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Castara Retreats

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Traveller (695)
Room & Suite (199)
Pool & Beach (67)
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About

#1 of 3 villas in Castara
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Value
Travellers' Choice
Castara Retreats is a charming eco resort on the Northwest coast of Tobago. A collection of 17 luxurious, treehouse-style lodges nestled into the hillside, each one or two-bed self-catering ensuite accommodation has stunning views of the ocean below. Our on-site restaurant and bar, Caribbean Kitchen (see separate TA profile) serves up delicious modern Caribbean cuisine, using the freshest ingredients on the island, and fish caught from the bay below. Just a two-minute walk from the apartments you'll find yourself on one of our two beaches - perfect for lazy days sunbathing, swimming and relaxing to your heart's content. Don't miss daily yoga with Judha or Leah at our open-sided wellness studio - the most glorious location, where birdsong and crashing waves provides the perfect soundtrack to your practice. We have a range of massages available to help you unwind even further.
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free High Speed Internet (WiFi)
Pool / beach towels
Yoga classes
Bar / lounge
Beach
Boating
Airport transportation
Wifi
Yoga room
Restaurant
Breakfast available
Happy hour
Kids' meals
Snack bar
Special diet menus
Diving
Hiking
Snorkelling
Fishing
Car hire
Couples massage
Full body massage
Head massage
Massage
Baggage storage
Mosquito net
Non-smoking hotel
Sun terrace
Private check-in / check-out
Laundry service
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Room features
Air conditioning
Dining area
Private balcony
Safe
Seating area
Coffee / tea maker
Kitchenette
iPod docking station
Sofa
Wardrobe / wardrobe
Iron
Private bathrooms
Oven
Refrigerator
Stovetop
Kitchenware
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Room types
Ocean view
Non-smoking rooms
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Romantic
Great View
652Reviews8Q+A100Room tips

Reviews
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DibMaidstone wrote a review 12 Mar
Maidstone34 contributions19 helpful votes
+1
Castara seems a very long way now we are home. We had the most wonderful 10 days at Castara Retreats. Exactly as everyone says. If you want Sandals type experience, it's not for you. If you want laid back, warm, friendly, and views to die for pick here! Beautifully clean, and lovely touches like fresh flowers on the table when you arrive. We stayed in Fishermans. I don't think we will ever top that view. Lovely and spacious, with covered deck, and space in the sun to sunbathe too. Porridge, Jeanell and all the staff were a joy. Super friendly, and there is nothing Porridge cannot do! He is everywhere, and works super hard. Things we would recommend: Snorkel in Little Bay. Hire a car, and see some of the island. Parlatuvier, (Glasgow Bar for a drink and a view) Englishmans Bay, Charlotteville, Bloody Bay. Feed the hummingbirds at Shurlands James Nature Park. Newton George tour. Swim in the local waterfall. Eat out in the village. We tried De Almond Tree and Ducks. Both were great. Roti at lunch. Chenos. Iced coffee, and Saturday night bar b q and steel band was great fun! Caribbean Kitchen. Had some delicious meals! Am missing my daily Sorrel cocktail! But most of all, just chill and soak up the amazing atmosphere, in this very special place. We loved it. Thankyou for sharing Castara.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Flo Batt wrote a review 11 Mar
Boston, Massachusetts3 contributions1 helpful vote
If you want to stay in an all-inclusive five star resort, this is not the place for you. And that is why we really enjoyed our stay. Castara Retreats feels like it is run by the locals, because it really is. The team are lovely…..from Porridge, Jeanell and Derricia, to the housekeeping and maintenance staff and to those in the restaurant. They are all so cheerful and they genuinely want you to have a good time. I read a review where someone commented on the lack of housekeeping in rooms - if you need your bed making every morning, go somewhere else. Housekeeping every 3-4 days with fresh towels etc was all we needed. You will occasionally hear loud music in the evening from the beach below the Retreats so I do advise using ear plugs as and when needed (we brought our own but some were provided in our room). We stayed for ten nights and only used them twice. When you come to Castara, take your time to talk to the locals - from the ladies sweeping leaves off the beach every morning, to the fishermen bringing in their catch, to the staff in the restaurants, shops and bars……your trip to Castara will be all the richer for it………
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Paul K wrote a review 4 Mar
Oxford, United Kingdom2 contributions1 helpful vote
+1
We stayed at Castara Retreats for a week in ‘Fiddle Tree’, the lowest of the accommodation on offer perched on the hillside overlooking Castara Bay and had arranged our transfers with them beforehand. On arrival we were greeted by Jeanelle and shown our home for the week, she also explained all that was necessary for us about the property and beyond, with a large bedroom with ensuite WC and a great shower, a big outside sitting area and full kitchen made up our stay and we settled in very quickly and contently. The position of ‘Fiddle Tree’ was ideal for us, being of ‘old bones’ the hillside is quite steep and the trek to the top of the complex needs to be done at a leisurely pace, given also the ambient temperature is always very warm, which is wonderful but not ideal for a high level of exertion. Down below us lay Castara itself, and a short cut to the beach is very handy just across the main road through the village, which saves you walking on the road itself, although it can be busy at times, we really are not talking racetrack, you just need be aware of the unknown and take care. Around the village you will find everything you need and more for your stay, a large supermarket and other small mini-marts, a pharmacist, fresh fish, fruit, bakery and even a butcher going out on the other side of the village, for you enjoyment there are a number of bars and restaurants on the beach and further back in the village, everybody we met in the village was friendly and helpful, and accepted TTD or USD. Castara is a lovely laid-back place that goes at its own pace, but a couple of times a week the village will burst into life with very loud music, seems a trait on the island, whether it’s the church on a Sunday, or the beach bars a couple of evenings in the week, but thankfully it does not go on for more than a couple of hours. We would have a late breakfast brunch in the village at Cheno’s Coffee Shop, washed down with a Carib, or two, to be recommended, would also recommend you make sure you see the spectacle of the village fishermen bringing in their catch in an age old traditional manner with long drop nets, once the catch reaches the shore the accompanying flock of Magnificent Frigate Birds is absolutely astounding to watch. We found Castara Retreats itself relatively quiet even though there are quite a few accommodations close to each other, we loved our outdoor space, making full use of coffee in the morning and then cold drinks in the evenings with plenty of ice from the large fridge, just so relaxing on the barmy nights. We would buy all manner of fruit in the village to feed the profusion of birds apparent on the hillside, these are just a joy to watch at such close quarters, a beautiful pair of inquisitive Mot Mots, Hummingbirds, Tanagers, Bananaquits and Ant Shrikes to name a few, on the ground we would also be joined by Agouti’s, lizards and four chickens. Having stayed at stayed at Castara Retreats for a week we dined at the Caribbean Kitchen at the top of the hillside several times, mainly in the evening, both the bar and restaurant decks are superb open plan areas high on the hillside, with fantastic outlooks of the bay. Everything we tried from just drinks in the bar, to the food we ate in the restaurant, was superb, well presented, and fresh, all the staff are very efficient, friendly and fun, we would certainly recommend a stay in this exceptional setting on beautiful laid-back Tobago.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Response from Sue Plumb, Sales at Castara Retreats
Responded 1 week ago
Thank you Paul for your review. We love it when guests give lots of details about their stay so others can know what to expect and have tips for things to see and do. Castara village and its culture is truly wonderful and we're delighted when we hear guests get a taste of this and really value it. Best wishes from all of us at Castara Retreats.
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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Stay481055 wrote a review 1 Mar
Toronto, Canada3 contributions2 helpful votes
Our stay at Castara Retreats was mediocre. While Tobago as an island remains a Caribbean gem, our experience at this retreat fell short of expectations. Firstly, the service was disappointingly slow. I understand that we are on vacation and “Island time” is a thing but it seemed as though there was a lack of urgency in attending to guests' needs, and this impacted our overall experience negatively. Additionally, the Bluetooth speakers in both rooms didn't work, and despite bringing this to the staff's attention, no alternative solutions were provided. Another issue was the layout of the retreat, with numerous stairs making it challenging for those with mobility issues or heavy luggage. While this might not be a concern for everyone, it's worth noting for those who may have such considerations. Furthermore, there are no common facilities available for guests. We attempted to use the Wellness Center, but were turned away because massages were booked, and the space is also used for treatments. Therefore, it's essential to note that the Wellness Center is not an amenity that can be shared with guests, limiting options for relaxation and recreation on-site. The staff, while moderately friendly, didn't go out of their way to make us feel particularly welcome or valued as guests. While there was nothing particularly awful about our stay, there was also nothing truly exceptional or memorable to warrant a return visit. One very high point, was they let us have a late checkout since there was no back to back booking the same day - this was very thoughtful and did have a very positive impact on our overall departure day. Thank you In summary, while Castara Retreats provided an adequate base for exploring Tobago, it fell short of delivering the outstanding experience we had hoped for. We won't be returning to Castara on our next trip to this beautiful island.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Margaret W wrote a review 1 Mar
1 contribution
This is a lovely place to stay on Tobago. The rooms are well appointed and very private. All the staff are friendly and helpful. It was wonderful to use the hammock to read and relax. The yoga sessions everyday were wonderful to attend and very welcoming. From the photos it is clear the rooms are high above the village and sea. It is very steep and anyone with less than good mobility should be cautious booking this hotel. A real negative for me was only a. fixed head shower, hardly a 4 star bathroom. On some nights there was significant noise from the village bars, that did make sleeping hard.
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Journey14105395682 wrote a review Feb 2024
2 contributions2 helpful votes
I liked feeling that I was part of a beach community and not in a gated luxury resort. (Okay so the neighbours occasionally played loud music but it was on a decent sound system, short, and good West Indian tunes). The staff and local people were friendly. Judha and Leah were wonderful yoga instructors each morning and the setting overlooking the sea was beautiful. I liked that Judha also led the snorkeling and was genuinely concerned about preserving the reef. The tropics are wonderful but the heat and humidity are difficult for accommodation. The owners have done a great job making Castara Retreats pleasant, comfortable, and clean. I also liked being in a place where environmental sustainability and economic development that supports the local community were valued. And I loved the enthusiastic restaurant staff - always keen to talk about their latest creations. The food was fresh and fantastic.
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Date of stay: February 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip: Great place if you want a local experience and to meet like minded (interesting) people.
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Paul E wrote a review Feb 2024
13 contributions3 helpful votes
I’m trying to think of something useful to say which hasn’t already been written by other reviewers. Castara retreats is wonderful. Coco palm our room was great with wonderful outside space and views. We were only kept awake one night out of 21 by the local beach party. The restaurant food and cocktails were sublime. Porridge and Jeanell very helpful. Do not expect Sandals luxury/ uniformity but something much more bohemian and individual. The wildlife is fascinating. The beach is great. Tho few water sports apart from snorkelling and “glass” canoes. The temperature was perfect. There was quite a bit of rain in this rainforest! But it soon cleared. Newton George has a very informative bird spotting session with glass bottom boat, snorkelling, visit to little Tobago and lunch. Tobago is not cheap but the experience is worth every penny
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Maisiemax wrote a review Feb 2024
Guildford, United Kingdom27 contributions5 helpful votes
Our second visit to Castara Retreats and it was as lovely and unspoilt as before. The sea was rather rough to begin with but we had some great snorkelling and a fun boat trip with Porridge in our second week. Food in the restaurant great in fact we ended up eating there every night - maybe occasional variety in the menu might be nice for those who do that, but we were fine with it. Everyone in the lodge and the village was so friendly and helpful. Don’t go expecting immaculate luxury. Expect friendliness, comfort, beauty, tranquility and peace. Oh and the massages were wonderful!
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Mari D wrote a review Feb 2024
2 contributions1 helpful vote
+1
Castara Retreats is a magical place where you can totally relax. The setting is beautiful and the team are very welcoming. Our accommodation (Fiddle Tree) was comfortable and spacious with big balconies looking across the bay. We had a hammock that was perfect for reading in and star gazing. The option to self cater is handy although the shops in the village are small with limited choice of ingredients. If our flight hadn’t been delayed we would have stopped at the bigger supermarket near the airport as suggested by Castara Retreats. I’d do that next time. It wasn’t a problem as the restaurant is so good we mostly ate there. We also enjoyed the BBQ / steel pan music night at Cheno’s on Saturdays and the beachside restaurant D’ Almond Tree. Both a short walk away in the village. Being close to the village means you feel more part of island life than you would in a conventional hotel. You get to chat to people, see the fishing boats coming in and watch the world go by. In terms of activities we spent a lot of the time on the beach and swimming. You can snorkel in the bay and see amazing fish - I’d recommend going with Judah and Leah from Castara Retreats the first time as they are so knowledgeable about the reef. They also run the wellness centre and are brilliant instructors. Starting the day with a yoga class was one of my favourite parts of the holiday. The yoga studio is open to the sea breeze and the chatter of birds and makes a perfect setting for yoga and mindfulness. Other highlights are the walk into the rain forest with Newton George and a cycle tour with Tobago Mountain Bikes. We also walked to Englishman’s Bay. It talks about an hour to stroll there but it is so worth it. Take your beach stuff with you and spend the day. You’ll probably have the beach pretty much to yourself and you can get delicious food from the excellent cafe there. I really hope we can come back to Castara Retreats. It felt indulgent but in a laid back, rustic way. The charm of the place is that it doesn’t feel commercialised whilst still providing every comfort you could need. We loved it!
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Date of stay: January 2024
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip: If you plan to self cater, stop off at the bigger supermarket near the airport as the local shops...
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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evteasley wrote a review Feb 2024
26 contributions18 helpful votes
The birds, the ocean, the beach, the rainforest, the rainbows... couldn't have been better. It was the first time we'd been away for a week without our kids in 14 years. We stayed in Hideaway and the lodge had all that we needed and nothing superfluous. Delicious guava jam and homebaked cake in the fridge on arrival too. We loved the outdoor kitchen and used it a lot to cook fish we'd bought from fishermen in the village, along with okra and other veg and rice and beans. We went to several yoga sessions which were deeply calming and invigorating all at the same time. Judha and Leah are glorious. The restaurant's food was top notch. Everyone was incredibly friendly and helpful inc Porridge and Jeanelle. We want to come back every year. I'd recommend bringing your own coffee or buying it from the restaurant as that was the one thing in the supermarket/local shops that was not good!
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Date of stay: January 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1 Helpful vote
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Response from Sue Plumb, Sales at Castara Retreats
Responded 1 week ago
Thank you for your lovely review. For those reading, I want to flag that as of Feb 2024, we've struck up a partnership with Full Bloom coffee roasters in Trinidad and we're now supplying as part of the welcome hamper lovely ground coffee for use in our apartments' cafetieres. This delicious coffee is also used in our restaurant as beans for our fab coffee machine. So coffee lovers, fear not, we have your back!
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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PRICE RANGE
£116 - £210 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
castara retreats hotel tobago
LOCATION
CaribbeanTrinidad and TobagoTobagoCastara
NUMBER OF ROOMS
17
Prices are provided by our partners for one room, with variable occupancy rules as provided by the property, and reflect nightly room rates, including all taxes and fees known to our partners. Please see our partners for more details.
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CASTARA RETREATS - Updated 2024 (Tobago, Trinidad and Tobago)

Frequently Asked Questions about Castara Retreats
Which popular attractions are close to Castara Retreats?
Nearby attractions include Castara Bay (0.2 miles) and Castara Waterfall (0.2 miles).
What are some of the property amenities at Castara Retreats?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free wifi, an on-site restaurant, and a lounge.
Which room amenities are available at Castara Retreats?
Top room amenities include a kitchenette, air conditioning, and a refrigerator.
What food & drink options are available at Castara Retreats?
Guests can enjoy an on-site restaurant, a lounge, and breakfast during their stay.
Is parking available at Castara Retreats?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Castara Retreats?
Conveniently located restaurants include Caribbean Kitchen At Castara Retreats, The Coffee Shop, and The Boat House Restaurant.
Are there opportunities to exercise at Castara Retreats?
Yes, guests have access to yoga classes during their stay.
Does Castara Retreats have airport transportation?
Yes, Castara Retreats offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are there any historical sites close to Castara Retreats?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Fort King George (7.1 miles), Fort James (7.0 miles), and Courlander Monument (6.9 miles).
Does Castara Retreats have any great views?
Yes, guests often enjoy the harbour view available here.