Spiritus Yoga Retreat
Following the success of our first home grown yoga retreat, we’re delighted to share our second yoga holiday, ‘Spiritus’. Join us between 16-23 November 2024, for seven days of gentle, and spiritual movement, breathwork and meditation. Hosted by our very own expert yoga teacher, Jovander Pacheco (aka Judha), we’ll deepen our relationship to our life force – our energy. The way we breathe is the way we live!
At Castara Retreats, we teach a form of vinyasa flow yoga through a series of postures connecting breath to movement in a slow and steady rhythm that promotes strength, endurance, and suppleness. As we progress through the seven days, we’ll learn to immerse ourselves in the flow of the poses, following the breath to find our personal expression of each. Expect a week full of invitations to connect to your life force energy and breathe with intention and purpose.
Judha, is Castara Retreats’ Wellness Manager, in-house yoga teacher, and lead massage therapist. Trained in the vinyasa style of yoga, she also draws on other techniques like Chi Gong and fascial manoeuvres to bring a deeper awareness to the flow of movement. Judha has been practising for 11 years and teaching for the past seven, mainly at Castara Retreats where she has established a strong following. Judha’s teachings reflect the importance of living in the present moment as she invites you to maintain your grace as you breathe through postures and your life.
The yoga studio is an open deck under an immense roof, with stunning views of the ocean in front, and the extensive green canopy of rainforest behind. The studio is immersed in the sights and sounds of nature – pelicans diving in the bay, the inquisitive bananaquits sitting on the rail, the stunning and ever vibrant hummingbirds buzzing around the bird feeders looking for a sweet sip. The sounds of the waves and the calls of the seabirds are the ever-present soundtrack to our practice.
The Package
7 days’ guided yoga classes with expert yoga teacher, Judha
7 nights’ accommodation in a shared, beautiful, tree-house style lodge with ocean views. Price includes 30% discount off accommodation.
Delicious, nutritious and plentiful fresh and seasonal meals, including breakfast, lunch and dinner
All day boat-trip with snorkelling and a BBQ on secluded beach reachable only via boat
Plenty of free time to explore and connect with each other and nature
Transfers included
The price above is based on a solo traveller sharing an air conditioned twin room in either a 1 or 2-bedroom tree-house lodge all with ensuites and kitchens. We’ll pair you with a like-minded soul of the same gender, a chance to meet and make new friends. If you are coming with a friend/partner who does or doesn’t want to join the retreat, or if sharing a twin room doesn’t work for you, there are other accommodations available on request – read our FAQs below and email Sue for details.
Caribbean Kitchen, Castara Retreats’ highly regarded on-site restaurant, is where we’ll meet for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Bask in the panoramic views and relaxed ambiance as you enjoy our specially-crafted menu of locally-sourced vegetarian dishes, celebrating the delicious flavours of the Caribbean. Caribbean Kitchen is one of the best reviewed restaurants on Tobago, with a reputation for delicious food, friendly service, and great vibes.
Take advantage of Castara Retreats’ on-site activities. The Wellness Studio provides a range of individual and couples’ massages. Our manager, Porridge, is a font of knowledge for recommendations on local excursions, such as birdwatching, and talk with Judha and Leah about their top tips on snorkelling in Castara Bay. The team at Castara Retreats are always on hand to help make your stay with us extra special.
6.30-7.15am – our day begins with a quiet walk either along the beach or into the rainforest to the Castara waterfall. We’ll begin to look inwards and become more present, with nature as our inspiration.
7.30am – meet in the Wellness Studio for a 90-minute yoga practice
09.15-10am – with enough time for a freshen up after yoga, a hearty, healthy and leisurely breakfast in our restaurant, Caribbean Kitchen, will give you the fuel to enjoy your day.
10am-1pm – this is free time to enjoy the beautiful surroundings, visit the village, have a massage, or enjoy the beach.
1-2pm – lunch in Caribbean Kitchen.
2-4pm – more free time!
4.30-6pm – afternoon 90-minute yoga session. This will vary daily and likely to involve breath work, a slower-paced style of yoga to help us relax the body, time for discussion and sharing circles.
6-7pm – free time
7pm – dinner in Caribbean Kitchen, where we’ll meet again as a group. If you have travelled with a partner or friend there is the opportunity to eat privately too.
Included in the cost, one of our days we’ll take a boat trip to a secluded beach along the coast from Castara. There will be snorkelling stops, swimming, and a beach barbeque for lunch. This trip is a wonderful way to relax and socialise as a group. The beach, Big Bay, is only accessible by boat and characterised by its black sand. Keep an eye out for dolphins as they are often spotted patrolling up and down the coast. Taking place from 10am-4pm, your yoga practices will continue uninterrupted.
Castara itself is a beautiful fishing village, seen as an exemplar for community-led sustainable tourism. Visitors are warmly welcomed and we encourage our guests to experience the atmosphere and offerings of the local community. The beach offers a long stretch of golden sand, with glorious ocean to swim in. Setting out from Castara Retreats, a 20-minute walk will lead you through the rainforest to Castara Waterfall, where locals and visitors go to soak up nature, while taking a plunge in the natural pool below the fall.
Recognised in 2022 as one of the best 25 hotels in the Caribbean by The Times, and regularly reviewed in quality press, Castara Retreats is a small, family-run boutique offering 17 unique, wooden eco-lodges overlooking the Bay of Castara on the Caribbean island of Tobago. Set in two acres of tropical gardens, the lodges are angled to allow idyllic views of the beach and ocean.
What's not included
Airfare.
Additional food/drinks you wish to bring or purchase.
Additional activities available on-site or locally such as massage, birdwatching tours, or drinks at the bar.
Travel insurance, which is highly recommended.
Alternative accommodation outside of a shared twin room.
How to book
Contact Sue, Zoe and Jess, our friendly and super helpful reservations team at relax@castararetreats.com to reserve your place on this yoga retreat and ask any questions you may have. Please let us know the following:
Name of yogi(s)
Whether you’re a solo traveller or will be sharing accommodation with a partner or friend and if they are also joining the yoga retreat or not. If you prefer single occupancy in a lodge, let us know and we can quote for that.
Any dietary requirements
Whether you’d be interested in extending your stay before and/or after the 7-day yoga retreat. We’re offering 30% off website rates exclusively to our retreat participants for any extended trip as we want this trip to be as fulfilling as possible.
T&Cs
Reservation requires 1/3 of the full price.
The balance will be paid 8 weeks before arrival.
You may cancel your holiday at any time. The person who made the booking must write to confirm the cancellation as soon as possible. The amount we agree to refund you is dependent on how close your cancellation is to the start of the retreat. For full details see our terms and conditions
Frequently asked questions
Q: I’d like to come with a partner/friend who doesn’t want to join the yoga retreat – is this OK?
Yes, this wouldn’t be a problem and the 30% off accommodation will still apply. Please contact us to discuss the final price for the two of you.
Q: I would like to extend my stay either before or after the yoga retreat – can I still access 30% off the accommodation price?
Yes you can – and this is encouraged. Subject to availability, any stays up to a week before or after the yoga retreat will be discounted by 30% off our website prices.
Q: Are you inclusive and welcoming to people from all walks of life? Completely. Our team at Castara are diverse in many ways. We span many generations/ethnicity/sexual orientation/abilities. We welcome anyone and everyone to join us.
Q: I notice your location is has many steps, can you accommodate wheelchair users?
Unfortunately, due to the rainforest/hillside landscape, there are many steps around our site, with some steep inclines. We are regrettably not wheelchair friendly.
Q: will all activities outside of the yoga sessions be as a group or can I chose what and when I participate in?
All of our activities on the retreat are OPTIONAL. This is your retreat, so everything is an invitation, not an obligation. However we cannot give credits or refunds for activities missed due to the price being worked out on a group basis.
Q: I’m coming with my partner but they aren’t joining the yoga retreat. Can my partner join the group for meals, or can I eat with my partner separately?
There are two options here: 1) your partner joins us as a group for the yoga retreat menu meals for the week, or 2) You and your partner eat together in the restaurant off our a la carte menu. Contact our reservations team for prices.
Q: I can’t make this retreat – will there be any others in the future?
YES! Castara Retreats will be running our third retreat 15 to 22 November 2025 which will also be led by Judha.
More information will be on our website and emailed to our mailing list in due course. If you want to be kept up to date – join our mailing list, or email us with your interest.