Castara
A fishing village on Tobago's leeward coast with two bays and a beach seine still hauled by hand.
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Castara sits on Tobago's leeward coast in a bay with a second, smaller one, Heavenly Bay, alongside it, and it has stayed a working fishing village while taking in visitors rather than being remade for them. The seine net is still hauled onto the beach by hand, with anyone on the sand expected to lend a rope, and the catch is divided there. Guesthouses run up the hillside, and the water is calmer than on the Atlantic side.
What you actually see
- The seine hauling - the net pulled in by hand on the beach, with helpers welcome.
- The two bays - the main beach and Heavenly Bay next to it.
- The fish sharing - the catch divided on the sand after the haul.
- The hillside guesthouses - small accommodation running up the slope.
When to go
January to May is driest. Seine hauls depend on the fishing and happen when they happen, usually in the morning. The village is quiet outside the winter season.
Honest expectations
The seine haul is not scheduled and cannot be guaranteed on a given day. Sandflies are a problem, particularly in the late afternoon. The coast road is winding and slow.
Nearby
Englishman's Bay is north, and Plymouth is south.
What to pack for Castara
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.