Glass Bottom Boat Tour Buccoo Reef: Three stops, snorkel included

Sip a drink as you glide over Tobago’s vibrant coral and white sands

A glass bottom boat tour in Tobago that departs from Buccoo Jetty and visits Buccoo Reef, Nylon Pool and No Mans Land over two hours. The boat holds nine passengers and carries a live English-speaking guide; snorkeling is offered at the reef stop, and alcoholic beverages are included. The reef system spans roughly seven square kilometers and consists of five reef flats enclosing a shallow lagoon -- Jacques Cousteau rated Buccoo Reef as the third most spectacular in the world.

Step-by-step itinerary

Nylon Pool and Buccoo Reef Tour

• Depart Buccoo Jetty
• View corals and fishes at Buccoo Reef
• Snorkel opportunity
• Stop at Nylon Pool
• Visit No Man's Land

The Experience

What makes a reef worth the trip? The boat leaves Buccoo Jetty and heads straight to Buccoo Reef, where you watch the underwater life through the glass bottom without getting wet -- staghorn and star corals, schools of fish, the whole system that Cousteau himself came to see. The reef sits just offshore from Pigeon Point and Store Bay beaches, close enough that the ride is a short cruise, not a crossing. You get a live guide in English walking you through what you're seeing as it passes beneath you.

The second stop is Nylon Pool, a shallow turquoise pocket where the water stays so clear and still it feels like a swimming pool someone carved out of the ocean. From there the boat moves to No Mans Land, where the white beaches sit empty and the lagoon opens up around you. If you want to get in the water, snorkeling happens at the reef stop -- the guide can tell you what gear you need or what the boat has on hand. The boat is a Boston Whaler licensed for nine passengers, so the group stays small enough that everyone gets a seat and a view.

Alcoholic beverages are included, so the ride back to Buccoo Jetty has that covered. The whole tour runs two hours. Public transportation options are nearby if you're getting to the jetty without a car, and infants can ride on an adult's lap.

What’s included

• A live English-speaking guide.
• alcoholic beverages.
• snorkeling at Buccoo Reef if you choose to get in the water.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Fish Tobago Tours

Is this one for you?You get three reef stops and the option to snorkel without arranging transport to the jetty or figuring out which part of the reef system is worth the trip -- the boat's route and the guide's knowledge do that work, and the small group size means you're not competing for a view.

Traveler reviews

4.22★★★★★★★★★★

18 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What exactly is Buccoo Reef and why does it matter?

Buccoo Reef is a protected marine park covering roughly seven square kilometers off the coast of Tobago, made up of five reef flats that enclose a shallow lagoon. The reef system holds staghorn and star coral communities and colorful fish life; Jacques Cousteau, the French oceanographer and explorer, visited and ranked it as the third most spectacular reef in the world.

Can I snorkel on this tour or just look through the glass bottom?

The glass bottom boat lets you see the reef without getting in the water, but snorkeling is also offered at the Buccoo Reef stop, so you can choose whether to stay dry or jump in.

How many people go on this tour at once?

The boat is a Boston Whaler licensed for nine passengers, so groups stay small and everyone gets a seat with a view.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes the boat ride to all three stops, a live guide in English, and alcoholic beverages for the journey back.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs two hours from departure at Buccoo Jetty through all three stops and back.