In need of a dose of Vitamin D before winter sets in? Turn your sights to the sun-drenched, laidback island of Tobago. The Caribbean’s unspoiled secret, it has a blissful go-slow vibe with sleepy fishing villages, uncrowded golden beaches and tropical rainforests teeming with wildlife (much of the island is designated a UNESCO-protected Biosphere reserve). October is a special time to visit, with the island putting on its dancing shoes with two colourful festivals that add an extra dose of spice to a holiday here. And when you’re partied out, dreamy Castara Retreats, the island’s charming eco-resort, makes the perfect base for kicking back on a tropical beach.
Time to party
Fiercely proud of their culture and traditions, Tobagonians are also famously warm and welcoming to visitors. The lively annual Carnival is a wonderful way to soak up the island’s unique spirit, as locals don intricate costumes, dancing their way through the streets to the sound of steelpan bands, soca music and calypso beats. There are limbo competitions, vibrant street parades and plenty of tasty island eats to sample. True foodies won’t want to miss the island’s other big October event – the Blue Food Festival. As the name suggests, this quirky festival celebrates the dasheen or taro, a starchy root vegetable that gets its nickname from the shade of indigo it turns when cooked. Local chefs come together to create all sorts of unusual and delicious dishes, from dasheen cakes and pies to sauces, stews, soups and even wine. As well as the chance to immerse yourself in the island’s food scene, there is plenty of live music, farm tours, crayfish cook-offs and must-try dasheen ice-cream.
And relax…
Overlooking a half-moon bay of butter-coloured sand on Tobago’s west coast, Castara Retreats is the perfect island hideaway. This remarkable eco-resort cleverly combines style with sustainability. Treehouse-inspired cottages peep out from lush tropical foliage, with wraparound decks delivering knockout views and attracting hummingbirds and bananaquits. Unlike many large-scale Caribbean resorts, Castara offers a very different experience with an emphasis on low-impact tourism. Here, luxury is defined by nature, peace and the chance to experience an authentic slice of island life. Guests are encouraged to spend time at the neighbouring fishing village of Castara, with its handful of simple eateries and bars serving rum punch beneath the palms. Back at Castara Retreats, the open-air Caribbean Kitchen dishes up wholesome, mouth-watering meals on a spectacular panoramic deck. Expect fresh, colourful seasonal dishes such as just-caught snapper with black bean and plantain fritters. Then there’s the open-sided yoga studio, with expert-led daily classes for all levels cooled by gentle sea breezes. Also on offer is an array of deeply relaxing massages, from full body to Indian Head massages. The star attraction, however, has to be the island’s natural beauty, with dips in the bath-warm sea, barefoot strolls along the sandy bay, snorkelling on the reef and hikes to the oldest protected waterfall in the Western hemisphere.
