Our vision for Castara Retreats is to create a Tobago accommodation and Caribbean destination that offers something different to the traditional hotel experience. With a unique form of rustic luxury underpinned by excellent value, our aim is to create a balance between the support on offer in a hotel with the freedom and independence of self-catering.
The authenticity, charm and character of an intimate, family-run eco-resort, perched on the hillside above a friendly fishing village.
A warm and friendly atmosphere – great service, but at the same time relaxed and laid-back.
Excellent personal support through daily visits from our local manager Porridge, who will stop by to say hello.
High quality, intimate and practical self-catering accommodation with well-equipped kitchens, spacious living areas, Wi-Fi, and iPod docks. Room cleaning every three to four days.
A commitment within the team to responsible tourism, with polices in place to ensure a sustainable approach that benefits the local economy.
A relaxed restaurant; not fine-dining or white table cloths, but freshly prepared, creative food influenced by the flavours of the Caribbean. Service always comes with a smile.
A formal, traditional 5 star hotel experience. Our team do not live in residence, but someone is on hand every day from 9am to 10pm
Some of the features of a luxury hotel such as daily room service, 24 hour reception, and TVs are not provided.
You can find out lots more about Castara Retreats browsing the website or reading our most frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best way to get to Tobago?
From the UK, British Airways fly from Gatwick once or twice per week, throughout the year.
Condor flies to Tobago from Frankfurt, Germany.
Caribbean Airlines runs a flight from New York (JFK) direct to Tobago.
If you are not able to find a direct flight Tobago from your country, there are regular flights into Trinidad from many locations, and from Trinidad there is an inexpensive, quick and easy shuttle flight over to Tobago with Caribbean Airlines.
It is difficult for us to keep fully up to date with flight arrangements and we always recommend you do your own research too. We also recommend you visit Simply Tobago for an up-to-date information on getting to Tobago. You can also use Sky Scanner to find out the best flight options for you.
- What is the best way to reach Tobago from Trinidad?
You have the option of both ferry and shuttle flight.
We highly recommend the AirBridge shuttle flight which is a quicker alternative to the ferry (takes just 25 minutes), is reasonably inexpensive, and a far more convenient alternative to the ferry. Tickets can be booked with Caribbean Airlines.The list of official agents who sell the ferry ticket can be found here.
We strongly recommend booking the transfer from Trinidad to Tobago as soon as possible, as sometimes there is a holiday or celebration and the ferries and flights can become booked up for days at a time.
- Do you offer an airport transfer service?
Yes. Our local manager Porridge operates a taxi service and can arrange for you to be collected from the airport, ferry port, or anywhere else on the island. The cost for a transfer from the airport or ferry is $300tt each way, for up to four people. Please get in touch for more details.
- How long is the journey from the airport and ferry port to Tobago?
From the airport, it is a 45-60 minute journey, depending on traffic.
From the ferry port, it is a 30-40 minute journey, depending on traffic. - Is your restaurant open for breakfast?
Our restaurant Caribbean Kitchen is open daily from 11am, serving lunch, light bites and supper.
For breakfast, some of our guests choose to self-cater on their own terrace, while another popular choice is Cheno’s Coffee Shop which is less than a five minute walk away. Cheno serves great local breakfasts which include eggs, bacon, coconut bake, salt fish, fruit, juice, tea, and coffee.
- Have you got Wi-Fi?
Yes, we have complimentary Wi-Fi throughout Castara Retreats, including in all accommodations.
- How far away is the beach from Castara Retreats
The beach is between a 2 – 5 minute walk away, depending on which accommodation you are staying in.
- Is Castara Retreats suitable for someone with mobility issues?
We are located on the hillside, and a number of our accommodations could be a challenge for someone with mobility issues. However, our small car park is located nearby to Coasthanger and Tamarind (there are approximately six steps up to these accommodations from the car park), so staying with us is certainly possible for some people with mobility issues.
We warmly invite you to get in touch to discuss your needs and requirements and we can explore what’s possible.
- Are there any visa requirements for entering Tobago?
Visas are not required for holiday visitors from the following countries: EEC Countries: Belgium, France, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom
Commonwealth Countries: All – except Australia, India, New Zealand, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Uganda. USA: On vacation for 3 months or less.
Other: Austria, Brazil, Colombia, French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Iceland, Finland (3 months or less), Israel, Liechtenstein, Martinique, Netherlands Antilles, Norway, Suriname, Sweden (3 months or less), Switzerland, Turkey, Venezuela (14 days or less)
Please note, to travel anywhere your passport must have at least 6 months until its expiry. Further Information: For information about work and residence visas, or clarification of any of the above click here. - What is your cancellation policy?
All of our terms and conditions for staying with us can be found here.
- Do you have a car park at Castara Retreats?
There is a very small car park for up to five vehicles in the arrival area and an even smaller car park for three vehicles below Seaview on the village side of the property. We have deliberately avoided scarring the landscape with a bigger car park. However for any times when the car parks are full, our guests can easily park down on the roadside.
- Can you offer advice on where to eat, trips and activities, etc?
Each accommodation has an Information Pack created to inform every aspect of your stay and with suggestions on what to do, where to eat out, local shops, transport, and tours as well as essential details on the route to the beach, phone numbers, check-out times and much more.
- Do you have a 24 hour reception?
No. We have a small office located near the laundry rooms in the arrival area and guests wanting assistance will usually find someone there. In the daytime, our local managers Jeanell and Porridge on-site and can be found somewhere on the site.
In case of any emergency, Porridge and Jeanell live just a couple of minutes’ drive away and are available 24 hours per day.