Barbados Island Guide
Barbados – home to superstar Rihanna and rum. With its palm-fringed beaches, stunning landscape, and glorious sunshine, Barbados is a paradise on Earth. The Caribbean island located in the West Indies is a popular holiday destination for sun seekers, nature lovers and A-list stars and royalty. At 34 kilometres long and 23 kilometres wide Barbados may be small but it has so much to offer for holiday goers, from beaches and museums to flower-filled forests and rum distilleries.
If you’re enticed by the exotic, tempted by tropical temperatures and attracted to adventure, consider beautiful Barbados and all the island has to offer. This guide will provide you with the vital information on places to see and things to do that will make a Barbados holiday a brilliant one.
Bathsheba: Located on the east coast, Bathsheba is a popular area with locals and visitors who seek tranquillity among the romantic and rugged coastlines. The village of Bathsheba has a lot of charm and character. You'll find local rum shops and restaurants here along with a park that's perfect for picnic and picture opportunities. Along the beach you're likely to see professional surfers take on the challenge of conquering the waves on the Soup Bowl. Swimming is not advised to those who don't know the area well. If you fancy a paddle, dip your toes in the inshore coral reef pools.
Oistins: This fishing town on the south coast is an area that shows off the hustle and bustle of Bajan life. Oistins is famous for its Friday and Saturday night Fish Fry, where hundreds of locals and visitors commune together to feast on fresh fish - grilled, baked or fried - served with macaroni pie, sweet potato, rice or coleslaw. As well as a delicious meal, Fish Fry nights include a range of traditional music including calypso, reggae and ska, intense games of dominoes, and several dance floors where you can strut your stuff. The whole atmosphere makes for a casual and memorable evening out, Bajan style.
Holetown: The first inhabited town in Barbados lies on the west coast. Originally called Jamestown, after its benefactor King James I of England, the area is quite small but has a lot to see and do. Two shopping malls and Chattel Village, a colourful collection of shops selling arts and crafts, will keep shopaholics busy. There's a wide variety of restaurants and bars located in town and on the beach front. If visiting in February join in the celebrations of the annual Holetown Festival, a week long carnival of live music, performances, street parades and lots of singing and dancing to celebrate the town's heritage.
Speightstown: The second largest town in Barbados is famed for its vibrant atmosphere, rich culture and bohemian lifestyle. Speightstown is the only place you can see some of the original architecture – historical buildings that date back to the island's early settlement and colonial houses that once belonged to wealthy merchants. It's a wonderful place to wander around. Many street vendors offer passers by fresh fruits, vegetables and other local produce from their stalls. There are several art galleries you can visit including the Gallery of Caribbean Art and Gang of Four Gallery, which displays the work of local artists.
Barbados Beaches: White sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and glorious sunshine. All are available in Barbados making the island a sought after place for the ultimate beach holiday. Many Barbados hotels are located near some of the most beautiful beaches. Dover Beach, on the south coast, is the perfect seashore if you want to soak up the sun rays or go for a cooling swim. Although there are no strong currents, the sea is quite active making it a perfect environment to hold a host of water sports including windsurfing, kite surfing and boogie boarding.
Barbados Wildlife Reserve: Take a walk on the wild side – literally - in this nature sanctuary where most animals can roam freely in their own natural environment. Only a few creatures are encased for safety. Interact with the animals, feeding and playing with them. You'll get the chance to see brightly coloured birds including parrots, flamingos and peacocks. Reptile lovers can look out for various species of snakes, iguanas, turtles and tortoises. But the animal you should definitely seek out is the Barbados green monkey. The best time to see them is the afternoon when it's feeding time.
Festivals: There are a number of festivals held throughout the year in Barbados that celebrate the culture of the island and embrace the Bajan way of life. Crop Over is Barbados's biggest and most colourful festival. Held from the beginning of June until the first Monday in August, the whole island gets taken over by the party spirit. The man and woman who have harvested the most crops throughout the year are crowned 'King and Queen of the Crop'. Revellers can expect a mix of live music, traditional dancing, carnivals, and markets. The whole festival culminates with a costume parade called Kadamoot Day.
Mount Gay Distillery Tour: You can't leave Barbados without trying its most loved drink – rum. The island is home to rum shops, rum cakes, rum punch, and pretty much anything else rum-based. There are even parties dedicated to the spirit. What better way to sample the tipple and enjoy the rum-soaked culture than by taking a tour of a distillery. One of the island's most popular brands is Mount Gay, and the Mount Gay Visitor Center offers 40 minute tours which include a tasting.
Getting Married: Barbados is one of the most popular places for couples who want a tropical wedding. Because of the high demand to get married on the island, all-inclusive luxury resorts like Couples Barbados on Dover Beach offer wedding packages in a range of styles to suit your tastes and budget. These packages offer to take the stress and burdens of planning your big day and organise everything for you from the cake and flowers to the celebrant and photographer. Even the marriage certificate is sorted out for you. All you have to do is turn up and say “I do”.
Places to visit
Bridgetown: The capital of Barbados is the main commercial area on the island. Famed for its duty free shopping and street vendors Bridgetown should be on the top of every tourist's agenda. It's an historical hub of Barbados with many interesting landmarks to visit including the city's cathedral, George Washington's house and world famous cricket ground, The Kensington Oval. Drop in to the Barbados Museum located in St. Michael, Garrison Savannah area. With seven main galleries, the museum covers the history of Barbados and it’s a great place to get a sense of the country and learn about its culture and heritage.Bathsheba: Located on the east coast, Bathsheba is a popular area with locals and visitors who seek tranquillity among the romantic and rugged coastlines. The village of Bathsheba has a lot of charm and character. You'll find local rum shops and restaurants here along with a park that's perfect for picnic and picture opportunities. Along the beach you're likely to see professional surfers take on the challenge of conquering the waves on the Soup Bowl. Swimming is not advised to those who don't know the area well. If you fancy a paddle, dip your toes in the inshore coral reef pools.
Oistins: This fishing town on the south coast is an area that shows off the hustle and bustle of Bajan life. Oistins is famous for its Friday and Saturday night Fish Fry, where hundreds of locals and visitors commune together to feast on fresh fish - grilled, baked or fried - served with macaroni pie, sweet potato, rice or coleslaw. As well as a delicious meal, Fish Fry nights include a range of traditional music including calypso, reggae and ska, intense games of dominoes, and several dance floors where you can strut your stuff. The whole atmosphere makes for a casual and memorable evening out, Bajan style.
Holetown: The first inhabited town in Barbados lies on the west coast. Originally called Jamestown, after its benefactor King James I of England, the area is quite small but has a lot to see and do. Two shopping malls and Chattel Village, a colourful collection of shops selling arts and crafts, will keep shopaholics busy. There's a wide variety of restaurants and bars located in town and on the beach front. If visiting in February join in the celebrations of the annual Holetown Festival, a week long carnival of live music, performances, street parades and lots of singing and dancing to celebrate the town's heritage.
Speightstown: The second largest town in Barbados is famed for its vibrant atmosphere, rich culture and bohemian lifestyle. Speightstown is the only place you can see some of the original architecture – historical buildings that date back to the island's early settlement and colonial houses that once belonged to wealthy merchants. It's a wonderful place to wander around. Many street vendors offer passers by fresh fruits, vegetables and other local produce from their stalls. There are several art galleries you can visit including the Gallery of Caribbean Art and Gang of Four Gallery, which displays the work of local artists.
Things to Do
Barbados Wildlife Reserve: Take a walk on the wild side – literally - in this nature sanctuary where most animals can roam freely in their own natural environment. Only a few creatures are encased for safety. Interact with the animals, feeding and playing with them. You'll get the chance to see brightly coloured birds including parrots, flamingos and peacocks. Reptile lovers can look out for various species of snakes, iguanas, turtles and tortoises. But the animal you should definitely seek out is the Barbados green monkey. The best time to see them is the afternoon when it's feeding time.
Festivals: There are a number of festivals held throughout the year in Barbados that celebrate the culture of the island and embrace the Bajan way of life. Crop Over is Barbados's biggest and most colourful festival. Held from the beginning of June until the first Monday in August, the whole island gets taken over by the party spirit. The man and woman who have harvested the most crops throughout the year are crowned 'King and Queen of the Crop'. Revellers can expect a mix of live music, traditional dancing, carnivals, and markets. The whole festival culminates with a costume parade called Kadamoot Day.
Mount Gay Distillery Tour: You can't leave Barbados without trying its most loved drink – rum. The island is home to rum shops, rum cakes, rum punch, and pretty much anything else rum-based. There are even parties dedicated to the spirit. What better way to sample the tipple and enjoy the rum-soaked culture than by taking a tour of a distillery. One of the island's most popular brands is Mount Gay, and the Mount Gay Visitor Center offers 40 minute tours which include a tasting.
Getting Married: Barbados is one of the most popular places for couples who want a tropical wedding. Because of the high demand to get married on the island, all-inclusive luxury resorts like Couples Barbados on Dover Beach offer wedding packages in a range of styles to suit your tastes and budget. These packages offer to take the stress and burdens of planning your big day and organise everything for you from the cake and flowers to the celebrant and photographer. Even the marriage certificate is sorted out for you. All you have to do is turn up and say “I do”.