve, although its boundaries and access points extend beyond St David. Forested areas support birds, insects and plant life, while the parish’s cultivated clearings demonstrate how residents have adapted to a hilly environment. Guided nature walks are especially useful for identifying species and understanding the relationship between farms, watersheds and woodland.
Visitors should approach St David as a place for nature, local history and rural exploration rather than as a concentrated sightseeing circuit. A car or pre-arranged taxi makes it easier to combine Roxborough, Argyle Waterfall and scattered countryside stops, while visitors using public transport should allow extra time and check local arrangements. The parish rewards unhurried travel: its appeal lies in shaded roads, mountain scenery, community life and the chance to see a less urbanised side of Tobago.

When is the best time to visit St. David?

Best: January–March · 30–31°C
Average daytime high and rainfall by month
MonthHigh (°C)Rainfall (mm)
January (best)3080
February (best)3070
March (best)3180
April3190
May32100
June32120
July32110
August32110
September32100
October3290
November3180
December3190

Getting to and around St. David

How to get there

International visitors normally reach Tobago through A.N.R. Robinson International Airport near Crown Point, outside St David, or arrive in Trinidad and connect onward by domestic air or ferry. From Tobago’s airport, St David is reached by road across the island, with Roxborough serving as the main inland centre. The Scarborough ferry terminal is another practical gateway when travelling from Trinidad, although visitors should check current sailing arrangements before planning a connection. There is no airport within St David itself.

Transportation

A hired car, private driver or pre-arranged taxi is generally the most flexible way to explore St David because attractions and villages are dispersed along hilly, winding roads. Public buses and shared taxis connect Roxborough with other parts of Tobago, but rural services may be less frequent and less convenient for timed visits. Walking is suitable for individual trails and village exploration rather than for crossing the parish. Drive cautiously, allow for narrow roads and rain, and avoid assuming that every rural attraction has regular transport or nearby facilities.

Destinations in St. David

Resorts, valleys and scenic spots worth a trip of their own.

Best attractions in St. David

St David’s attractions centre on forest, water, agriculture and rural landscapes rather than a dense collection of museums or large commercial venues. Argyle Waterfall is the parish’s best-known natural excursion, with a forest trail leading to cascades and pools in a lush valley near Roxborough. Its appeal lies in the combination of accessible walking, tropical vegetation and flowing water, although conditions can become slippery after rain. Roxborough and its surrounding villages provide a starting point for exploring Tobago’s inland scenery, local produce and community life. Guided walks in the wider forested uplands offer opportunities for birdwatching and learning about native plants, watersheds and traditional cultivation. Cocoa and small-farm experiences, where locally arranged, help explain how the parish’s hills are used for crops including cocoa, plantains and root vegetables. The wider Main Ridge Forest Reserve is relevant to St David’s environmental setting, but it extends beyond the parish and should not be treated as wholly contained within it. Visitors seeking a more varied itinerary can combine St David with coastal and heritage attractions elsewhere in Tobago, provided they recognise that these are separate parts of the island rather than attractions within the parish.

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Best landmarks in St. David

Argyle Waterfall is St David’s most recognisable natural landmark, its stepped cascades marking the point where water descends through dense vegetation near Roxborough. The falls are significant not only as a visitor site but also as part of the parish’s network of forested streams and watersheds. Roxborough itself functions as St David’s principal civic landmark in a broader sense: its public buildings, commercial centre and surrounding roads anchor the inland communities of the parish. The wooded hills and cultivated slopes around the town form a distinctive landscape landmark, showing the meeting of Tobago’s forest heritage and working countryside. The wider Main Ridge is an important environmental presence, but it spans more than one part of Tobago and should be understood as an island-wide forest landscape rather than a landmark belonging solely to St David. Visitors interested in Tobago’s colonial forts and major historic architecture will need to travel outside the parish, especially towards Scarborough, rather than confusing those sites with St David’s rural landmarks.

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Explore St. David on the map

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Best restaurants in St. David

Dining in St David is shaped by Tobago’s Creole and Caribbean food traditions, local agriculture and the practical rhythm of small settlements. Around Roxborough, visitors are more likely to find informal eateries, takeaway counters, village shops and roadside sellers than a large restaurant district. Menus may include rice and peas, provisions, plantains, stewed or grilled meats, fish, callaloo and other dishes associated with Trinidad and Tobago, with availability changing according to the day and season. Fresh fruit, coconut-based preparations and locally grown cocoa reflect the parish’s agricultural surroundings. Small establishments may have limited hours and payment facilities, so it is sensible to ask locally and carry cash. More extensive restaurant choice is found in Tobago’s larger visitor centres outside St David, while the parish is best experienced through modest local dining, farm produce and community-based food stops rather than formal culinary tourism. Visitors should distinguish Tobago’s shared national and Caribbean food culture from dishes that are specifically produced in St David.

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Best bars in St. David

St David has a quiet evening culture rather than a concentrated nightclub scene. Social life is generally found in local rum shops, small bars, informal eateries and community settings around Roxborough and neighbouring settlements, where conversation and familiar Caribbean hospitality are more central than late-night entertainment. Some establishments serve local beer, spirits and rum-based drinks, but visitors should not assume that every venue operates late or accepts cards. Nightclubs and larger entertainment options are more strongly associated with Tobago’s busier centres outside the parish, particularly around Scarborough and the south-western resort area. In St David, evenings are better suited to a relaxed meal, a locally guided cultural encounter or an early return after a day outdoors. Arrange transport before drinking, as rural roads can be poorly lit and taxis may not be immediately available.

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Best nightclubs in St. David

St David has a quiet evening culture rather than a concentrated nightclub scene. Social life is generally found in local rum shops, small bars, informal eateries and community settings around Roxborough and neighbouring settlements, where conversation and familiar Caribbean hospitality are more central than late-night entertainment. Some establishments serve local beer, spirits and rum-based drinks, but visitors should not assume that every venue operates late or accepts cards. Nightclubs and larger entertainment options are more strongly associated with Tobago’s busier centres outside the parish, particularly around Scarborough and the south-western resort area. In St David, evenings are better suited to a relaxed meal, a locally guided cultural encounter or an early return after a day outdoors. Arrange transport before drinking, as rural roads can be poorly lit and taxis may not be immediately available.

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Best shops in St. David

Shopping in St David is modest and local in character, with Roxborough providing the principal concentration of everyday shops, groceries, small services and seasonal produce. Roadside stalls and village vendors may offer fruit, provisions, coconut products, snacks and other foods connected with Tobago’s agricultural economy. Cocoa and chocolate products can make thoughtful souvenirs when purchased from reputable local producers, although availability varies. Visitors may also encounter handmade craft items or locally prepared goods through community events and small businesses rather than permanent specialist retail streets. For a broader selection of galleries, branded goods, craft outlets and tourism-oriented souvenirs, Scarborough and the south-western visitor centres outside St David are more practical. Carry cash for informal purchases, ask permission before photographing stalls or products, and remember that market activity can be seasonal or tied to particular community occasions rather than operating to a fixed daily schedule.

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St. David essentials

Currency and Payment
The currency is the Trinidad and Tobago dollar, written as TTD or expressed locally as TT$. Cards and contactless payments are commonly accepted by established hotels, larger shops and many formal businesses, but small stalls, taxis and rural vendors may require cash. Keep modest notes available for local purchases and transport, while using reputable banks or exchange facilities for currency services. The payment situation reflects national practice rather than a separate St David system.
Safety
St David is mainly rural, so practical concerns often relate to roads, weather and outdoor conditions rather than crowded urban areas. Keep valuables secure, use established transport and avoid isolated places after dark. At waterfalls and forest trails, wear suitable footwear, heed local advice and take care near slippery rocks or fast water after heavy rain. Sun, humidity, insects and dehydration can affect walkers quickly. If driving, expect bends, uneven surfaces and limited lighting on some roads.
Emergency Situations
Trinidad and Tobago uses the national emergency number 999 for police, fire and ambulance services. Mobile coverage can vary in hilly or forested areas, so note your route and tell someone where you are going before a remote walk. For serious incidents, follow instructions from local guides, accommodation providers or emergency services, and do not enter swollen rivers or attempt trails during unsafe weather. Travel insurance with medical and evacuation cover is sensible for outdoor activities.
Do's and Don'ts
Dress comfortably and respectfully in villages and around community facilities, and ask before photographing people, homes or private land. Follow marked routes and local instructions in forest and waterfall areas, take rubbish with you and do not remove plants, rocks or wildlife. Tipping is not a universal legal requirement, but a modest gratuity for good guiding or service is appreciated. Drive on the left, as elsewhere in Trinidad and Tobago, and greet people courteously without assuming that every rural space is open for public access.
Local Tips
Plan outdoor visits for the morning when possible, since tropical showers can develop later and daylight is limited after sunset. Roxborough is useful for provisions and local orientation, but visitors should not expect the range of services found in Scarborough or Crown Point. Ask accommodation hosts about current road conditions, waterfall access and reliable local guides. Sampling seasonal fruit, provisions and Tobago-grown cocoa can provide a more grounded connection to St David’s agricultural character than relying only on packaged souvenirs.
Eve, your Evendo local guide

From Eve

Local phrases worth knowing

You don't need to get them perfect. A few words go a long way, and locals appreciate the effort.

6 phrase groups · English, local and pronunciation

Basics
EnglishLocalSay it
HelloHello[Heh-loh]
GoodbyeGoodbye[Good-bye]
YesYes[Yes]
NoNo[No]
Please/You're welcomePlease/You're welcome[Pleez/Yor wel-kum]
Thank youThank you[Thank yuh]
Excuse me/SorryExcuse me/Sorry[Ex-kyoos meh/Sor-ree]
How are you?How yuh doing?[How yuh doo-ing?]
Fine. And you?All good. And yuh?[All good. And yuh?]
Do you speak English?Yuh does speak English?[Yuh dahs speek Ing-lish?]
I don't understandI doh understand[I doh un-der-stand]
Eating & Drinking
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to see the menu, pleaseAh would like to see the menu, please[Ah wud like to see de men-yu, pleez]
I don't eat meatAh doh eat meat[Ah doh eet meet]
Cheers!Cheers![Cheers!]
I would like to pay, pleaseAh would like to pay, please[Ah wud like to pay, pleez]
Emergencies
EnglishLocalSay it
Help!Help![Help!]
Go away!Go way![Go way!]
Call the Police!Call de Police![Call de Po-lees!]
Call a doctor!Call ah doctor![Call ah doc-tor!]
I'm lostAh lost[Ah lost]
I'm illAh sick[Ah sik]
Shopping
EnglishLocalSay it
I'd like to buy...Ah would like to buy...[Ah wud like to buy...]
I'm just lookingAh just looking[Ah just looking]
How much is it?How much it cost?[How much it cost?]
That's too expensiveDat too expensive[Dat too ex-pens-ive]
Can you lower the price?Yuh could lower de price?[Yuh cud low-er de price?]
Time & Numbers
EnglishLocalSay it
What time is it?Wha time it?[Wha time it?]
It's one o'clockIt one o'clock[It one o'clock]
Half past (10)Half past ten[Half past ten]
MorningMorning[Morning]
AfternoonAfternoon[Afternoon]
EveningEvening[Evening]
YesterdayYesterday[Yes-ter-day]
TodayToday[To-day]
TomorrowTomorrow[To-mor-row]
1One[One]
2Two[Two]
3Three[Three]
4Four[Four]
5Five[Five]
6Six[Six]
7Seven[Seven]
8Eight[Eight]
9Nine[Nine]
10Ten[Ten]
Transport & Directions
EnglishLocalSay it
Where's a/the...?Wha de...?[Wha de...?]
What's the address?Wha de address?[Wha de ad-dress?]
Can you show me (on the map)?Yuh could show meh (on de map)?[Yuh cud show meh (on de map)?]
When's the next (bus)?When de next (bus)?[When de next (bus)?]
A ticket (to ....)One ticket (to ....)[One tick-et (to ....)]

History of St. David

Indigenous Tobago Before European Colonisation

Before European rule, Tobago was inhabited and visited by Indigenous peoples moving through the Lesser Antilles and the wider Caribbean. The island’s forests, rivers and fertile clearings supported fishing, hunting, gathering and cultivation. Although the surviving physical evidence is more limited than at some other Caribbean sites, Indigenous history forms an important part of Tobago’s deeper cultural landscape. The hills and waterways around modern St David were not an untouched wilderness before colonial settlement; they belonged to an established Caribbean environment shaped by human movement and use.

European Rivalry and Changing Colonial Rule

From the seventeenth century, Tobago was contested by European powers including the Dutch, Courlanders, French and British. Settlements, plantations and military claims shifted as imperial rivalry affected the island. Britain gained control under the Treaty of Paris in 1763, though French influence and later conflicts continued to shape Tobago’s political history. St David’s present-day rural character developed within this wider colonial setting, as interior valleys and uplands were connected to coastal plantations, ports and administrative centres.

Plantations, Enslavement and Emancipation

Tobago’s colonial economy was built largely on plantation agriculture, including sugar and later crops such as cotton and provisions. Enslaved Africans provided the labour that sustained the plantation system, while European landowners controlled much of the island’s political and economic power. Emancipation in the British Caribbean took effect in the 1830s, transforming labour relationships but not immediately removing economic inequality. The farms and settlements of Tobago’s interior must therefore be understood alongside the history of slavery, resistance, emancipation and the creation of Afro-Tobagonian communities.

Agriculture and the Rise of Cocoa

After the decline of some plantation enterprises, Tobago’s economy became increasingly associated with smaller farms and crops suited to its varied terrain. Cocoa gained importance during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, joining coconuts, sugar and food crops in the island’s agricultural story. The shaded, humid conditions of Tobago’s hills supported cocoa cultivation, and rural districts around Roxborough retained strong connections to farming. Contemporary interest in local cocoa and chocolate reflects this agricultural inheritance, even though production has changed considerably over time.

Union with Trinidad in 1889

Tobago was administratively united with Trinidad in 1889, ending its separate colonial administration and creating the territorial arrangement that eventually became Trinidad and Tobago. The union connected Tobago more closely to Trinidad’s larger economy and political institutions, although Tobago retained a distinct island identity and different social geography. St David’s rural communities were affected by changes in administration, transport and commerce, while the island continued to depend heavily on agriculture and local networks.

Independence and Tobago’s Regional Institutions

Trinidad and Tobago became independent from Britain in 1962, with Tobago remaining one of the country’s two principal islands. Debates over Tobago’s development and autonomy later contributed to the establishment of the Tobago House of Assembly in 1980, which received expanded responsibilities through subsequent legislation. St David’s communities participate in this distinct Tobagonian civic identity while remaining part of the national state. Modern tourism, conservation and heritage initiatives now sit alongside farming and community life as important influences on the parish.

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