Guest Report

[Madeleine Poynter]

After a wonderful vacation last year in Castara Retreats, we returned this winter for a repeat experience. Once again, we were met by friendly, helpful staff, obliging residents and that incredibly wonderful view from our living quarters. Our accommodation, Hummingbird II, is the smallest on the premises but more than spacious enough for my husband and I. It was spotlessly clean, thanks to Jeanelle and her team, and extremely well equipped. The plants and flowers, careful workmanship and integration into the existing environment make Castara Retreats blend serenely into the landscape.

Birds and animals also love Castara. While we had an abundance of multi-coloured birds at our feeder every day, we also saw a flock of bright green and orange parrots one morning - amazing! We also saw the little agouti playing regularly on the path.

Vacationing in Castara is truly a restorative experience. We rented beach chairs from Taharka, who lives in the little cottage on the beach. He is full of local knowledge and a friendly swimming companion. Dinners were mostly at Margarite's (try the boneless goat) but we also tried CasCreole and had an equally delicious meal. My husband went on a very interesting rainforest hike with a student from a village closeby. There were many other things we intended to do but somehow one day melted into another and the beach prevailed. Special thanks to Milk for his superb driving skills - we will be back!