Welcome to Barbados, the piece of heaven slightly going out of the path of the rest of the Caribbean Islands.
Perfect for a romantic or family vacation where the main thing to do is to enjoy life and relax, while swimming with turtles, discovering shipwrecks or doing some water sports. Looking for more? Thanks to the historical ongoing British influence other typical for the island activities are cricket, horse racing, polo and afternoon tea.
The landscapes are relatively flat but here you will find some of the most pristine tropical beaches and clear waters. The reason for Barbados’s topography to be so even compared to other islands is that it is predominantly made up of coral buildup formations through the ocean’s surface which is differentiating it from the largest group of the Caribbean Islands most of which were formed by volcanic eruptions.
This means you might also forget your hiking boots at home and pack only sandals, swimsuits, good sunscreen, insect repellent and some nice evening wear.
Note that instead of Barbadian the locals use Bajan. The Bajans are proud of their island being the birthplace of Rihanna. The place where the sun ‘’shines bright like a diamond’’ was previously also home to two infamous pirates of Barbados – Sam Lord and Stede Bonnet. You didn’t expect me to be in the Caribbean and not mention some ‘’pirates of the Caribbean’’, right?
GENERAL INFORMATION
Once being a British colony, Barbados became independent in 1966. However, they are still in a very close relationship with the British Monarch and the Queen continues to be the head of state of Barbados.
Location: Barbados is the most easterly island of the Caribbean region of North America. It is located in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies.
Size: 432 km2; 34 km long; 23 km wide
Capital: Bridgetown was originally named the ‘’Indian Bridge’’ because of the bridge which was constructed back then by the Indians. Later they called it the ‘’town of St.Michael’’ and in 1654 they named it Bridgetown when they built a new bridge with which they replaced the Indian Bridge.
Population: According to the latest data 287,371
Official languages: English and Bajan Creole
Currency: Barbadian / Bajan dollar. For reference: 1 BBD = 0.44 EUR; 1 BBD = 0.50 USD
Best time to visit: Plan going during the dry season between December and early April when the daily temperatures are around 30 degrees.
If you plan to go surfing, then November to June is the best time to ride the waves.
What to pack: As I’ve already mentioned above – you can go light with your luggage and simply pack your sandals, bikinis, lots of sunscreens and insect repellent, but also prepare to go a bit more fancy for dinner.
How to get around:
1. From the airport to our hotel we took a taxi. They have fixed prices as the cabs in Barbados are not equipped with onboard metres. The cost of each ride varies depending on the distance. Simply ask for the price before ordering a taxi.
2. While being in Barbados, most probably you won’t need to move too much around or to cross long distances. Of course, you want to explore the island but I believe you won’t need to rent a car for more than a day or two. This shall be enough to explore this paradise and the most popular beaches and sights. Keep in mind that the Bajans drive on the left side of the road plus you will have to pay a small additional fee for a visitor’s driving license.
3. If you’d prefer instead of renting a car you can go for a group tour. There are daily organized bus tours which will bring you to all the interesting sights.
COVID-19: Covid-19 restrictions and entry requirements are continuously changing. Make sure to always check the official website of the country you go to.
For Barbados, this is: COVID-19 TRAVEL GUIDELINES - Visit Barbados
WHERE TO STAY
ST. JAMES aka the 'platinum coast': My boyfriend and I stayed at three amazing hotels/resorts and we loved them all so I will simply add them in the order of our visit. They are all located along the coastline of the Caribbean Sea, on the west coast of Barbados. Every evening for dinner each of them had live music but what impressed me the most is that they’ve been all asking us if we have any food allergies or special dietary restrictions. Being plant-based is not always easy, but Barbados positively surprised me with that.
Fairmont Royal Pavilion
All rooms at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion are oceanfront and the beach is just a step away from the comfort of your room. I honestly couldn’t have imagined a better kick in 2022. Expect a rich breakfast and great dining options and all this accompanied by a spectacular view and the sound of the sea.
Instagram: @fairmontroyalpavilion
Book here: Fairmont Royal Pavilion
The Sandpiper Barbados
Family-owned and managed, The Sandpiper and the entire staff made our experience unique. Comfort and beautiful facilities nestled in the nature between tree shades and the calming music of the ocean.
The first morning there we spotted a few curious monkeys strolling around and a little mongoose passing by the garden of our suite. These are the moments I cherish the most. The connection between all forms of life is making me feel even more alive.
Instagram: @the_sandpiper_barbados
Book here: The Sandpiper Barbados
Coral Reef Club Barbados
We were truly impressed by this resort and its beautiful flower gardens plus most of their coral-stone cottages have a sea view. We stayed at one of their best suites – Luxury Plantation Suite, which is super spacious with a giant terrace, bathroom, living room, beautiful bedroom and a private pool… You can imagine that it was difficult for us to leave this place.
Instagram: @coralreefclub
Book here: Coral Reef Club Barbados
POINTS OF INTEREST ON THE ISLAND
BEACHES
Batshsheba - to come here you will have to drive through the less flat and developed part of the island. This iconic beach located on the east coast of Barbados is the ultimate photography and surfer’s paradise location. Its giant waves coming from the Atlantic Ocean don’t advertise or advise it as a swimming destination, on the contrary – it is considered dangerous to do so. However, even if you come only for the landscapes, the trip to Bathsheba is totally worth it, no scratch that – it is a must-visit beach!
Time to admire the dramatic rocks and the natural pools which are formed along the beach.
Thanks to the light and the moisture mixing, those stunning rock formations can get very mysterious and slightly wrapped in mist during sunset which makes the scenery even more-jaw dropping.
What broke my heart though is that on the beach there is plenty of rubbish brought out by the ocean… Why?!
Bath Beach – stepping out of the rule and despite the fact that it’s on the Atlantic coast, it is one of the best beaches for swimming in Barbados. There you could even find a small waterfall.
Crane Beach is located on the southern coast in St. Philip. Often considered as one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, Crane Beach’s white sands have a pink tint in them. Depending on the light you could see hints to those shades of pink. The beach is surrounded by cliffs and sub-tropical vegetation.
Pebbles Beach – located on the south-western coast of Barbados. Here you will find the whitest sands, calm, clear waters and some of the most impressive shades of blue of the Caribbean Sea. The Pebbles beach is overlooking Carlisle Bay famous for its 6 shipwrecks. This makes it a very popular spot for scuba diving and snorkelling.
Brownes Beach – located right next to Pebbles Beach. Brownes Beach is the main stretch of beach in Bridgetown and it’s famous for the beautiful crystal-clear waters. Watersports paradise and a great starting point for scuba diving and snorkelling at Carlisle Bay.
Dover Beach – on the south coast of Barbados. This wide pristine beach offers a variety of watersports like Hobie Cat sailing, boogie boarding, windsurfing, jet skiing and so on.
Apart from the magnificent beaches, to your itinerary, you could also include some historic sights, caves, gardens, plantations and so on.
CHATTEL HOUSES
You might have noticed the tiny houses nestled everywhere on the island. These portable homes are seen as a symbol of freedom because they were owned by the newly freed slaves or plantation workers. The enslaved people built their ‘’chattels’’ in a way that allows them to take their houses easily apart and relocate them. This was very important because at that time those people were able to own the house but not the land. The landlord was usually their employer and if they were fired from their job they also had to leave the place. This is the reason why the Chattel houses were made to move from place to place.
BRIDGETOWN
Don’t skip visiting and catching the vibe of the capital. The main sites of Bridgetown are the Parliament Buildings, the National Heroes Squares, and the famous Chamberlain Bridge also known as The Careenage.
If you have enough time you could also go to see St. Michael’s Cathedral, Nidhe Israel Synagogue, find the 1000-year-old baobab tree in Queen’s Park, visit George Washington House and the Garrison Tunnels, the Guard House, and the Barbados Museum.
HARRISON’S CAVE ECO-ADVENTURE PARK
This crystallized, limestone cave is located in the heart of the island. A great place to admire the natural phenomenon and beauty of the hanging stalactites, growing from the ground stalagmites, the flowing streams and deep pools of crystal-clear water. The cave is about 2,3 km long with an average interior temperature of 27C.
There is also an electrically operated tram tour driving the visitors through the caves. Throughout the ride, tour guides are providing the visitors with information and interesting historical facts about the cave.
CARLISLE BAY
This crescent-shaped bay and natural harbour has been turned into a marine park and it’s one of the most popular spots for scuba diving on the island. Discover the hidden on the ocean’s floor shipwreck remains, anchors and cannonballs.
Here are the other top dive sites in Barbados: Stavronikita, The Boot, Cement Plant Piers, Consett Bay.
MOUNT GAY RUM TOUR
Did you know that Barbados produces the world’s oldest rum with a history of over 350 years? A fun fact is that the Bajans who first distilled rum called it ‘’Kill-Devil’’.
However, the world’s oldest rum distillery is Mount Gay Rum (since 1703). They produce one of the most famous rums in Barbados. Their rum and the local rum known as Cockspur are the two favourites among the islanders.
WILDLIFE
Wherever we go, we are very interested to know about the wildlife of the place. In Barbados, we encountered most of the typical for the island animals like monkeys, hummingbirds, mongooses, lizards, whistling frogs, black belly sheep. In the Caribbean Sea, we also spotted plenty of Atlantic flyingfish, but we didn’t see the sea turtles this time.
Did you fall in love with Barbados already? I am sure you did. Who would say no to those heavenly beaches, right? Stay tuned, because I am starting an article about the next Caribbean Island we went to and it is one of those destinations which simply drop your jaw down for hours after you’ve first seen them…