Location & Services
Tobago is a short 15 minute flight from Trinidad, which is a much busier place and which offers flights from a wide range of destinations. Castara is about 20 miles from Tobago's Crown Point airport, where four airlines offer direct flights from Britain to Tobago (see Notes for Visitors). We recommend that our clients are met at the airport by Porridge, who looks after the Castara Retreats with his wife Jeanell. Porridge charges TT$250 (approximately £23) for meeting our guests at the airport and transferring them and their baggage to Castara Retreat. Car hire is easily arranged, either at the airport or on a day by day basis in Castara. Porridge is also a great source of information and help on all such matters, including advice on guided tours, boat trips, and rainforest tours. The Mount Irvine 18 hole Par-72 Golf Course is half an hour away by car. It is considered by many to be one of the finest golf courses in the Caribbean. There are several options at Castara Retreats should you want somebody to cook a meal at home for you. Loadie (see photo below) is a very good cook and the "main man" for this sort of thing. He cooks the meals that we arrange for your arrival, when requested. He will come in any time if you send a message via Porridge. This can be a last minute arrangement, but it is best to ask the day before to make sure that he is available. Loadie, being from Tobago, may have other things to do like fishing!
For food shopping, L&H Supermarket has all the basics but it’s best to shop on your way from the airport to make sure you get everything you need. Similarly, DJ’s will have fruit and vegetables on a daily basis, but for a wider range you will need to go to Scarborough. The Village Bakery, on the green by the school (see photo below), is run by wonderful ladies who do really good bread, rock cakes and coconut cakes twice a week. They are still getting used to their new white customers, so are still a little shy. They also put most of their attention on their baking, rather than on western style customer service. It is a privilege to be able to witness them in this traditional village role. The best time to call is between 11am and 1 pm on Thursdays and Saturdays. Jeanell (Porridge’s wife) and Porridge’s mum clean and look after Castara Retreats. If you want extra cleaning, bed linen changed more frequently, or your laundry looking after, then Jeanell will be happy to help at very reasonable charge. Talk to her when you see her or make arrangements via Porridge. Porridge has a small minibus (see photo below) which he uses to collect people from the airport. It has lots of room for luggage as well as any groceries you collect on the way. It is also good for tours round the island. Porridge also has a jeep for hire and this is primarily used by Castara Retreats’ guests. Porridge is really happy to oblige and his fees are competitive with island rates. You may also come across Carrington, our gardener, who knows a lot about local traditions and history and is usually always ready for a chat. Click on any of the photos below to see an enlargement and description of the photo
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Castara is
widely recognised as one of the most attractive places in Tobago.
It is a tiny fishing village, facing the beach and ocean and backing into the hills of the surrounding rainforest. The views
from all around the village are wonderful and the people are friendly and helpful. The village faces west so the
wonderful sunsets present a daily light show of ever-changing colours and textures.
Duck, our
nearest neighbour, offers
boat trips to our clients. He is sure to call by to see if
you are interested in a picnic by boat or a fishing trip.
If Loadie is not available for cooking, then Duck and his
wife usually oblige.
