Castara

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, living from fishing and farming, while taking in visitors since the 1990s 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'll find

• 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.

Before you go

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.

Key facts