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Trinidad and Tobago🇹🇹 | landmarksNylon PoolMid-sea sandbar, Buccoo Reef, glass-bottom boats, coral snorkeling | things to do and best time to go

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Backpacking in Nylon Pool
🏆 Top pickunique site ranked #1
By Johan Kruseman 🇳🇱 | Updated October 22, 2026

The water in Nylon Pool is only about waist deep, and you stand on sand in the middle of the open Caribbean Sea, a fact that confuses first-timers who arrive expecting a pool with walls. It is a shallow sandbar in Buccoo Reef, off the southwest coast of Tobago in Trinidad and Tobago, and you only get there by boat. That means you pay a captain, share a hull with strangers and spend part of the trip wondering whether the bar is real. It is. The seabed is bright white, the water glows an almost neon turquoise, and the local story says a dip here takes years off your face. Crowds are the weak point: glass-bottom boats cluster at the bar around midday, and the whole thing lasts perhaps twenty minutes of standing around. Photos are superb, though, and the adjoining coral gardens make the boat fee feel fair. A first day could mean an early boat from Pigeon Point, a swim and snorkel, then lunch and a long, lazy afternoon on the sand.

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✨ Why go?
Ranked #1 unique site in Trinidad and TobagoWhat makes this unique site worth visiting

Nylon Pool is one of those places you can't fake with a pool or a filter. A natural sandbar sits in the open sea, so shallow that most adults stand with the water at waist or chest height, and the sand underfoot is so fine and pale that the sea above it turns a glowing blue-green. That alone is worth the short boat ride. The second reason is the coral. Boats usually stop at Buccoo Reef on the same trip, so you get a swim in the sandbar and a snorkel over shallow reef in one outing, which is far better value than paying for two separate tours. Bring your own mask if you have one, since rentals vary in quality. The third reason is how neatly it fits into Tobago. Tour boats leave from the beachfront at Pigeon Point and from Buccoo, both a short hop from Crown Point, where the airport and many … read more 👉
Nylon Pool is one of those places you can't fake with a pool or a filter. A natural sandbar sits in the open sea, so shallow that most adults stand with the water at waist or chest height, and the sand underfoot is so fine and pale that the sea above it turns a glowing blue-green. That alone is worth the short boat ride. The second reason is the coral. Boats usually stop at Buccoo Reef on the same trip, so you get a swim in the sandbar and a snorkel over shallow reef in one outing, which is far better value than paying for two separate tours. Bring your own mask if you have one, since rentals vary in quality. The third reason is how neatly it fits into Tobago. Tour boats leave from the beachfront at Pigeon Point and from Buccoo, both a short hop from Crown Point, where the airport and many guesthouses are. You can do the whole outing in a morning and still have the afternoon for beaches, food and the nightly buzz along the southwest coast.

💡 HighlightsKey sights and experiences for travelers

  1. The Nylon Pool sandbar: The headline act, a shallow bank of white sand far out in the sea where you stand in clear, warm water in every direction. The brightness of the sand is why the water looks so luminous, and it is the one place on the trip where everyone gets out of the boat.
  2. Buccoo Reef: The coral system the sandbar sits within. Boats stop over the shallow reef so you can snorkel above brain coral and watch schools of small tropical fish drift past. Healthy sections are best seen with a mask and a calm sea.
  3. Glass-bottom boat ride: The standard way to reach the area. A viewing panel in the hull lets non-swimmers watch the reef slide by, and the skippers usually give a running commentary on the local lore.
  4. The “youth” dip: Local legend says that bathing in the Nylon Pool makes you look younger,
… read more 👉
  1. The Nylon Pool sandbar: The headline act, a shallow bank of white sand far out in the sea where you stand in clear, warm water in every direction. The brightness of the sand is why the water looks so luminous, and it is the one place on the trip where everyone gets out of the boat.
  2. Buccoo Reef: The coral system the sandbar sits within. Boats stop over the shallow reef so you can snorkel above brain coral and watch schools of small tropical fish drift past. Healthy sections are best seen with a mask and a calm sea.
  3. Glass-bottom boat ride: The standard way to reach the area. A viewing panel in the hull lets non-swimmers watch the reef slide by, and the skippers usually give a running commentary on the local lore.
  4. The “youth” dip: Local legend says that bathing in the Nylon Pool makes you look younger, and skippers cheerfully encourage you to rub the sand on your face. It makes a good photo, and nobody has proven it works.
  5. Pigeon Point Heritage Park: The usual departure point, with a white beach lined with palms and the famous thatched jetty hut, which is one of the most photographed spots in Tobago. Arrive early to catch the beach before the day-trippers.
  6. Buccoo Village waterfront: Another place to board boats, this fishing village gives you a look at everyday Tobago life, with small boats on the sand and grilled fish at nearby stalls.
  7. Coral gardens snorkel stop: A shallow patch near the pool where you can float over colorful coral heads. Calm mornings give the clearest water.
Nylon Pool trips need a boat, so you pay the captain at Pigeon Point or Buccoo (the sandbar itself has no ticket), and booking ahead is smart in peak season, when midday departures fill up.
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Things to do around Nylon Pool

Tobago Buccoo Reef Glass Bottom Boat Tour

Tobago Buccoo Reef Glass Bottom Boat Tour

4.2(77) 3h 30m
From €71
per personViator
Tobago Buccoo Reef Glass Bottom Boat Cruise and Island Sightseeing Tour

Tobago Buccoo Reef Glass Bottom Boat Cruise and Island Sightseeing Tour

4.7(38) 8h
From €100
per personViator
Bioluminescence night time adventure with Brandon

Bioluminescence night time adventure with Brandon

4.6(23) 2h 30m
From €154
per personViator

Ratings based on Tripadvisor reviews. When you book through this link, you support our work at no extra cost to you.

🌤️ When to go?Best time to visit Nylon Pool

  • Dry Season (January to May): Nylon Pool is at its best from late January through April, with calm, clear water and little rain. Days reach 29 to 32°C (84 to 90°F), and the water stays around 27 to 28°C (81 to 82°F). Daylight runs roughly 11.5 to 12.5 hours.
  • Wet Season (June to December): Showers are frequent and the sea in Buccoo Reef can turn choppy and cloudy. Tours still run, but the pool looks less turquoise and boats sometimes cancel in rough weather. Temperatures stay 26 to 31°C (79 to 88°F).
  • Holiday Peaks: Mid-December to early January, Carnival weekend (February or March) and Easter bring the biggest crowds, and boat tours fill up. Guesthouse rates in Pigeon Point and Crown Point climb 20 to 40 percent.
  • Shoulder Months: May and early June offer thinner crowds, lower room prices and mostly
… read more 👉
  • Dry Season (January to May): Nylon Pool is at its best from late January through April, with calm, clear water and little rain. Days reach 29 to 32°C (84 to 90°F), and the water stays around 27 to 28°C (81 to 82°F). Daylight runs roughly 11.5 to 12.5 hours.
  • Wet Season (June to December): Showers are frequent and the sea in Buccoo Reef can turn choppy and cloudy. Tours still run, but the pool looks less turquoise and boats sometimes cancel in rough weather. Temperatures stay 26 to 31°C (79 to 88°F).
  • Holiday Peaks: Mid-December to early January, Carnival weekend (February or March) and Easter bring the biggest crowds, and boat tours fill up. Guesthouse rates in Pigeon Point and Crown Point climb 20 to 40 percent.
  • Shoulder Months: May and early June offer thinner crowds, lower room prices and mostly workable seas.
Go on a weekday morning, before the cruise and day-trip boats arrive around midday, and you may share the sandbar with only a handful of people.


source: climatestotravel.comJANJanuary: excellent for travelingFEBFebruary: excellent for travelingMARMarch: excellent for travelingAPRApril: excellent for travelingMAYMay: highly recommended for travelingJUNJune: fair for travelingJULJuly: fair for travelingAUGAugust: fair for travelingSEPSeptember: fair for travelingOCTOctober: fair for travelingNOVNovember: good for travelingDECDecember: good for traveling
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🛏️ Where to stay?Where staying makes the most sense

Crown Point is the best base for Nylon Pool, because the glass-bottom boats leave from nearby Pigeon Point and Store Bay and the airport is a few minutes away.

Crown Point itself has the widest choice of guesthouses, small apartments and budget rooms, plus supermarkets, cheap roti and doubles stands, and frequent shared taxis along the main road. It is flat and walkable, with a steady flow of other travelers, so solo visitors rarely feel isolated. Stick to the main strip after dark and take a taxi back from late-night bars.

Store Bay, at the western edge, is quieter and more local. Food stalls … read more 👉
Crown Point is the best base for Nylon Pool, because the glass-bottom boats leave from nearby Pigeon Point and Store Bay and the airport is a few minutes away.

Crown Point itself has the widest choice of guesthouses, small apartments and budget rooms, plus supermarkets, cheap roti and doubles stands, and frequent shared taxis along the main road. It is flat and walkable, with a steady flow of other travelers, so solo visitors rarely feel isolated. Stick to the main strip after dark and take a taxi back from late-night bars.

Store Bay, at the western edge, is quieter and more local. Food stalls serving crab and dumpling sit by the beach, and boat operators gather here, so you can compare tour prices on foot. It suits travelers who want a calmer evening.

Buccoo village, a short drive east, is a cheaper option with homestays and self-catering rooms. It is the place to go if you want to see everyday Tobago and cook your own meals, though you will rely on shared taxis or a rental car. Social options are thinner here.

Scarborough has more bargain rooms, but it is far from the reef and quiet at night, so I would skip it for this trip.
Best hostels in Trinidad and Tobago


Best quality hotels in Trinidad and Tobago

👛 Costs (as of 22 October 2026)Typical daily expenses

Nylon Pool costs roughly US$62 to 120 a day for a backpacker based in Crown Point, with the boat tour being the main expense. Travelers pay in Trinidad and Tobago dollars, though many tour operators also quote in US dollars.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Boat tour to Nylon Pool and Buccoo ReefUS$15 to 25Glass-bottom boats from Pigeon Point or Store Bay take about 2 to 3 hours and include the pool, reef stop and snorkel time.
Snorkel gearUS$0 to 7Sometimes included in the tour price, otherwise rented at the dock.
Pigeon Point entryUS$3 to 5The beach park charges a small gate fee, and the jetty is usually reached through it.
Accommodation (high season)US$30 to 55Guesthouse or basic apartment room in Crown Point. Low season is often US$25 to 40.
FoodUS$12 to 22Roti, fish and bake, or doubles run
… read more 👉
Nylon Pool costs roughly US$62 to 120 a day for a backpacker based in Crown Point, with the boat tour being the main expense. Travelers pay in Trinidad and Tobago dollars, though many tour operators also quote in US dollars.
CategoryBudget RangeLocal Reality
Boat tour to Nylon Pool and Buccoo ReefUS$15 to 25Glass-bottom boats from Pigeon Point or Store Bay take about 2 to 3 hours and include the pool, reef stop and snorkel time.
Snorkel gearUS$0 to 7Sometimes included in the tour price, otherwise rented at the dock.
Pigeon Point entryUS$3 to 5The beach park charges a small gate fee, and the jetty is usually reached through it.
Accommodation (high season)US$30 to 55Guesthouse or basic apartment room in Crown Point. Low season is often US$25 to 40.
FoodUS$12 to 22Roti, fish and bake, or doubles run US$3 to 8 a meal, while sit-down dinners cost more.
Local transportUS$2 to 6Shared taxis on the Crown Point to Buccoo road are cheap, while private taxis cost a lot more.
Total Daily BudgetUS$62 to 120Around US$80 for most travelers who take the tour, eat locally and use shared taxis.
⚠️ Prices can change and everyone travels differently, so take this as a rough guide. Hope it helps you plan your adventure!

FAQCommon questions from travelers

Nylon Pool is a shallow sandbar in the sea off Tobago’s southwest coast, with waist-deep, clear turquoise water over white sand. It sits in the Buccoo Reef area, about 1 km offshore, and can only be reached by boat. Princess Margaret is said to have named it in 1962, because the clear water reminded her of nylon stockings. Most visitors combine it with a reef snorkel stop.
Plan on 2 to 3 hours for a standard boat tour that covers Nylon Pool and Buccoo Reef, with roughly 20 to 30 minutes of that spent standing in the pool. Add another hour if you want to browse Pigeon Point beach before or after. A half day is plenty, and many travelers fit it in with a morning departure and an afternoon at Store Bay.
Take a glass-bottom boat from Pigeon Point or Store Bay, both on Tobago’s southwest tip near Crown Point. From Crown Point, either spot is a 5 to 10 minute taxi ride or about 20 minutes on foot, and Tobago’s airport is roughly 10 minutes away by car. Tours cost around US$15 to 25 per person, and boats leave throughout the morning.
⚠️ Things can change over time, so always validate details locally before you go.

Other Trinidadian and Tobagonian landmarks near Nylon Pool

Explore more nearby:

  • Fort King George—Cannon ramparts, Tobago Museum, lighthouse, Rockly Bay views| 11 km away
  • Mount Saint Benedict—Hilltop abbey, Caroni plain lookout, monastery yogurt, foothill trails| 85 km away
  • Bamboo Cathedral—Bamboo arch, creaking stems, dappled light, old estate road| 99 km away

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We 💚 feedbackKey takeaways before you go

Nylon Pool works best as the opening act of a southwest Tobago day. Book the earliest boat you can find, then follow it with a lazy afternoon on Pigeon Point beach and fresh fish at Buccoo, since everything sits within a few minutes of each other. I would skip the midday slot, when the water gets crowded, and I would bring a reef-safe sunscreen.

✍️ Help improve this page!
The information on this page is based on in-depth research, insights shared by experienced travelers, and feedback from the local travel community in Trinidad and Tobago. While every effort is made to keep the information accurate and current, conditions can change — so if you spot anything incorrect or outdated, please get in touch.



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