Castara Retreats - Trinidad and Tobago

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Relax above the beach and on the edge of the rainforest. Visited: October 2009 Posted by susanjago Despite the fact that I had been on the website looking at Castara from the day I booked, I had not dared to hope that it would be as amazing as described. Well, it was. From our arrival at the airport, looking out for Porridge and knowing immediately it must be him from his happy smiling face, to him taking us back ten days later with hugs and kisses and beers all round - everything was wonderful. Rainforest was perfect, it felt as though we were living in a tree house, and we managed to idle away many an hour just watching the beach and the birds and butterflies. The beach was endlessly fascinating. We watched the fishermen go out to sea early in the mornings, the children playing in the shallows, the sting rays and the pelicans diving for fish. There was good snorkeling from Little Bay, and lovely warm swimming. We bought fish from the fisherman, and both Marieta and Veronica cooked for us. We ate roti at Da Almond Tree, pizza and curries at the Boat House, fresh fish at Margueret's, and bacon and eggs at Cheno's coffee shop. Sherwin took us out fishing, then barbequed our fish in the pouring rain! We had an interesting rainforest trip with Darren Henry. But most of the time we just limed! Our two young adult children had a great time, too. They enjoyed being part of the village and not being in a over-commercialized holiday destination. We loved the fact the local people seemed to accept visitors so easily and so many people wanted to chat and be friendly. Our thanks to Jean at the other end of the emails and telephone for being so helpful and kind from the start; and to Porridge, Jeanelle and all the team in Tobago who were so welcoming and made us feel so accepted. And, of course, thanks to Sue and Steve for creating such an amazing place. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We loved it! Visited: August 2009 Posted by charliebengland We have recently returned from a two-week stay at Castara Retreats, and we had a simply wonderful time. It would be very easy to repeat all the passionately written compliments and reviews posted here and elsewhere, but all we shall say is: believe them because they are true and correct. The owner's web site is commendably honest and accurate, and we felt fully prepared for our visit in all respects, except one - because nothing can really prepare you for the sheer beauty of the setting of these marvellous accommodations. We stayed in the two-bedroom 'Rainforest' apartment. The 'wow' factor was definitely there from the moment we arrived until the moment we left. If anything though, what really made this holiday for us was the care, help and welcome given by the fantastic team of people at Castara Retreats. Famously led by the terrific Porridge and Jeanelle, they were simply outstanding: not only at what they do, but how they make you feel. We left Castara genuinely feeling that we were leaving a whole gang of new friends behind. We were also fortunate to meet the lovely owners while here. While talking with them, it was obvious how much thought, care and sheer hard work has gone into creating this little bit of paradise. Finally, we need to say that Castara itself is a beautiful, unspoiled and friendly village. Traveling with teenage daughters (who utterly loved it too: no chance of boredom for them), we are always conscious and aware of any possible safety issues. However, here we had no concerns whatsoever. Being such a small village it felt safe, secure and welcoming. On our final day we walked back from the beach through the village - and the shouts and waves goodbye from so many local people in the shops, bars and fishing co-op will be a memory that will live with us forever. Go to Castara. Stay at 'The Retreats'. You'll see what we mean, and you won't be disappointed. 1 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was paradise. Visited: June 2009 Posted by donalddu50 Castara Retreats is even better than the web site advertises. We stayed in Coasthanger for one of the most relaxing holidays we have ever had. The accommodation was superb, and the beach was beautiful. The sunsets were to live for, and we enjoyed the great village and amazing wildlife. I would recommend Castara Retreats to all who want a holiday in natural surroundings and wish to relax and enjoy life 4 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was the perfect vacation. Visited: April 2009 Posted by lorenzop38 We stayed here ten nights in April, and we had a wonderful vacation. We were in the Hummingbird 2 apartment, and it was very nice and confortable. The managment of Jeannelle and Porridge was perfect. The garden awesome, and the room was always clean and nice. Come here if you want a completely relaxing location. Here you can really relax from the beginning of the holiday. Don't come here if you look for night life or things like that. It is a very quiet place. 5 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was a wonderful, wonderful place. Visited: April 2009 Posted by dum_chri75 We need to say it straight away: Castara Retreats is hard to beat! It is one of the most wonderful places we have ever been to. There are various things that make it special. First, the small fishing village of Castara in our opinion is the loveliest place on Tobago. The people there are very friendly and, as a guest, you feel personally welcome by the whole village. Secondly, Porridge and Jeanelle, who run the place, are perfect caretakers. They have a natural way of treating each guest as if he were the most important person staying there. They find solutions for everything and offer you to participate in trips - but in a way that you never feel obliged. Last but not least, the apartments (we stayed in Rainforest) are wonderful. For us this kind of open living was a completely new experience. We enjoyed being in the fresh air for 24 hours a day, cooking in an open kitchen with sea view and waking up by a tender sea breeze or some birds. We loved the place so much that at times we didn't want to leave the apartment. The climate is perfect at each time of the day, and the lovely view to the village and beach makes you feel as if you were in the middle of everything while being very private on your own balcony. Cooking our own fish (which we bought fresh from the fishermen in Castara) with some fresh bread (baked by the women of Castara) while watching the sunset was one of the best experiences ever. We had a perfect stay at Castara Retreats. 5 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We had a beautiful wedding and holiday here. Visited: November 2008 Posted by bartdevisser We stayed at Castara Retreats for two weeks, and were delighted about the beauty of the lodges and the garden. The staff was very friendly and always helpful. Lots of birds visited the garden, and the view from the bedroom and balcony was wonderful. With help from the manager, we got married under the pagoda at Castara Retreats and all we had to do was ten minutes of paperwork in Scarborough. The ceremony was lovely with nice ocean and rainforest views, a good meal and at night some drinks with local people from Castara. 5 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? The is the real Caribbean. Visited: October 2008 Posted by cd555 My family and I had a great time. The staff and service were outstanding, and Birdsong was a delightful place to stay. The wildlife in the gardens were fantastic. We particularly like the candle flies (fireflies). We will be returning to Tobago. And, if it's not booked up, we'll be staying at Castara Retreats. 3 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was a little Paradise. Visited: August 2008 Posted by mortenjulie We had the most wonderful stay at Castara Retreats! Before our arrival, we didn’t really know what to expect, since neither of us had ever been in the Caribbean. However, we were both positively astounded by our entire experience at Castara Retreats. We had arranged to be picked up in the airport by Porridge before we arrived, which we are glad we did. We would probably not have found our way ourselves. Despite our two-hour delay, we got the opportunity to stop and shop for the most basic products before shops closed. We arrived to Castara Retreats in the late evening, and we really appreciated the quality of the apartment (Hummingbird 2). We had clean white sheets, a nice well functioning toilet and kitchen – and most importantly – it was all very clean. We participated in most of the events (almost one every day) arranged by Porridge, Steve and Sue. Examples are: the yearly boat race, fishing with Steve (thanks Steve), barbecue in the newlyweds Americans’ apartment, barbecue in Steve and Sue’s apartment, and Calypso dinner in the little boat house. But we also explored the island ourselves in one of Porridge’s rental cars and spent time snorkeling in the bay. All in all, we are very pleased that we chose to stay in Castara Retreats. One night we stayed in another place, also in Castara, and the quality was significantly low compared to Castara Retreats. There is a very positive correlation between price and quality in Castara Retreats! A special thanks to Steve and Sue for making our stay unforgettable. They really care about their guests and make people feel welcomed. Every visitor should have the pleasure to meet them. Also, a warm thank to Porridge, Shaq and Sherman who all spread a good atmosphere and joy! We will definitely recommend Castara Retreats to all who are thinking of going. It is a little hidden Paradise. Brgds, Morten & Julie 5 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We had a truly wonderful time at Castara Retreats. Visited: June 2008 Posted by richardcookemedia It is easily the most beautiful location on the island. It's a sleepy fishing village, and if relaxation is what you are looking for - don't bother finding anywhere else. What makes it stand out is that they have a fantastic manager who can provide whatever trip you want, whether that be by boat, hiring a jeep hire, going turtle watching or anything else. Just ask for Porridge. The apartments are lovely and well looked after. But it is the location and unrivaled view that really make the stay memorable. 12 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is a wonderful holiday place. Visited: May 2008 Posted by doodleb My family spent two great weeks at Castara Retreats in May. Hummingbird 1 had everything we needed for an ‘away from it all’ holiday. It was part of a larger house made mainly of wood, and we had a large private veranda as well as an outdoor patio area. The outdoor shower was much appreciated after beach trips (there was also an indoor one). Also, the flat was cleaned and the sheets and towels changed every few days. The house was set in grounds full of tropical plants. Carrington, the gardener, supplied us with regular fruit samples. From the veranda, there was a lovely view across the bays, and we enjoyed watching the boats, the birds, the stingrays and the shoals of fish (which we thought were seaweed clumps until we swam through them!). On top of the location, the staff at Castara Retreats (Porridge, Jeanelle and their team) was truly lovely. They were always contactable if we needed to know how to do (or get) something. They made us feel that nothing was ever a bother. The smaller bay at Castara had great snorkeling off the beach, and the beach and water were both clean and safe. The village had a relaxed, timeless Caribbean quality that we hope is never spoilt. All in all, it was a brilliant holiday! 10 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? It was all we could have wanted - and more. Visited: January 2008 Posted by zoecanada My husband I stayed in Castara recently for a few nights, and we enjoyed our visit immensely. This was our first holiday in Tobago and, since we relied heavily on visitor reports in planning our trip, I felt we should add a report of our own. Firstly, all the positive comments about Castara Retreats turned out to be absolutely true. The village was a friendly community with a lovely sand beach and several good eating establishments - including The Almond tree and Marguerite’s. Our accommodation at Castara Retreats was everything we could have hoped for and more. Our cottage included a large, covered balcony with a fantastic view of the beach. It also had comfortable seating where we spent hours and hours bird-watching, reading, eating and limin’. In addition, we enjoyed a fully-equipped kitchen, comfortable bed, and a clean, insect-free environment. We were in paradise! As Canadians, we found the driving quite challenging and will definitely use the services of Porridge on our return visit. However, there was lots to see and do around the village. Do walk up to the waterfalls for a fresh-water dip. Also, explore the stock of the many little storefronts. We were surprised to find some interesting wine, wonderful produce and even bread fresh from the oven at 8:00 pm. Thanks so much to Sue, Steve and Freya for your warm welcome and hospitality, and to Porridge and Jeanell for organizing New Year’s Eve and the snorkeling excursion. We will see you all again next year! 13 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Our stay was just idyllic! Visited: October 2007 Posted by liney We have just returned from our second stay at Castara Retreats. We thought it was amazing in 2005, but this year was even better! We stayed in Osprey again. This had just been renovated, and now has a separate bedroom and kitchen. The apartment had stunning views of Castara Bay, was very quiet and secluded, overlooked the garden. It was perfect for bird watching and relaxing. We are a professional couple in our 50s, and found this accommodation perfect for "just the two of us"! We were never short of company if we wished it - Pelican occupants were just beside us, and we enjoyed beers with them and with Porridge. What makes Castara Retreats so special is the staff - Porridge, his wife Jeanell, and her team. They can arrange anything for you - boat trips, rain forest walks, or home cooking - and always with a big smile. Just ask! Castara Retreats is a very special place to stay, but it is not a hotel with daily maid service, reception, etc. It may not suit everyone. The apartments are cleaned, and beds are changed twice a week. Fresh flowers and a welcome pack greet you on arrival, and Porridge calls daily to see if you need anything. We don't think anywhere else on Tobago beats Castara Retreats for excellent accommodation and friendliness. The web site is excellent with easy booking and payment facilities, and Jean can answer all your questions about Castara and helps with any queries at all. All in all, we would highly recommend Castara Retreats! We came home thoroughly relaxed and refreshed, and will definitely return! 9 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is the best location in Castara. Visited: July 2007 Posted by rosy The fishing village of Castara is undoubtedly the best location in Tobago. Renting one of the six lodges at Castara Retreats is a superb way to enjoy the best of this unspoiled Caribbean island. We stayed in Coasthanger Lodge for 12 nights (not long enough), and absolutely loved everything about it. The lodge is thoughtfully and tastefully designed, and blends in sensitively with the landscape and the surrounding area. The moment we arrived, we felt instantly relaxed. We will never forget stepping into the lodge for the first time, and looking out at the stunning views towards the turquoise sea and the beach. Coasthanger is perfect for daily living. The deck, which is just off the bedroom, is a perfect spot to relax at any time of day. The deck has full sun throughout most of the day, but also benefits from a cooling breeze from the sea. It was very tempting to spend all day there, relaxing and reading and generally delighting in the wildlife around us. However, we didn’t, and we had some wonderful experiences in Castara and some very happy memories to bring home with us. We left Castara Retreats thinking that we had been part of something very special. We felt very privileged to have had the opportunity to share the local culture and the life of many of the people that we met. There is no doubt we will return to Castara and to Castara Retreats in the near future. A special thank you to Sue, Steve, Freya, Porridge, and Jeanell for making our first visit so memorable. 8 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is definitely a "return trip" kind of place! Visited: April 2007 Posted by round_the_world77 When Porridge said "Welcome to Paradise!" when he met us at the airport, he really was telling the truth. Castara was one of the most beautiful places we're ever been, and I can't rate Castara Retreats more highly. The Retreats web site was so easy to use and full of invaluable information. The personal communication we had with the owners was superb. They were always willing to answer any questions. My husband and I spent a week in Osprey, and found the accommodation to be perfect. This was the first time we'd not stayed in a hotel/resort, and I couldn't have loved it more. The room was reasonably basic, but everything we needed was there. We arrived after dark, so we didn't see the view until the following morning. It was mesmerising! Porridge and Jeanelle were always on hand, and I'm sure Porridge knows everyone on the island! We also went on a boat trip with Duck, which we can thorougly recommend. During that trip, realized that Castara was the most beautiful place on the island. The snorkeling was fantastic. The first time we saw a stingray swim past was amazing. We could even see the stingrays from the balcony of Osprey! Everyone was just so friendly - so just say hello and you're be welcomed. We spent many an hour having a bottle of Carib or two with the locals. 10 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This is an amazing, beautiful accommodation in Paradise. Visited: February 2007 Posted by lynnmorris We have just returned from our second stay at Castara Retreats. We thought it was amazing last year – this year was even better! We stayed in Birdsong Lodge this time. Birdsong was in the process of being built in February 2006 when we last visited Castara Retreats, so we were excited to see it finished. It exceeded all our expectations. As with all the apartments/lodges at Castara Retreats, the lodge was beautiful with stunning views. I have now seen all the accommodations at Castara Retreats, and have found every property to be finished to the highest standards and immaculately clean and well equipped with everything you could possibly need. All have amazing views over Castara, the beach and the coastline below. The gardens surrounding the properties are beautifully planted and very well maintained. What makes Castara Retreats so special is the staff. Porridge, who manages the apartments, is always on hand to answer any questions and make sure your stay is perfect. He will call by each day to see if you need any help and advice. Porridge and his wife, Jeanell, are perfect hosts and can provide a taxi service to anywhere on the island, vehicles to hire on a daily or weekly basis, tours, shopping trips and advice about local activities. If you would like a home cooked meal, Marita, who lives opposite the Retreats, will prepare you delicious local dishes and deliver them to you. Ovita, Hermin and Sherry-Ann come in the service the apartments twice a week, always with a friendly smile and nothing is too much trouble. Also, Doris brings fresh flowers for each accommodation every week, and Carrington is around most days, maintaining the gardens and bringing guests fresh bananas and mangoes from the garden. The village of Castara is situated around a beautiful bay with a lovely sandy beach and warm sea, with safe swimming. All the local residents are friendly and always ready to stop for a chat (called liming!). We have traveled all over the island now, as this year was our third visit to Tobago. I have not seen anywhere as perfect as Castara to stay - and to be honest, none of the other accommodations I have seen on the island can touch Castara Retreats for location, excellent accommodation and friendliness. Steve and Sue, who designed and built the beautiful accommodations, have created the perfect oasis for relaxation and an amazing holiday. The properties blend into the hillside and are finished to very highest of standards. The website Steve and Sue have designed is excellent, very comprehensive with easy booking and payment facilities. Requests and emails are always replied to promptly. All in all, we would highly recommend Castara Retreats! 13 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Castara Retreats offers a beautiful setting and a warm welcome. Visited: January 2007 Posted by stevechaplin Castara Retreats makes the most of its fantastic position above Castara Bay. The site has been thoughtfully developed so that the apartments appear to have evolved from the hillside. The standard of the spacious accommodation is exceptionally high, but refreshingly natural in style. Our apartment, Coasthanger, had tremendous views of the coast and the sunset. We still fondly remember the mornings and evenings we spent simply looking. Of all the places we've stayed around the world, this was one of the friendliest. It seems that few people take children to Tobago, but our four-year-old had the time of his life, and made firm friends with the Castara Retreats team. 5 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? We enjoyed our visit as a group. Visited: January 2007 Posted by judyryde Our holiday in Tobago was one of the best of my life. It was my 60th birthday, and I decided to go to Tobago with my family for one week and with my friends the next week. We rented the whole block of Rainforest, Pelican and Osprey, which gave us both togetherness and privacy. It worked very well. We had some wonderful meals together up in Rainforest. We also enjoyed a barbeque prepared by Duck, to which many of the local people came as well as friends. Highlights also included fishing with Duck, the rainforest walk with King David, and a visit to the Anglican church. We also did lots of 'liming' at local restaurants. It was great and a wonderful memory. 8 users found this review helpful. 1 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? This was our second visit to Castara Retreats. Visited: January 2007 Posted by whieldons We stayed first in Fisherman's for two weeks. Then, we moved to Coasthanger and enjoyed ourselves even more than when we first came to Castara two years ago to see what our friends Steve and Sue (who built the place) were talking about. That time, it took us four days to get used to the intense sights, sounds and scents of the Caribbean. This time, we started as if on day five! Fisherman's has had lots of upgrades in the interval. We particularly enjoyed the wonderful new deck with splendid cedar table around which we often had up to ten people comfortably seated. We also had a huge fridge with tons of ice. The new bedroom felt surprisingly secluded and, overall, the extra space was much appreciated. Fisherman's remains our favorite place. It has its own special charm (being 60 years old), and its position high on the hill is second to none. I woke up smiling every morning because I knew what I was going to see when I opened my eyes - that stunning bay so full of life and color. We moved to Coasthanger for our last week, and it was a bit of a shock. It was incredibly luxurious and gorgeous down to every detail. I spent a lot of time just sitting gazing out at the view up the rocky coast to the west where the sun set in glorious technicolour every night. Porridge, Jeanell and the ladies looked after us beautifully, as usual, and were a very jolly presence coming and going. There have been lots of changes in Castara since we were last here - mainly a much greater sense of prosperity with smart new cars and new houses popping up. Thankfully, nothing high rise or too intrusive. There's more variety now in the shops, so we managed fine with only one supermarket stop at the beginning. We had a great morning out fishing with Duck, and caught enough Black-Finned Tuna and Bonito to last us a week. We also had a magical trip into the rainforest with King David where we saw an astonishing variety of birds and insects. He was a most knowledgeable, relaxed and friendly guide and had a brilliant telescope which transformed the whole experience. In between, we swam, snorkeled, stuffed ourselves at Duck's barbecues. We also slept, read, hung out with friends from England, baked a pretty strange birthday cake for one of them, danced, went to church, listened to the local youth steel band at Vera's on the beach, and came up for air just as we were leaving! Don't miss it. 7 users found this review helpful. 2 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? Castara Retreats is paradise. Visited: December 2006 Posted by sion Castara Retreats has become our second home. From the very first time we visited in 2003, we knew we had found a little piece of paradise, and we have returned every year (and sometimes twice!) since then. Our first visit was filled with all the typical apprehensions and worries (Will it be as nice as the pictures on the website? Will we be met at the airport? Have we made a big mistake?). Things slowly became clear that this was the best decision we have ever made. Porridge, the local manager, was there to meet us. He swooped us up and couldn’t have been friendlier or more helpful. He suggested that we stop off at the supermarket on our way to Castara to stock up on things we might find difficult to source in the village. Shopping done and cold beer in hand, we set off. Castara was 45 minutes away from the airport, and I’m so glad we arranged for a pickup and not rented a car from the airport. After a 10-hour flight, I don’t think we could have found our way (and certainly not done it safely in the dark). I suggest you have a car delivered to you when you need it. Having arrived in the dark, we had no idea what sort of view there was. We knew the sea was close, because we could hear it. However, nothing prepared us breathtaking view of the landscaped gardens, Castara, and the broad sweep of bay that greeted us in the morning. Castara Retreats was set on a hill just above Castara. Having stayed in all six of the apartments and cottages, I can quite honestly say that the views are equally breathtaking from all of them. All the accommodations are extremely comfortable, finished to a high standard, and have everything you will need for a perfect holiday. Porridge is always on hand to sort out any problems, or to organize trips, car hire, or just to hang out and chill on the balcony with a beer. Janelle is in charge of housekeeping, so any washing or clean linen you need - she is the one to organize it. She also does a fabulous island tour. Duck is the man for fantastic boat trips. I have swam with stingrays and dolphins, caught fish, and had the best birthday barbeque on Big Bay. It’s difficult to choose my favorite of the six accommodations at Castara Retreats, we have booked Pelican for August because it’s perfect for just the two of us as is Osprey. When we are there with friends, I like to be in Fisherman’s lodge or Coasthanger. The extra space is fantastic for eating meals together or just chilling with a beer or rum. Last Christmas we were there with family, so we rented Rainforest and Pelican, which gave us plenty of space to spread out. I recommend Castara Retreats whole-heartedly. 5 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful? A unique and richly rewarding holiday experience. Visited: April 2006 Posted by jjlo Castara Retreats offers a unique and richly rewarding holiday experience for those seeking unspoilt Caribbean village life. We stayed at Rainforest Apartment in April 2006. The 2 bedroom accommodation comfortably provided for the needs of our family of 4. The views over the village and bay were stunning, and we were just a short walk from both, although the return journey to the apartment does involve walking back up a steep path. The welcome and care provided by Porridge, Jeanell and the team was exceptional. Our neighbour, Duck, took us on snorkelling and fishing trips. He laid on sumptuous barbeques and dangerously good rum punches! Porridge met us from the airport, provided car hire, took us partying with other guests to 'Sunday School' and was always on hand to advise and help. Although we travelled the island quite extensively, nothing compared to the warmth and charm of Castara. We fell in love with the village, its people and their way of life. Visit the Castara Retreats website to find an accurate and informative picture of what to expect. Our experience far exceeded our expectations and we enjoyed a truly wonderful family holiday, thanks to Sue and Steve's innovative vision of providing holiday accommodation in harmony with the local community. 7 users found this review helpful. 0 found this review unhelpful. Did you find this helpful?