Castara Bay
Views, villageThe main bay and village.
Village guide
Things to do in Castara
A fishing village on Tobago's quiet north coast: two small bays, fishermen hauling in seine nets on the beach, bread from a wood-fired oven, a jungle waterfall, and the oldest protected rainforest in the western hemisphere up the road.
1776
Main Ridge protected
3–4
Days
Tobago's fishing village
Castara is a small village on Tobago's Caribbean coast, about an hour from the airport along a winding road. It has no resorts, just guesthouses and small hotels on the hillside above two bays, Castara Bay and Little Bay.
Life revolves around the beach: fishermen pull in seine nets by hand, and visitors are welcome to help. The village bakery fires its clay oven on certain days, and a short walk leads to a waterfall in the forest.
Castara is a good base for Tobago's north coast: Englishman's Bay, one of the island's most beautiful beaches, is nearby, and the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, protected since 1776, is a short drive inland. Give Castara three or four days.
Where to base yourself
The guesthouses on the hill above Castara Bay have the views; Little Bay is quieter.
Little Bay
QuietA small cove next door.
Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in Castara
Swim and snorkel in Castara Bay and Little Bay, and help the fishermen pull in the seine net. Walk to Castara Waterfall through the forest, and buy bread from the clay oven when it is lit.
Hike in the Main Ridge Forest Reserve on the Gilpin Trace, ideally with a guide, looking for birds such as the blue-backed manakin.
Spend a day at Englishman's Bay and Parlatuvier, and drive along the north coast road.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
The beaches, the waterfall walk and helping with the nets are free.
Watching the sunset over the bay costs nothing.
Main Ridge guides charge.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Small restaurants and beach shacks serve fresh fish, curry crab and dumpling, and Creole food for €8 to €18. Many guesthouses cook dinner on request.
Try bread and coconut bake from the village oven.
A 10 to 15 per cent tip is usual in restaurants; check the bill first, as some add a service charge.
Nightlife
Going out
Castara is quiet. A couple of beach bars have music some nights, including a weekly bonfire night in season.
A beer costs €2 to €4.
Getting around
Getting around
Castara is about an hour from Crown Point and 30 to 40 minutes from Scarborough by car. Route taxis run from Scarborough, but a hire car makes exploring the north coast much easier.
The village itself is walkable, though hilly.
Costs
What Castara costs
Guesthouse rooms start at around €35 to €70 a night. Meals cost €8 to €18.
A guided Main Ridge hike costs about €25 to €45.
The currency is the Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TT$); prices here are converted to euros at roughly TT to €1. There is no ATM in the village; bring cash.
Safety
Safety and scams
Castara is safe and relaxed. The road from Scarborough is winding and narrow; drive slowly.
Keep valuables out of sight on the beach.
Tap water is generally safe, but many people drink bottled water, especially after heavy rain. In an emergency, call 999 for the police, 990 for the fire service or 811 for an ambulance.
Worth the trip
The north coast and the forest.
Scarborough
Market and fort.
Crown Point
Beaches and reef.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Village and island events.
July and August
Tobago Heritage Festival
Tobago villages
Performances and traditional food.
January to May
Dry season
Castara
Best weather.
March or April
Easter
Tobago
Goat and crab races in Buccoo.
When to go
January to May is the dry season. June to December is wetter, and the forest is at its greenest. Tobago lies south of the main hurricane belt.
Jan
Dry
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry
Apr
Easter
May
Rains start
Jun
Wet
Jul
Heritage Festival
Aug
Heritage Festival
Sep
Wet
Oct
Wettest
Nov
Wet
Dec
Holidays
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Warm all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on Castara prices.
Treat these as a guide.
—
- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
Castara questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is Castara worth visiting?
Yes, for a quiet fishing village and the north coast.
How do I get to Castara?
By car or route taxi from Scarborough.
Is there an ATM?
No; bring cash.
Can I help with the fishing nets?
Yes, visitors are often welcome.
How far is Main Ridge?
About 30 minutes by car.
How many days do I need?
Three to four.
When is the best time to visit?
January to May.
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