Vacation Rental Description
Newly built, half timbered house overlooking the bay and village of Castara on the beautiful island of Tobago. 2 Studios (Sleep 2+ Each), 'Our Place' (Sleeps 4).
Villa Carpe Diem was completed in late 2007. Half timbered construction over a block ground floor. It is our house and was designed for US to live in and constructed of local materials using all local labour. The whole point of the house was to take advantage of the view of Castara Bay. It is set back and 80 feet above the Northside Road in the village of Castara, a small unspoilt fishing village on the Caribbean coast of Tobago. You will not find jetskis etc but you will find peace and quiet and a chance to really relax. The beach is safe and kept clean by the villagers. Lifeguards are on duty during the day. There are NO hustlers! They are usually asked to 'move on'. In the village are guides and boatmen to take you into the rainforest, visit waterfalls, take you fishing & then to a bbq the catch on a secluded beach. The local bars are friendly with locals, expats and visitors all 'liming' together. Crime is almost non-existent. Come here & write that book you always meant to write!
This apartment & studios may not be suitable for toddlers! The balconies are very climbeable The drop from the studio balcony is only about 4 feet onto a flower bed! We have a 'Graco' cot for babies and a single bed is available for a child or another adult. They have their own nets. Balcony has sunloungers, most people take the table and chairs out onto the balcony for their stay . Bamboo blinds can be lowered to provide extra shade.There are beach mats if required. There is a washing machine available for guests to use. There is a laundry service available in the village.
The path up from the road is a concreted slope with 3-4" steps every 20 feet or so. I would not like to exclude people with mobility problems and know how independent you can be! I would rather test it myself before saying it is completely accessible! There is a short walk up from the road but as suitcases all seem to have wheels these days...There is parking on the road below.
Our friend Doris, looks after the house when we are away, and Dean another good friend is planting out the grounds. It was 'virgin' hillside before we built but is rapidly growing back. We have extended the balcony and now each studio has a separate access. Each studio and the apartment have 2 loungers and a hammock. In season there are 3 different mango trees, numerous bananas and plantain, lime, paw paw, guava, cassava etc. There is an outside shaded bbq area. We are building a pizza/bread oven at the moment.
Facilities
Sunset 1 and 2(Studio Apartment, Sleeps 2/3): Queen size bed, Mokito canopy/mosquito net, pull out single bed, Saffire stove with grill and oven, Whirlpool fridge, toaster, electric kettle,juicer, fans, cot.
'Our Place' Apartment: queensize beds, 4 burner gas stove with grill and oven, large Samsung fridge, kettle, toaster, juicer, grill, caffetiere etc, ceiling fans, telephone, broadband and WIFI access.
All share amazing views out over the bay and Caribbean. House faces west!
Activities
Swimming, snorkeling, beachcombing.boat trips, fishing, bird watching, liming
The facility to do absolutely nothing is available every day!
Travel Options
- Travel Info: The airport is at Crown Point in the south. 45 minutes by taxi / car. It is actually quicker and much more romantic to go by boat to Store Bay about 200 yards to the check in!Ferry to Trinidad 1hr.Hire a car in the village if needed. Otherwise it will just sit there most of the time. Driving round the island will take a day or 2 out visiting villages, beaches and checking out the highlighted points in the Rough Guide!
There are buses up and down the coast and hitching a ride is a local 'ting.
