It’s a tough question – you find somewhere that’s a real gem. Do you keep shtum so next time your chances of being able to book the place are fair, or do you share your secret? But I can’t deny – this is it. If you’re staying in Castara, I’d need real convincing that there was a single contender that could be a match for Carpe Diem. Perched up on the hill, it overlooks the wonderfully rugged, jungle-covered coastline and the sparkling sea with its impossibly pretty sunsets, fabulous birds by day and the twinkling glow of fireflies by night – it’s just magic. At times I’d just sit on the veranda feeling giddy with content – at least I’m pretty sure it was the surroundings and not just the rum.
Some words of warning. We tried to leave – we failed. We packed up our bags, said our goodbyes and off we went to Charlotteville. As lovely a place as it is, being away from Castara was unbearable and we craved the friendly vibes and wonderful views again. It didn’t take long - we came crawling back after 48 long hours. We had tried to make it work, but eventually, we caved in to Castara’s charm. Lucky Yvonne and Chris let us come back – it felt like coming home. But a very superior home of course. This is a difficult place to tear yourself away from.
Chris and Yvonne were wonderful hosts. We were probably dud visitors forgetting a whole heap of essentials that we should have packed. But they were so accommodating, and if we needed things, they’d happily share what they had with us –chargers, snorkels, etc. It’s the sort of kindness that really makes you feel like you’re in good hands.
In general, I wholeheartedly felt that they take everything quite seriously in terms of making sure everyone’s happy. Carpe Diem didn’t really start out as a money-making business venture as such, but Castara had drawn them in and so they built their own place. The studios sounded like an afterthought almost, so it really is a product of love and you absolutely get the personal touch and we felt more like guests than customers.
For us, we loved Castara. It’s refreshing in that its relationship with tourism is a bit different to some other beachy places I’ve been to. Castara offers little in the way of commitment to tourism – it’s treated more as a fling, or a bit on the side if you will. Few in the village are reliant on you for the money that you’re going to bring in and spend (if you can get money out of the ATM that is – I’ll come onto that later). No one followed us around trying to flog us boat trips, no one pushed us to come and look inside their shop, and no one even offered us any ‘herbs’. Even the bar on the beach – some places will do all they can to entice you in, with two-for-one offers, happy hours or even just a welcoming smile and a greeting. Here, oh no. Expect a reversal of the situation - you’ll have to go and find a barman, lure him to the bar and ask nicely for him to fetch you a drink instead – and try and be a considerate punter and order two drinks at once to cause minimum disruption to their schedule of drinking beer in the shade. I liked that though.
What I didn’t like as much, was the ATM who also had a similar laid back attitude and a distain for work. If I could warn anyone of one thing, it would be this blasted, pi**ing ATM that takes it upon itself to give you either tiny amount of pocket money, or no money at all. Hey, it might even get hungry and gobble up your card! We could only get teeny amounts out at a time, and even that was unpredictable. It says 24 hour, but it doesn’t work weekends (it’s usually empty by then), and if someone does have any luck with it, for about five minutes afterwards it won’t work as it’ll need to calm down from all the overexcitement of handing out some dosh. Chris and Yvonne seem to have the bank manager’s number on speed dial, so do let them know. I think this leads to my only thing I’d tweak about Carpe Diem – I had no idea that finding cash could be such a faff, so if I had my way, I’d really like to be given the option of paying upfront via bank transfer to avoid this unexpected stress in case the ATM doesn’t want to play ball.
So, if you’re going to Castara, I’d 100% recommend Carpe Diem - cut out the middle-man and book directly through them for the best rates. You’ll leave with postcard perfect photos of a gorgeous vista, a load of excellent twitches (including most of the hummingbirds found in Tobago), a catalogue of memories to cherish and a severe case of holiday blues.
Guest Report
1 and 2 bedroom apartments in Castara village (listing)
Jump to
- Notes & Welcome Messages
- ↳ Notes for New Readers
- Discussion Groups
- ↳ Accommodation
- ↳ General Accommodation
- ↳ Arnos Vale Hotel
- ↳ Bamboo Walk Hotel
- ↳ Toucan Inn
- ↳ Manta Lodge
- ↳ Tobago Island Suites
- ↳ Banana Boat Inn
- ↳ Country Haven Guesthouse
- ↳ Kia's Across From The Beach
- ↳ Mill's Guesthouse
- ↳ Rolita's Guesthouse
- ↳ Seaview Guesthouse
- ↳ Seaville Chateau
- ↳ Sun Star Haven Guest House
- ↳ Suncrest
- ↳ The Branch
- ↳ Vivian's Place
- ↳ 11° North Lodge
- ↳ 39B Tobago Plantations
- ↳ Alena Villa
- ↳ Anais Apartments
- ↳ At Last Holiday Apartments
- ↳ Bambu Apartment
- ↳ Biscot Villa
- ↳ Bismarckia Apartments
- ↳ Black's House
- ↳ Blue Diamond
- ↳ Buccoo New Road #15
- ↳ Charlotteville Shark Shacks
- ↳ CharlotteVilla
- ↳ Clair Matin
- ↳ Claudia's Apartment
- ↳ Crown Point Beach Cabana 409
- ↳ Davis Atlantic View Guesthouse
- ↳ Eileen Villa
- ↳ Grant's Villa
- ↳ H Ceas Villa
- ↳ H & G Apartments
- ↳ Havilah House
- ↳ Hibiscus Suite
- ↳ Highmoor Apartments
- ↳ Hills View Guest House
- ↳ House Kraft
- ↳ J's Apartments
- ↳ Jacamar Retreat
- ↳ James Apartments
- ↳ Jo-Len's Apartment
- ↳ Kevins Court
- ↳ Lisa's Place
- ↳ Love Shack
- ↳ Montrose Beach House
- ↳ Nikita Guest House
- ↳ Ocean Air
- ↳ Paradise Eco Resort
- ↳ Paradise Point Villa
- ↳ Parlatuvier Tourist Resort
- ↳ Pirate Bay Eco-Home
- ↳ Red's Apartments
- ↳ Rosa's House
- ↳ Ripples
- ↳ Sandcastles
- ↳ Sandy Point Apartment
- ↳ Scarborough Apartments
- ↳ Simpli Serene Host Home
- ↳ SugarMill Suites
- ↳ Sugar Mill Suites Condo #26A
- ↳ Sundowner
- ↳ Sunrise Inn
- ↳ Tobago Beachcombers
- ↳ Tobago Hideaway
- ↳ Tree Top Apartments
- ↳ Tropical Treasures No.6
- ↳ Tropicana 4a
- ↳ Valley View Apartments
- ↳ Villana Villas
- ↳ White House
- ↳ Across The River
- ↳ Bacolet View Beach House
- ↳ Bananaquit Cottage
- ↳ Bungalow Cottage
- ↳ Cottage At Mount Hay
- ↳ Cy-Ed Residence
- ↳ Grange Cottage
- ↳ Lagoon Lodge
- ↳ Lynden Villa
- ↳ Mildred's Cottage
- ↳ Mt.Pelier Cottages
- ↳ Palm Rings Cottages
- ↳ Sunny Daze Cottage
- ↳ Young's House
- ↳ Sweet Nest
- ↳ Araliya Villa
- ↳ Bene Breeze
- ↳ Blue Waters Villa
- ↳ Blue Tanager
- ↳ Bona Villa
- ↳ Boomerang Villa
- ↳ BougainVilla
- ↳ Bunny's Rock
- ↳ Calabash Villa
- ↳ Casa de Sueno
- ↳ Casa La Vista
- ↳ Coral Sea Villas
- ↳ Courland House
- ↳ Cravenji
- ↳ Crescent Villa
- ↳ Eastwind
- ↳ Fourteenth Green
- ↳ Freddy's Villa
- ↳ Grafton House
- ↳ Hanging Garden Villa
- ↳ Hawksbill House
- ↳ Hummingbird Villa
- ↳ Jacamar
- ↳ Jacaranda House
- ↳ Joie De Vivre
- ↳ La Bon Vie
- ↳ La Maison Verte
- ↳ Lookout Villa
- ↳ Lord's Villa
- ↳ Mandevilla
- ↳ Memories
- ↳ Mock Turtle Villa
- ↳ Mot Mot
- ↳ Mot Mot Villa
- ↳ Palmhaven
- ↳ Peninsula House
- ↳ Rainbow Villa
- ↳ Raintree House
- ↳ Rockly Lodge
- ↳ Sandpebbles Villa
- ↳ Samaan View Cottage
- ↳ Seashell 130
- ↳ Seashell 174
- ↳ Seventh Heaven
- ↳ Shalom Resort Tobago
- ↳ Silk Cotton House
- ↳ Skerretts Villa
- ↳ Solitaire
- ↳ Sugar Mill
- ↳ Sunset Valley Estate
- ↳ Tobago Villas On The Green
- ↳ Traveller's Palm
- ↳ Villa Allamanda
- ↳ Villa Calypso
- ↳ Villa Lagoona
- ↳ Villa Marie
- ↳ Villa Orca
- ↳ Villa Romayne
- ↳ Villas On The Green
- ↳ Waterfall Villa
- ↳ Yellowbird
- ↳ Orchid Villa Cottage
- ↳ Chic Boutique Hotel
- ↳ Archer's Place
- ↳ Little House On The Hill
- ↳ Tosca
- ↳ Bijou Des Caraibes
- ↳ Resort Hotels
- ↳ Bacolet Beach Club
- ↳ Blue Haven Hotel
- ↳ Coco Reef Resort
- ↳ Crown Point Beach Hotel
- ↳ Grafton Beach Resort
- ↳ Le Grand Courlan Resort & Spa
- ↳ Magdalena Grand Beach Resort
- ↳ Mount Irvine Bay Hotel
- ↳ Rovanel's Resort
- ↳ Starfish Tobago
- ↳ Tropikist Beach Hotel
- ↳ Hotels & Inns
- ↳ Blue Waters Inn
- ↳ Changrela Cocrico Inn
- ↳ Conrado Beach Resort
- ↳ Cuffie River Nature Retreat
- ↳ Enchanted Waters Hotel
- ↳ Footprints Eco Resort
- ↳ Grange Inn
- ↳ Half Moon Blue
- ↳ Hotel Coconut Inn
- ↳ Hummingbird Hotel
- ↳ Kariwak Village Holistic Haven & Hotel
- ↳ Sandy Point Beach Club
- ↳ Shepherd's Inn
- ↳ Speyside Inn
- ↳ Summerland Suites
- ↳ Sun Spree Hotel
- ↳ Guest Houses
- ↳ Bellissimo Boutique Hotel
- ↳ Candles In The Wind
- ↳ Castlewhite Hotel
- ↳ Christina's Guesthouse
- ↳ Coffee House Apartments
- ↳ Coral Reef Guesthouse
- ↳ Dash Villa
- ↳ Della Mira Guesthouse
- ↳ Dvine Guest House
- ↳ Eve's Villa Guesthouse
- ↳ Federal Villa Guesthouse
- ↳ Fish Tobago
- ↳ Genesis Nature Park & Art Gallery Guest Rooms
- ↳ Harris Guest House
- ↳ Harry's Guesthouse
- ↳ Jacob's Guesthouse
- ↳ Miller's Guest House & Bar
- ↳ Moonlight Mountain
- ↳ Native Abode Bed & Breakfast
- ↳ Percy's Bed & Breakfast
- ↳ Rainbow Nature Resort
- ↳ River Side Cottage
- ↳ Samadhi
- ↳ Sandy's Bed & Breakfast
- ↳ Sandy's Guest House
- ↳ Seahorse Inn
- ↳ Seaside Garden
- ↳ Stewart's Guesthouse
- ↳ The Big Fish Prestige Suite
- ↳ Turtle View Residence
- ↳ Wood's Castle Holiday Resort
- ↳ Apartments & Condominiums
- ↳ Apartments: A - B
- ↳ 17A Tobago Plantations
- ↳ 18A Tobago Plantations
- ↳ Ade's Domicil Guesthouse
- ↳ Alibaba's Sea Breeze
- ↳ Angel Apartments
- ↳ Ann's Guesthouse
- ↳ Ann's Villa
- ↳ Arnos Vale Vacation Apartments
- ↳ Arthur's By The Sea
- ↳ Auldwyn Lindsay Apartments
- ↳ Bananaquit
- ↳ Bayview Villa
- ↳ Baywatch Apartments
- ↳ Beach House
- ↳ Belle Aire Inn
- ↳ Belleviste Apartments
- ↳ Beverly's Oasis Suites
- ↳ Birdie's Nest
- ↳ Birdsong Villa
- ↳ Blue Horizon Resort
- ↳ Blue Mango Cottages
- ↳ Blue Marlin Suite
- ↳ Boatview
- ↳ Bonavilla Too
- ↳ Breath Of Heaven
- ↳ Next Page
- ↳ Apartments: C - G
- ↳ Previous Page
- ↳ C & K Apartments
- ↳ Canoe Bay Resort
- ↳ Carpe Diem
- ↳ Casa DeLaMar
- ↳ Castara Bliss Apartments
- ↳ Castara Cottage
- ↳ Castara Retreats
- ↳ Castara Roundhouse
- ↳ Castara Villas
- ↳ CDK's Home Away From Home
- ↳ Chaconia Suite
- ↳ Cholson Chalets
- ↳ Coral Place
- ↳ Coral Ridge Studio Apartments
- ↳ Coral Sunset House
- ↳ Cottage Mango
- ↳ Courland Bay Apartment
- ↳ Crown Apartment
- ↳ Crusoe's Holiday Apartments
- ↳ Dex & Yolande's Holiday Apartments
- ↳ Dimple's Apartments
- ↳ Dolly's House
- ↳ Douglas Apartments
- ↳ Duke Robinson Guest House
- ↳ Eco Park Inn
- ↳ Firefly Villa
- ↳ Flamboyant Suite
- ↳ Fort Bennett Apartments
- ↳ Giselle's Holiday Apartments
- ↳ Golden Thistle Hotel
- ↳ Grandview Guesthouse
- ↳ Green Valley Apartment
- ↳ Greenhaven Cottage
- ↳ Next Page
- ↳ Apartments: H - M
- ↳ Previous Page
- ↳ Hibiscus Heights
- ↳ Hidden Cottage
- ↳ Horizons Tobago Apartments
- ↳ Horseshoe House
- ↳ Hummingbird Heights
- ↳ Hummingbird Villa, Signal Hill
- ↳ Islanders Place
- ↳ J & G's Tropical Apartments
- ↳ James Holiday Resort
- ↳ Jeffrey's House
- ↳ Jemas Guesthouse
- ↳ Jetway Apartments
- ↳ Jimmy's Holiday Resort
- ↳ Johnston Apartments
- ↳ Jonesy's Country Haven Inn
- ↳ Kaimil Apartments
- ↳ Karissa's Suite
- ↳ King Solomon's Mine
- ↳ LesVille Bed & Breakfast Apartment
- ↳ Lillibets
- ↳ Mahi Mahi Suite
- ↳ Marie's Cottages
- ↳ Mike's Holiday Resort
- ↳ Merle's House
- ↳ Next Page
- ↳ Apartments: N - R
- ↳ Previous Page
- ↳ Naturalist Beach Resort
- ↳ Nature View Apartments
- ↳ Ocean Dreams
- ↳ Ocean View
- ↳ Ocean View Apartment
- ↳ One Love Cottage Tobago
- ↳ Orchid Villa Apartments
- ↳ Overseas Cottage
- ↳ Pantin's Guest House
- ↳ Papa Joe's Place
- ↳ Park View Townhouse
- ↳ Petit Careme Apartment
- ↳ Pelican Point
- ↳ Porridge's Place
- ↳ Pride Of Courland
- ↳ Radiant Rock Guest House
- ↳ Rainbow Resort
- ↳ Reef View Apartment
- ↳ Restorations Tobago
- ↳ RoshMar Apartments
- ↳ Royal Princess
- ↳ Next Page
- ↳ Apartments: S
- ↳ Previous Page
- ↳ Sandy Point Village
- ↳ Scott's Holiday Apartments
- ↳ Sea Edge
- ↳ Sea Shell
- ↳ Seabreeze Cottage
- ↳ Sealevel Guesthouse
- ↳ Sealey's House
- ↳ SeaScape
- ↳ Serenity Apartments
- ↳ Sherwood Park Apartments
- ↳ Shirma's Apartment
- ↳ Spence Resort
- ↳ Store Bay Holiday Resort
- ↳ Sullivan's Court
- ↳ Sunset Apartments
- ↳ Sunshine Holiday Apartments
- ↳ Surfside Hotel
- ↳ Next Page
- ↳ Apartments: T - Z
- ↳ Previous Page
- ↳ Tamarind House
- ↳ Tara's Beachhouse
- ↳ The Hummingbird Lodge
- ↳ The Nest Tobago Apartments
- ↳ The Pride of Allfields Resort
- ↳ Three Palms Apartments
- ↳ Top Ranking Hill View Guest House
- ↳ Top River Pearl
- ↳ Tropical Pleasure Resort
- ↳ Tropical Treasures No.5
- ↳ Twilight Inn
- ↳ Unique Escape
- ↳ Villa Bellefleur
- ↳ Villa Iguana
- ↳ Ville And Pete Lodge
- ↳ Viola's Place
- ↳ VIP Holiday Resort
- ↳ Rental Cottages/Small Houses
- ↳ Adventure Eco Villas
- ↳ Atlantis Cove
- ↳ Avocado Cottage
- ↳ Bay Cottage Parlatuvier
- ↳ Castara Villas Leapfrog
- ↳ Cliff Cottage
- ↳ Crown Point Cottage
- ↳ Englishmans Bay Cottages
- ↳ Erasmus Cove Cottages
- ↳ Essex Cottage at Gloucester Place
- ↳ House Lovell
- ↳ Golden Apple Villa
- ↳ Hummingbird Haven
- ↳ Karmoy Villa
- ↳ Man-O-War Bay Cottages
- ↳ Marbago Villa
- ↳ Mary's Hill Lodge
- ↳ Moments
- ↳ Nature Retreat
- ↳ SillyCotton Valley
- ↳ Top O' Tobago
- ↳ Rental Villas & Large Houses
- ↳ Villas: A - B
- ↳ 7 Samaan Grove
- ↳ Ambassador's House
- ↳ Anytime Villa
- ↳ Arcadia
- ↳ Ariyana
- ↳ Atlantique
- ↳ Azulejo
- ↳ Bago Breeze
- ↳ Bella Villa
- ↳ Black Rock Dreams
- ↳ Bougain-Villa
- ↳ Brash Villa
- ↳ Next Page
- ↳ Villas: C - E
- ↳ Previous Page
- ↳ Canboulay Villa
- ↳ Coco Chalet
- ↳ Cool Breeze
- ↳ Cool-O Breeze-O
- ↳ Cypress Villas
- ↳ Dolphin Villa
- ↳ Easy As
- ↳ Easytimes
- ↳ Eternity Villa
- ↳ Evergreen
- ↳ Next Page
- ↳ Villas: F - J
- ↳ Previous Page
- ↳ Fairways
- ↳ Flamboyant Villa
- ↳ Flamingo Villa
- ↳ Frangipani Villa
- ↳ Gatcliffe's Villa
- ↳ Ginger Lilies Villa
- ↳ Hibiscus
- ↳ Il Paradiso
- ↳ Infinity Villa
- ↳ J'Ouvert Villa
- ↳ Next Page
- ↳ Villas: K - M
- ↳ Previous Page
- ↳ Kapinjala
- ↳ Katsamada Villa
- ↳ Keiros Villa
- ↳ Kias Villa
- ↳ Kiskadee
- ↳ La Jolie
- ↳ LaHay
- ↳ Lazy Days Villa
- ↳ Licorish
- ↳ Lippy Lodge
- ↳ Lynn's Manor
- ↳ Maframadan
- ↳ Mahogany Ridge Villa
- ↳ Mahogany Villa
- ↳ Malindi
- ↳ Mango Tango
- ↳ Mirage
- ↳ Mon Reve
- ↳ Moondrops
- ↳ Next Page
- ↳ Villas: N - R
- ↳ Previous Page
- ↳ New Timbers
- ↳ Ocean Whispers
- ↳ Ohana
- ↳ Oleander Villa
- ↳ Palm Breeze Villa
- ↳ Palms Villa Resort
- ↳ Paradise Found Villa
- ↳ Parrot Estate Villa
- ↳ Pellicano
- ↳ Petit Careme Villa
- ↳ Petite Haven
- ↳ Plantation Beach Villas
- ↳ Plantation View Villa
- ↳ Rumagin Villa
- ↳ Next Page
- ↳ Villas: S - U
- ↳ Previous Page
- ↳ Samsara
- ↳ Sea Glass Villa
- ↳ Sea Rose Villa
- ↳ Sea La Vie
- ↳ Sea La Vista
- ↳ SeaBreeze
- ↳ Shandison By The Sea
- ↳ Shepherd's House
- ↳ Sheppy's Den
- ↳ Sol y Mar Villa
- ↳ Soleil
- ↳ Sunset Reef Villa
- ↳ Sunshine Villa
- ↳ Sweet Breeze
- ↳ Tanager Ridge Villa
- ↳ Tobago Hibiscus Golf Villas
- ↳ Tradewinds
- ↳ Tobago Sunrise Villa
- ↳ Tranquilla
- ↳ Next Page
- ↳ Villas: V - Z
- ↳ Previous Page
- ↳ Villa Being
- ↳ Villa BuenaVista
- ↳ Villa Calyandra
- ↳ Villa Carpathia
- ↳ Villa Christina
- ↳ Villa de Lena
- ↳ Villa Good Hope
- ↳ Villa Ivory
- ↳ Villa Limbo
- ↳ Villa Motts
- ↳ Villa Nirvana
- ↳ Villa Palexaura
- ↳ Villa Petrus
- ↳ Villa Rennie
- ↳ Villa Rocita
- ↳ Villa Sans Souci
- ↳ Villa Sugarbird
- ↳ Villa Teak
- ↳ Villas at Stonehaven
- ↳ Villa Victoria
- ↳ Villia Vanessa
- ↳ Whim & Fancy
- ↳ White Rose Villa
- ↳ Whitehouse
- ↳ Wind Dancer
- ↳ Windance
- ↳ Air Travel & Getting To Tobago
- ↳ Car Rental & Public Transport
- ↳ Restaurants, Food & Drink
- ↳ Health & Security
- ↳ Sightseeing, Tours, Sport & Activities
- ↳ Birdwatching & Rainforest
- ↳ Diving & Snorkelling
- ↳ Recreational Fishing
- ↳ Weather
- ↳ General Questions & Comment