Gasparee Island Anchorage

About This Anchorage

Gaspar Grande (Gasparee Island) lies immediately offshore from Chaguaramas Bay and is the most accessible island anchorage in the Five Islands group. The island is famous for its Blue Grotto — a stunning sea cave system accessible by dinghy at low tide, with crystalline blue water and stalactites. The island also has colonial-era fortifications and a small beach. The anchorage is sheltered from the northeast but open to the south and southwest. Holding in the Gulf of Paria mud and sand mix is generally good. This is primarily a day anchorage — boats from the Chaguaramas fleet anchor here for day trips to the grotto and beach, then return to Chaguaramas Bay for the night. A weekend favourite for Trinidad sailing families.

Hazards

• !Gulf of Paria tidal range 0.9–1.5m — Blue Grotto only accessible near low tide; plan carefully
• !Open to south and southwest — if southerly conditions develop, return to Chaguaramas Bay
• !Dinghy approach to Blue Grotto through low entrance — low-clearance passage; do not attempt at high tide
• !Weekends can be crowded with local recreational boats — use anchor alarm and watch for wash

Skipper's Tips

• →Visit the Blue Grotto by dinghy at low tide — one of the most spectacular natural features in the southern Caribbean
• →The stalactites inside the grotto are best seen with an underwater torch — bring snorkelling gear
• →Colonial fortification ruins on the hilltop offer outstanding views over the Gulf of Paria and across to Venezuela
• →Check tide times at Chaguaramas before anchoring — the grotto entrance requires low-tide window of approximately 2 hours
• →Use Gaspar Grande as a scenic lunch stop on passage from Chaguaramas Bay toward Scotland Bay or Monos Island

Nearby Anchorages