Barbados is an island of fun with a rich history and a vibrant culture. One could never describe this Caribbean island as sleepy. Here time never stays still and there is always a festival, a party or an event to keep both the locals and tourists active and happy. You’ll find plenty of luxury resorts and famous restaurants but this doesn’t mean that small rum bars or cozy hotels can’t find their place in the scenery. Barbados has prepared adventures for all five senses so be ready to embrace them all and have fun!
Go to the beach
Of course, Barbados is all about the beaches. You’ll find some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean on this island, popular stretches of white, soft sand but also calm coves and secret gems. If you’re looking for a quiet oasis of relaxation, be lazy on the Paradise Beach, Mullins Beach or Paynes Beach on the west coast of Barbados, while if you want to try some boogie boarding, choose the easy waves at Accra Beach or Rockley Beach, on the southern coast. Regardless where you’re staying in Barbados, do visit the superb Carlisle Bay, near Bridgetown, the island’s capital, that astonishes with its impossibly calm and turquoise waters. Don’t hesitate to step on the pink sand of Crane Beach, an idyllic beach perfect for sunbathing and spectacular photos.
Snorkel and scuba-dive
A paradise for water sports aficionados, Barbados has a magical underwater world. Snorkeling and diving are fabulous in Barbados, especially in the south and west parts of the island where you’ll swim along with turtles, sea horses, giant sand eels and frogfish. It’s enough to go underwater in Paynes Bay or at Folkstone Marine Park without necessarily booking a tour ahead and you’ll encounter the superb exotic underwater paradise of Barbados. Carlisle Bay is a famous spot for wreck diving, inviting divers to explore more than 200 wrecks.
Hike and stop to smell the flowers
You won’t find soaring peaks or tropical rainforests in Barbados but this is still a tropical island dressed in lush and splendid wild vegetation. The highest point of the island is Mount Hillaby. With an altitude of 343 m, this peak offers superb panoramas across the east, west, and northern coasts. Hiking in Barbados gives you the opportunity to discover the variety of landscapes and parishes on the island. You can join the free hiking tours provided by Hike Barbados that will help you get to the less accessible areas of the island. This is a great way to meet the locals, exercise and capture splendid views of Barbados. Or you can opt for a self-guided hike in Welchman Hall Gully’s botanic garden or in Andromeda Gardens to discover rare fruit trees.
Tour the caves
Cave tours are one of the most popular fun things to do on the island. Tourists especially love the Animal Flower Cave, home to the spectacular animal flowers, a type of small sea anemone. You’ll find it on the northernmost tip of the island, in a superb scenery dominated by rugged cliffs and turquoise waters. You should also explore the Harrison Cave, home to an enchanting world of stalactites, stalagmites, waterfalls, lakes, and streams. This is an awe-inspiring spectacle created entirely by Mother Nature.
Taste the rum and visit the mill
This is your chance to taste the oldest rum in the world because Barbados is home to Mount Gay Rum, the world’s oldest rum producer. The rum factory awaits on the west coast of the island with absolutely magnificent rum and fascinating rum-related stories. Visit Morgan Lewis Mill too, one of the only two Caribbean sugar mills that are still intact, a beautiful example of Dutch windmill that dates back to the days of the sugar cane planters.
Admire the architecture and explore Bridgetown
Whether it’s colonial or local architecture, you’ll find that the island’s architecture is superb. The Jacobean St Nicholas Abbey is a lovely example of colonial architecture adorned with Persian arches and superb gardens, while the renovated George Washington House and Museum illustrates the beauty of plantation houses. Local architecture is exemplified through the Tyrol Cot, the grandiose former house of Sir Grantley Adams, the first premier of the island. For more examples of colonial architecture, just visit Bridgetown and make sure you don’t miss the National Heroes Square, home to the statue of Lord Nelson that dates back to 1813, and stop for a while to admire the Parliament Buildings and Bridgetown Synagogue.
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