A Day in the Tobago Cays from Mayreau

If Salt Whistle Bay is where you swim and watch the sun drop, the Tobago Cays are where you spend a full day in the water. The marine park sits only a few nautical miles east of Mayreau—close enough that many sailors treat the two as a paired stop.

Tobago Cays aerial
Aerial view of the Tobago Cays Marine Park. Photo: Iain Grant / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.5).

What the Tobago Cays are

The Tobago Cays are a cluster of small, uninhabited islands in the southern Grenadines—commonly listed as Petit Rameau, Petit Bateau, Baradal, Jamesby, and Petit Tabac—wrapped by Horseshoe Reef. There is no village and no hotel strip. The draw is clear lagoon water, coral, seabirds and iguanas on land, and green turtles grazing in the seagrass beds around Baradal.

How to go from Mayreau

  • By charter yacht or sailing itinerary: the classic approach—anchor or pick up a mooring in the park (follow current park rules and fees) and dinghy to snorkel spots.
  • By day trip: operators from Union Island and Mayreau-area boats run snorkeling outings when weather allows. Ask locally at Salt Whistle Bay or Saline Bay the evening before.
  • Respect the park: stay off fragile coral, give turtles space, and follow ranger or captain guidance on where to swim.
Tobago Cays lagoon
Tobago Cays east of Mayreau. Photo: David Stanley / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0).

A simple day that delights

Morning: cross from Mayreau while the water is calm. Midday: snorkel the reef and the turtle grass, then beach time on one of the cays. Afternoon: optional beach barbecue when vendors are operating (lobster is seasonal and regulated—SVG lobster season traditionally runs roughly September through April; buying outside season is prohibited). Evening: sail or motor back to Salt Whistle Bay for a sundowner on Mayreau’s sand.

That pairing—Cays for the reef, Mayreau for walking ashore and two-sea geography—is why visitors remember this corner of the Grenadines.

What to bring

  • Reef-safe sunscreen, rash guard, and your own mask if you have a favorite fit.
  • Cash for park fees, tips, and any beach barbecue.
  • Water shoes for rocky entries.
  • A dry bag for phones and cameras in the dinghy.

How this complements Mayreau.com’s existing guide

Mayreau’s own beaches are perfect for slowing down. The Cays are the underwater highlight sitting next door. Visiting both gives guests the full southern Grenadines rhythm: quiet sand and village life on Mayreau, then a protected marine park that still feels wild.

Park rules, mooring availability, and barbecue vendors change with season and weather. Confirm details with your captain or a local operator the day you go.

Mayreau Travel Guide