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Kapinjala - a myTobago guide to Tobago holiday accommodation
 

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Kapinjala, Tobago

Kapinjala

4-bedroom Holiday Rental Villa

Kapinjala is an immensely striking 4-bedroom luxury villa situated on a hillside in beautiful Arnos Vale. The villa offers the most stunning views over the... surrounding hills and out to sea. This is one of the most tranquil properties that we have ever stayed at in Tobago and the villa offers the very highest standards of accommodation. The views from the house, deck and infinity pool are almost impossible to describe. We can only summarise our feelings by saying that we think it will be some time before any other property impresses us quite as much as Kapinjala. [read more]

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US $347

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Kapinjala

4-bedroom Holiday Rental Villa

Kapinjala is an immensely striking 4-bedroom luxury villa situated on a hillside in beautiful Arnos Vale. The villa offers the most stunning views over the surrounding hills and out to sea. This is one of the most tranquil properties that we have ever stayed at in Tobago and the villa offers the very highest standards of accommodation. The views from the house, deck and infinity pool are almost impossible to describe. We can only summarise our feelings by saying that we think it will be some time before any other property impresses us quite as much as Kapinjala.

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Property Description

Provided by the property, or taken from their website

Kapinjala is a luxury four bedroom villa situated on a hillside within the old Arnos Vale Sugar Plantation Estate overlooking the beautiful Arnos Vale Bay, the Caribbean Sea and Buccoo Reef.

Passing through the property’s electric gates you will enter a large driveway and car port area where you will encounter, during your stay, our resident hummingbirds feeding on the nectar of the flora.

Entering through the front door you will be taken aback by the spacious fan-shaped living area which opens out onto a vast covered veranda offering seating, dining and BBQ areas. The beautiful sunshine, supplemented with the cooling effects of a near-constant rain forest breeze that passes across the veranda and pool deck, allows for both sunbathing and chilling out in equal measures.

On either side there are steps down to the lovely pool deck, 8-person jacuzzi and 40ft infinity swimming pool – complete with “liming” step. All aspects of the villa offer breathtaking views of the sea or the rainforest – the world’s oldest nature reserve.

Relax in the living area and watch the TV which offers many satellite channel options or view a film on the DVD player. Alternatively, chill-out and listen to some music on the CD/MP3 sound system which will also allow for USB connection to play and charge your iPod or other MP3 player. A selection of books and board games can also be found on the bookshelves.

Peckish? Thirsty? Jump up and head for the large kitchen with solid wood cabinets and granite worktops. Grab a snack from the fridge/freezer and a cold Carib beer from the drinks fridge. Two ice makers ensure that there is always plenty of ice available for those rum cocktails. The kitchen is fully equipped with top of the range cooker, microwave, dishwasher and coffee maker.

All four bedrooms are fitted with air conditioning and also ceiling fans. High quality mattresses and luxury cotton bed linen ensure a good night’s sleep. In the morning, throw open the balcony doors, in the three bedrooms situated in the main villa, and enjoy the bright sunshine and wonderful views. Take a few minutes to look out over the estate and you will see green parrots and paarakeets, blue and grey tanagers, bananaquits, woodpeckers, hummingbirds and frigate birds to name but a few.

All four bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms with ceiling fans and are equipped with built-in wardrobes, walk-in showers, WC, basin and hairdryer.

There are two upstairs terraces. The sea view terrace offers a serene area to escape from other guests for a catnap or a quiet read on the hammock or one of the day beds, or simply an opportunity to take in the fantastic views and ponder life.

Downstairs, there is a powder room and other amenities include a guest safe, an intercom entry system and a house alarm system.

The grounds of approximately one acre are quickly maturing. The automatically irrigated flower beds offer wonderful bursts of colour which are attracting many birds including several species of hummingbirds and the mixture of established plantation trees along with our freshly planted palms and fruit trees blend well together to ensure seclusion and a feeling of being at one with nature..

Your Kapinjala Experience starts when you are met at the airport and taken to the villa where there will be a Caribbean rum punch waiting for you. Your welcome pack will include provisions for the night and the following morning and a welcome meal will be in the fridge. There will be some ice-cold Carib beers in the drinks fridge and a bottle of Caribbean rum to help you relax on your first night.

Your housekeeper will visit six times a week, but not on Sundays or public holidays, to carry out cleaning duties and ensure a comfortable and relaxing stay for you and your friends.

If you decide to hire a car, we can organise this for you at discounted rates and arrange for the car to be delivered to the villa at your convenience. We are also happy to assist you in arranging island, rain forest and bird watching tours and also boat trips, snorkelling and diving excursions. Other activities include fishing, sailing, windsurfing and surfing, horse riding, mountain biking and off road safaris. For those golf enthusiasts, there are two 18-hole Championship golf courses within 15 minutes of the villa.

We want your Kapinjala Experience to be relaxing, memorable and special.

We are sure it will be.

myTobago Review

Kapinjala, Arnos Vale, Tobago

The following review was produced during a 7-night stay at Kapinjala in March 2020.

Introduction

Kapinjala is a unique 4-bedroom luxury holiday rental villa situated above Arnos Vale Bay. The villa offers breath-taking views of Tobago’s hilly interior and dramatic coastline. It is furnished and equipped to the highest possible standards in the most elegant and tasteful of styles.

Location

This beautiful villa is located on the magnificent Arnos Vale estate. Originally a sugar and cocoa plantation, the plantation eventually became home to one of Tobago’s oldest hotels. The spectacular beach boasts exceptional snorkelling and the grounds arguably the finest bird habitat on the island. Sadly, the hotel did not keep pace with modern times and is now closed.

Kapinjala is located on a high bluff, adjacent to the bay. Sadly, trees and foliage conceal all but teasing glimpses of the beach. However, only the keenest of eyes will notice any of the old hotel buildings.

With its highly distinctive humpback hills, the Arnos Vale terrain is quite unique and markedly different from the coral-based flatlands to the south and even somewhat dissimilar to the lush rainforest to the north.

Without question, Kapinjala offers the best views we have experienced in Tobago. The sea views stretch from Arnos Vale and Plymouth Bays and right down to Pigeon Point and Buccoo Reef. The interior views range from the low hills of southern Tobago to the start of the Main Ridge rainforest reserve in the north.

Arnos Vale is a 30-minute drive from the airport. The location is total rural and a little further from the main shopping and restaurant areas than most villas. Against that, you are in the heart of the most beautiful part of Tobago. Nature abounds. This is what Tobago is all about.

Guests staying at Kapinjala benefit from a meet and greet service at the airport, courtesy of the property’s friendly and efficient manager, Helen. A self-drive rental vehicle is essential when staying at this property. Local shopping is limited and there are no facilities within walking distance.

Architecture

The Trinidadian architects of Kapinjala did a magnificent job, taking full advantage of the spectacular location, whilst creating a practical and yet aesthetically pleasing two storey four-bedroom house.

The house is rendered and painted with an intentionally ‘aged’ appearance. The frontage of the triangular-shaped house extends out from the hillside and features one of the largest and most attractive infinity edge pools on Tobago. A fourth bedroom, with independent access, is situated beneath the pool.

Kapinjala sits in an acre of hillside garden. The gardens are a riot of colour and a haven for the wonderful birdlife that is so much a mark of Arnos Vale.

There is a six-inch step between the driveway and the house. The main terrace and pool deck are on different levels with a few short steps between each. There are no wheelchair ramps. Although one bedroom is located at ground level, the villa is unlikely to be suitable for wheelchair users and may also prove a challenge to those with serious mobility issues.

Accommodation

The villa interior is clean and bright and features high ceilings and window and doors to enhance the feeling of light and space.

The hilltop location benefits from the northeast trade winds that blow over from the Atlantic coast. It is difficult to describe the sheer sensuous pleasure of a typical Tobagonian evening at Kapinjala, luxuriating in the pleasantly cool breezes that gently caress the skin. Even on the hottest of days, we found temperatures to be equitable throughout the house

The house is serviced six days a week by friendly housekeeper, Dennesia. She was a cheery girl and proved both helpful and good company.

Living Areas

Broad exposed ceiling beams lead the eye from the front door, across the lounge and huge covered terrace to the spectacular panorama beyond. Every room benefits from similar views.

Except for the downstairs bedroom and cloakroom, the ground floor is fully open-plan with the kitchen being partially separated from the living area by a breakfast bar. The living area and kitchen are cooled by overhead fans.

The internal lounge area offers a cosy refuge for those who want to catch up on life on the 30-inch flat-screen TV. The two sofas and armchair are just so comfortable that I became frustrated by my inability to watch a film without falling asleep. Additional entertainment is available courtesy of a compact hi-fi system with a small and eclectic collection of CDs, a few board games and playing cards, plus a small library of novels and local-interest books.

The kitchen is spacious and superbly equipped and perfectly up to the task of catering for the villa’s maximum occupancy of eight adults. In addition to a large electric oven with grill (broiler), the kitchen is equipped with a microwave oven, dishwasher, large fridge and freezer, plus an additional ‘drinks’ fridge (both with icemakers), toaster, electric kettle and coffee filter machine. There is enough crockery, cutlery, and glassware to accommodate a full complement of guests. A washer and dryer are also available, discretely concealed in a kitchen cupboard. Everything was in excellent condition.

Bedrooms

Three bedrooms are located within the house; two on the upper level and one on the ground floor. The fourth bedroom is located on the lower basement level, beneath the pool deck.

The three main bedrooms are of near-identical size and furnishing and each has a small private covered balcony or terrace. The only material difference between them is that the master bedroom has a California King (72-inch) bed with four-poster surround, whilst another bedroom has a queen-sized bed and the third two single beds.

The beds are fitted with high quality firm mattresses with high quality linen. Furnishings include bedside tables, a small table, and a pair of rattan chairs with padded cushions. Attractive rattan roller blinds can be lowered for privacy. An electric bug-matt mosquito deterrent is provided in each bedroom although we found these totally unnecessary.

All the bedrooms have modern split-unit air-conditioning units plus overhead fans.

The ensuite bathrooms are of comfortable size, rather than spacious. They are, however, well furnished, decorated and equipped. Attractive porcelain sinks are inset into sturdy vanity units, with lots of storage space, cupboards, drawers and shelves. Electric shaver sockets are provided, together with wall-mounted hairdryers. Each bathroom has a fully tiled walk-in shower enclosure with a 5-inch raindrop showerhead.

All three bedrooms feature built-in open wardrobes offering a metre of three-quarter-length hanging space and lots of hangers, plus half a dozen deep storage shelves and four large drawers.

The fourth bedroom is a little different to the others, but furnished and equipped to the same high standard and in similar style. It is accessed via a short flight of stairs from the main terrace, with no direct access from the house. As such, it would not be suitable for young children, but teenagers would probably welcome the separation from parents and older generations.

Because of the nature of this room, it is of somewhat unusual shape and layout. Nevertheless, it is large enough for a double bed, side tables with lamps and a fully furnished bathroom. There is lots of shelf space for clothing and other items. Both the bedroom and bathroom have south-facing windows looking over Arnos Vale bay and beach. Like the other bedrooms, the air-conditioner is supplemented by a large ceiling fan.

Main Terrace

Three steps lead down from the living area to the 4-metre wide covered terrace. In fact, this should probably be called the living area, because resident guests are likely to spend a lot of time here.

A small breakfast bar separates the kitchen from the lounge. This is the only dining area within the house itself. Instead, a chunky large farmhouse table with bench seating takes pride of place in the centre of the covered terrace. There are also two circular all-weather tables and chairs, ideal for supplementary dining, playing cards or board games. There is also access from the kitchen onto the terrace and an excellent three-burner bottled gas barbeque.

Aided by the high roof, dining on the terrace is as near al fresco as you can achieve without physically moving to the garden. In fact, the view from the dining table and terrace is just so stunning, both day and night, that frankly we were loath to leave it.

The terrace is furnished with the most comfortable seating area I have experienced. The settees and armchair almost defy you to move (or stay awake) once you have nestled into the deep upholstery with mass of cushions. In total shade for all but the last few hours of the day, this spot is sure to become a favourite with every guest at Kapinjala.

Pool Deck

Situated some 0.7m below the terrace, the pool deck is the lowest level of the multi-layered architectural styling of the villa. The deck is accessed via stairs at each end of the terrace. To avoid blocking the view and enhance the widescreen panorama, there is no balustrade on the six-metre central section of the terrace. Parents will need to keep a very close eye on toddlers and small children.

The pool deck is dominated by a gorgeous 12x4.4m infinity-edge swimming pool with in-built Jacuzzi. The pool features two distinct areas of different depths, ranging from 1.35m to 2.1m, plus a shallow ledge along the front edge. It will suit both confident swimmers as well as those who simply want to relax and cool off.

The pool deck is furnished with eight sun loungers. An external shower is provided for rinsing before and after swimming.

Security

Every door and window of Kapinjala is fitted with strong wrought-iron grills or bars. The house has a remotely controlled security system connected to a local security service. There is also a small built-in security safe.

The villa grounds are protected by two sets of electronic security gates. The first gate blocks access to the hilltop on which Kapinjala stands; the second secures the villa perimeter.

The house and grounds are protected by a security guard during the hours of darkness.

Conclusion

The English owners of Kapinjala clearly invested considerable thought and planning into both the design and furnishing of this beautiful villa. There is nothing superficial about this house – the elegance and quality go all the way through. Kapinjala is undoubtedly one of the most stunning and comfortable holiday rental villas that we have stayed at on Tobago – or even visited.

It is hard to summarise our feelings for Kapinjala. We have loved many rental properties on Tobago, but Kapinjala has a special magic and always provides a unique experience.

Reader Reports

This property has a weighted Reader Satisfaction Rating of 98.8%   . Click below to read the 50 reader reports that this is rating is based on.

Stephanie Mays from U.S.A. visited in March 2019 and awarded   

This place is a slice of heaven! Clean, gorgeous, comfortable beds, terrific service. It is ideally situated from anywhere you need to go on the island. I cannot say enough about how much our family (including two teenagers) loved our stay at Kapinjala!!

Kaye and Dave Johnson from U.K. visited in November 2018 and awarded   

This our 6th stay at Kapinjala and we are never disappointed. The villa is well appointed with a lovely outside space. We had a bit of rain but were still able to sit outside due to its clever design. The view from the infinity pool is just beautiful overlooking the bay. We whiled away our time watching the many pretty birds in the garden which has matured beautifully. Ate at our favourite restaurants - Fish Pot, Seahorse, Kariwak and Shore Things and tried a few new ones too! Kapinjala is a little piece of paradise and we will definitely return.

Location Map

To view a detailed interactive map showing the location of this property relative to restaurants, shops and sightseeing features, click this link  

Full Villa:US$347
Minimum Nights:3 nights
Property Type:Holiday Rental Villa
Bedrooms:4
Maximum Guests:8
Bathrooms:4 (ensuite)
Air-Conditioning:Air conditioning in all bedrooms.Ceiling fans in all rooms and on the covered terrace.
Children:Children welcome
Hair Dryers:There is a hairdryer in each of the four en-suite bathrooms
Telephone:Landline for making local calls and receiving all calls. Local cell phone for guests use.
Internet Access:Yes
Television:TV, DVD player, CD/MP3/iPod sound system.
Safety Deposit:One safe is provided for use by guests.
Wheelchair Access:No
Swimming Pool:40'x 20' infinity pool. 4'6 liming ledge around pool.
Jacuzzi:8 Person
Catering Options:

Housekeeping:6 times per week
Baby-Sitting:at additional cost
Personal Laundry:No
Personal Cooking:By Arrangement
Location:Arnos Vale
Region:Lower Caribbean
Location Type:Village Outskirts
Airport:25 minutes
Beach:5 minute Drive