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Site Information:
The Blue Mango
Blue Mango, Second Bay Road. More upmarket than the competition, these simply furnished, stylish one or two-bedroom self-contained cottages have great bay views, cool breezes, kitchens, mosquito nets and plenty of privacy.
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The village straddling the Northside Road, the main body of the village consists of weather beaten shops and parlors interspersed with simple homes. A bridge at the eastern edge of the village crosses the Castara River; a ten-minute walk along the riverbed brings you to a small waterfall with a fairly deep swimming pool below . . .
The main focus of the town, though, is its beach, a generous swathe of coarse, shell and pebble-strewn sand divided in two by the fast-flowing Castara River, which turns the water a murky brown during the rainy season (only after one of the infrequent heavy storms - it clears after a few hours - Editor) and disappears completely during the parched dry months (it runs throughout the year as it drains a large area of the inland rainforest - Editor). If there hasn't been rain, the water is a joy, crystal-clear and relatively calm due to the protection of the surrounding forested headlands . . .''
CASTARA This little bit of paradise is like an emerald set on the shores of the Caribbean Sea. Castara is blessed with three or four churches, a primary school, a clinic and ambulance. All serving a population of about 500.
The main activities are fishing, road repairs and tourism.
THE CLAY CITCHEN
We are open all day. First serving at 8.30am and we remain open 7 days a week. As the name implies, the kitchen is built of Clay and is central with the eating areas on either side.
Rebecca is the grand chef and has already established her reputation with the the visitors to Castara. Rebecca uses the skills passed down from her mother's apron strings to create from Caribbean recipes a mouthwatering range of food. Primarily using fish - which is caught daily and chicken, the food is served fit for a king. It is basic fare - not nouvelle cuisine. Her Pumpkin Bread is very popular, so much so that guests even whip them back home in their luggage.
Seasonal fresh fruit is served with your breakfast. You can string out your dinner to as many courses as you can eat. The ingredients are so fresh, straight from the garden and the fish is so freshly caught on your doorstep. If you have been fishing and want to eat your own catch - let Rebecca know how you want it cooked. Children's meals and special needs will be catered for. Rebecca will provide your in-between meals of salads, cakes and teas. Some of Rebecca's receipes were used on the Castara Food Web Site.
Rebecca's Clay Citchen welcomes vegetarians by creating vegetarian meals that visitors come back for. Rebecca is prepared to show you round her kitchen and might pass on a few of her mothers secrets.
Breakfasts cost between $US6-10 - Lunch from $US8 - Dinners from $US25
Typical Meals: Breakfast - the inclusive continental breakfast comprises of fresh fruit, cereal, bread and tea or coffee. We would take pleasure in providing bacon & eggs, fish, ham, or pancakes, She also does fish broths and coconut bakes. Lunch and Dinner Rebecca doesn't use fixed menus so visitors can have the advantage of the freshest produce and are not locked in to a humdrum fare. She will discuss with each individual guest the possibilities and indulges your choice. Using her extensive expertise, Rebecca creates that which you will find scrumptious! Be it steaks or lobster, vegetarian or curry, simple or exquisite, she'll make what YOU want to eat.
When you are anywhere in Tobago, a meal at the Clay Citchen is a MUST! Give us a ring on 639 2060 and we will cook what you would like.
Reviewed in BWIA Inflight Magazine,
*I still think it is the best food on Tobago, its so so fresh - Editor
YOUR WEDDING
The village of Castara - on the shores of the Caribbean sea - would love to host your wedding, honeymoon or renewal of your vows to each other. As friends, the Blue Mango staff and the villagers extend a warm greeting to all our guests.
Where in the world can you help pull in the village fishing net, eat fresh mangoes in the sea, relax on the beach and go bird watching before the celebrations start.
No, you will not be encased in a walled-in holiday complex - cut off from the real world. But in this part of Tobago you will be relaxed and pampered.
Your Caribbean celebration is designed to give you, the Bride and Groom with or without your family and friends, the occasion of your life.
You can choose where you want the ceremony, barefoot on the beach - in the verdant rainforest - in the sea or as the sun sets, lighting your mind with everlasting colour. Your dreams come true on the Caribbean Sea at the Blue Mango, Castara.
You are special and we will treat you that way. As this is the most important event in your life, we will do our utmost to ensure that this is personal and designed to be your intimate and ultimate romantic start to your new life.
To ensure you are content, you will have the services of your personal and experienced Celebration Coordinator.
You will find it surprising how many of your family and friends will want to join you on your special occasion. Of course they too will want to relax before and after the wedding day.
On the other hand you can open your door to friends and family or lime with them in the village or be more adventurous and ramble to the Castara waterfall or through the rainforest.
YOUR HONEYMOON
It's your unique occasion, so our Honeymoon Coordinator - Rebecca will work closely with you to plan your honeymoon arrangements. It's your choice, but whatever you'd like to do when starting your lives together, it will be from your cozy private Sea Steps Cottage, overlooking the Caribbean Sea. For you both, we will do all in our power to create this romantic Caribbean Honeymoon that you will always remember.
You will both want some peace and quite - away from everybody - then lock the door which is at the bottom of 30 steps and you are in your own cottage - the honeymoon suite of the Sea Steps Cottage - you can be as isolated as you like, you have your own sea view of the Caribbean Sea and you can step directly into the sea in your own cove and your own beach. The cottage has a private hot and cold water shower. Ideal for relaxing after a busy day or a swim.
Dramatic sea views day and night from your double-bedroom or from the lower sundeck. On the sundeck relax in your hammock or chairs. The cottage is ideal for two - a place of peace, privacy and your own space.
Knock up a few light meals in the well equipped kitchen or reach for a cold drink from the fridge. You can also order a special meal from the Clay Citchen, we'll spoil you and deliver it.
Nearby Attractions:
ECO-HOLIDAYS
The Blue Mango. The resort of Castara is developing into a base from which to enjoy the flora and fauna of the rainforest on one side and the tropical Caribbean Sea on the other.
The complex of the Blue Mango has been built on the hillside with the least possible change to the ecosystem. Where flora has been changed, planting has replaced trees and shrubs. Many of the trees have strings of orange coloured berries that the birds like and a large fig tree around which hundreds of bats swirl in its fruiting period.
Timber has been the main item used in building. Some tests have been carried out using appropriate technology, a clay test building using mangrove posts which remains standing but the termites did not know they were not supposed to eat timber grown in a saline solution! A number of posts had to be replace. Some technology was incorporated into the existing constructions.
Castara. The surrounding area has the Tobago Forest Reserve that was established in 1764. This set aside the forests of the Main Ridge for protection, thus creating the first such reserve in the Western Hemisphere. Within a few minute you can be in the middle of 'tropical jungle'.
For non-landlubbers there are the beaches and seas of the Caribbean. Your options are numerous; lay and laze on the beach, snorkel along the beach to the coral, go diving (or take a diving course), go out with the fishermen to the the manta rays or wait up at night to watch the Tobago's giant Leatherback turtles on the beach - these endangered sea turtles come ashore during the months of March, April and June to lay eggs that hatch within three months.
Walk through the rainforest to the waterfall and have a dip to cool down - it is a twenty minute walk.
All that in your backyard in Castara.
Tobago. In the rainforest you can go birding or walking - they are only minutes away.
SWIMMING
The Blue Mango looks down onto the sun drenched beaches of the northern and southern bays of Castara nestled on the shores of the Caribbean Sea.
Be ready for an invigorating day of swimming, snorkelling and diving. Then relax and watch the sunset on the Caribbean Sea. It is safe for children, but be sensible and supervise them.
Bring ample suntan lotion - the cool sea breeze keeps you deceptively cool. We want you to be happy not crispy.
SWIM & SNORKEL
The Blue Mango has a beach on the doorstep and a coral reef within 100 meters. We can arrange boat rides on 'Brighton Rock' to many of the other swimming sites like Englishman's Bay.
DIVING
There is a decompression chamber in Tobago. The chamber is located at the Roxborough Health Centre. The unit is multi-person (at least 2 possibly 3) and is equipped with a second lock - NOT confirmed.
Castara Skill Level: Intermediate - Mainly a swimming and snorkelling site with Mantas being visitors. Regular visits of the Leatherback Turtles can be observed all the way to the beach.
Englishman's Bay Skill Level: Intermediate This is one of the best swimming and snorkelling sites on the island.
Manta City Skill Level: Intermediate to Advance. This is where manta rays can be found: people object to physical interaction with wild animals of the sea, so please bear in mind - its their home and they will be there after you are long gone! When you see these gentle giants - the mantas - here they are quite timid towards divers and are often found playing with them.
Kelliston Deep Skill Level Intermediate Kelliston Deep is noted for its famous brain coral. It is rated as the world's largest brain coral, measuring some 6 meters (16ft) wide and 4 meters (12ft) high! It's not uncommon to find nurse sharks and more mantas on this dive.
London Bridge Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced There is a natural arch that extends down to 15 meters underwater. You could find schools of Tarpons in the 1-3 meter range.
The Sisters Skill Level Intermediate to Advance On the northern coast are a group of small islands. Take a boat ride from Bloody Bay for about a 45 minute. This is one of Tobago's wall dives and would be better for advanced divers as you will find strong currents or surges.
Blackjack Hole Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced. Off Speyside near the southern end of Little Tobago on the Atlantic side you can dive Blackjack Hole. The choppy seas of the Atlantic has dolphins, rays, sharks and extensive schools of tarpons.
Japanese Gardens Skill Level: Beginner to Intermediate. Off the western end of Goat Island you will find another site to see mantas. This is the Atlantic side of Tobago so the sea is often choppy and with some currents. Always be aware of these currents - you may come to enjoy them. Good coral specimens are to be found - IT IS ILLEGAL TO REMOVE THEM.
There is a 5-10 km per hour current flowing west from the Atlantic to the Caribbean sea - so take ultra caution when swimming and diving at the north and south tip of Tobago. Also avoid the more heavy seas and dangers of the Atlantic side - there are very few exceptions.
THE RAINFOREST
The northern part of the island boasts the oldest protected rainforest in the world. We owe this to Stephen Hales, a scientist who convinced plantation owners that if they went an cutting down the forest, they would destroy the balance of nature and reduce the island to a barren desert: remarkably, he did this in 1776.
From the Blue mango you have views of the rainforest inland towards the mountains and the surrounding hills. The forest cascads down to the sun drenched beaches of the northern and southern bays of Castara.
Rain showers roll down from the rainforest then across the sea - calming the gentle waves rolling onto the shore - you can often see the double rainbows that reflect in the sea.
People, scenes and sensations of this rainforest make National Geographic a mere picture book.
Moonlight and star filled skies from horizon to horizon.
Travel through the rainforest at night: the air is filled with the flashing lights of the fireflies - flash a torch or your headlamps at them and they will respond in unison. a great pleasure for big and little kids.
he noise of frogs comes to a maddening crescendo on moonlit nights. The blackish nightjars (caprimulgus nigrescens) lay on the warm roads as you travel through the forest. Park up and watch the moon drift past your feet and reflect in the Caribbean Sea. This is the oldest forest reserve in Western Hemisphere.
We do organise hiking trails and excursions through the rainforest of the central ridge of Tobago. Filled with bird watching and observation of the flora and fauna. You will be fording many small pristine rivers that run through the rainforest, so come suitably dressed. Bring your binoculars. Bring good walking shoes and waterproofs for the rain in rainforest.
BIRDING FROM CASTARA
Out-of-this-world bird watching in and around Castara.
From your balcony at the Blue Mango you will see the iridescent luster of the humming birds as they dart from flower to flower. The blue-crowned motmot can be seen in the shadows of the larger trees in the gardens.
Soon the bananaquit will follow in search of scraps of fruit you may have left around.
There's a lady in Castara who buys granulated sugar and puts it out to feed the bananaquit - she enjoys their entertainment.
The activity of the bananaquit is soon seen by the bare-eyed thrush and the tropical mockingbird - soon they are squabbling over the fruit. When the mangoes are ripening on the trees these birds are more difficult to see as they find this fruit rich pickings.
As fruit ripens on the trees, a flurry of activity is seen and heard from the orange-winged parrots as they fly through the forest canopy.
This is the place to witness the interception of fish laden red-billed tropic birds (phaethon aethereus) by piratical frigate-birds made famous by David Attenborough in one of his documentary films on Tobago. The male frigate-bird has a faint green sheen on its back, especially notable during the courtship season, while the female has white breast feathers that extend up to the chin, with a red eye-ring.
The snow-white bird with black markings of red-billed tropic bird has a coral-red bill and long white tail feathers known as streamers. With their screaming call and wheeling flight, they set forth from cliff-side nests in pursuit of squid and small fish. Their atmospheric and aquatic agility is balanced by their relative clumsiness on land. Fortunately, their cliff-side nests allows them to take off simply by falling forward into the wind.
The brown boobies are found in large numbers and travel in groups, flying over the open waters and diving - quite dramatically- for fish. They are often entangled in the nets of the Castara fishermen.
The term 'booby' is derived from a Spanish slang for clown, 'bobo'.
It is also the home of the endangered white-tailed sabrewing hummingbird which presents a worthy challenge to any enthusiastic visiting birder. The beautiful blue-crowned motmot and the jeweled rufous-tailed jacamar are also widely distributed and easily accessible to view. In areas of thicketed undergrowth along forest edges see the unusual stripe-breasted spinetail.
Amenities:
With two double bedrooms, this cottage is ideal for two couples or for a large family. There is an adjoining living room in which to relax. Cooking can be a pleasure in this well equipped kitchen. Relax on the balcony. This cottage is ideal for a family with young children. Has a hot and cold shower.
It has electricity and also haa mosquito nets and linen provided with fully equipped kitchens. Ideal seclusion for authors, artists and photographers who may wish to stay for longer. You can have privacy that surpasses anything you have ever encountered.
Trinidad and Tobago Message Board Posts: View All Messages
| where do we stay? | (4 replies) |
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Hello! We are a bunch of, "30 something" guys, (maybe 4-6 of us)looking for some R&R after working at sea for weeks on end, we hope to be in T&T ...
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| rex turtle beach tobago | (8 replies Hot Topic!) |
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The place has a new pool which is completed. We will be flying out Saturday (17 Jan ...
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| Rowland Road / Street / Avenue | (3 replies) |
11 people looking at it but yet no one replys - how distraught u must be. . . i shall reply 4 you. . .  climate | (0 replies can you answer?) |
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I am due to fly out with my husband & children on the 6/11/03 to SEASHELLS VILLAS/BON ACCORD TOBAGO, i was wondering is it very rainy then?? if so ...
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| Any House for sale in Tobago | (3 replies) |
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hi deng,
thanks for your comment, i have been there before and the place is beautiful as you said. i am looking for an island in the sun and the ...
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Trinidad and Tobago Hotel Reviews: View All Reviews
| Enchanted Waters Tobago - Review (Trinidad and Tobago) |  5 Stars |
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Wowwwiiiieeeeeee!!!!!: OMG i had like such an uber fantastic time at the enchanted waters hotel! The pool boys were sooo orgasmic i just about died!! I cannot believe ...
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| Miller's Guesthouse - Review (Trinidad and Tobago) | 5 Stars |
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Perfect !!!: No problems, the perfect setting and accommodation, could not have asked for more ...
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| Castara Cottage - Review (Trinidad and Tobago) | 5 Stars |
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A truly magical and unpretentious niche: Tony, Katrin & Tom
Berlin, Germany
January 2008
Tobago is one of those special places that continue to resonate in mind and heart long after ...
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| Tropikist Hotel - Review (Trinidad and Tobago) |  2 Stars |
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Not bad - facility needs upgrade: My wife and my two small children (3yr & 6yr)and myself stayed for three days on an all inclusive package. It was overall an enjoyable stay. Some of ...
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| Tropikist Hotel - Review (Trinidad and Tobago) |  1 Stars |
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Bad Experience: My husband and I stayed at the Tropikist Beach Hotel in January on an all-inclusive basis. After three days we were very disappointed with the ...
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