Notes for Visitors
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Organised Trips
We try to manage our enterprise in Castara on the basis
of sustainable tourism. For instance, a number of local
families now make a living through the services they offer
to our clients and by extension, to others staying in the
village. We have supported these families to establish their
businesses, but have no ownership in them nor share in their
profits, and we cannot be held responsible for any aspect of
their service. In many ways local people are still
learning how best to offer their service and what to charge.
Sometimes they ask too much, and sometimes too little. We
recommend therefore that you make it your business to get
clear in advance what is being offered and what the cost is.
There are many possibilities to choose from:
|
diving |
rainforest walks |
island tours |
bird watching |
|
boat trips |
fishing |
snorkeling |
waterfall walks and
swims |
An easy starting point is to talk with Porridge who will
take you on a tour in his minibus or a picnic trip by boat
to an (even quieter) beach. His fees are reasonable and his
company is excellent.
If you want a trained professional for tours, bird watching
or rainforest walks then talk to David at King David Tours.
His website is very informative and can be visited at
www.kingdavidtobago.com, or ask Porridge to ask him to
call by.
Our neighbour is a young man known locally as Duck, and he
is a great person to take you on a boat or fishing trip. He
is very easy going and has a good eye for safety. Porridge
is friends with him and will find him for you. Steve went
out with him and caught a king fish using a hand line- he
was delighted! His boat has a canopy and life jackets. His
whole day picnic trips are wonderful and his cooking is
great. Again, clarify the price in advance. The greater the
number of people in your party, the lower the per person
price.
There are several dive centres and again you are spoiled for
choice. We have heard good things about:
The walk to the waterfall behind Castara does not need a
guide and is magical. Follow your nose up the stream that
you cross into the village. Cross the playing field and
meander alongside the stream into the forest for about 10/15
minutes. Loadie (our gardener) or Nasho (his brother) will
guide you there for a small fee, if you would like someone
to show you the way.
Englishman’s Bay is only about 4 kilometres up the coast. It
is wonderfully scenic and clean and unspoiled. It is a bit
more popular nowadays with maybe 20+ people some days on the
beach. There is also a craft shop and a small café there.
The drive across the spine of rainforest to Roxburgh and on
to Charlotteville is easy and takes about an hour or so.
Stop for a freshly made fruit juice at the roadside stalls
just before Roxburgh. Pirate’s Bay is a half hour walk
beyond Charlotteville and incredibly romantic.
Or ask Porridge to drive you to Speyside and take a
glass-bottomed boat out to Little Tobago for some exciting
bird watching with a guide; all the trips stop for a bit of
snorkeling on the way back. We forget how much it costs, but
it is very reasonably priced- we were impressed by the
knowledge of Wayne, who took us last summer. Porridge can
ring him and organise it for you if you ask him. Wayne’s
boat goes from Blue Waters Inn, which is worth a visit in
its own right. And do have lunch in Jemma’s Tree-house
Restaurant in Speyside - probably the best local food on the
island.
Of course, you can also ask Porridge to take you ‘limin’
down to clubs around Buccoo, so that you get to see the
local scene. It’s usually a good night out. He charges
around 100 tt per person for the round trip, and will make
sure you have a good time. Again, check prices with him.
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