Barbados Attractions and Activities

Top Things To Do in Barbados

The Barbados Wildlife Reserve

The Barbados Wildlife Reserve-s resplendent mahogany forest is the roaming territory of green monkeys, tortoises, deer, raccoons, pelicans and otters. A walk-through aviary allows a leafy stroll with peacocks, turkeys, toucans, parrots, flamingoes, pelicans, lovebirds and macaws.

East Coast Road

Barbados-s East Coast Road, hemmed by crashing Atlantic waves, is one of the island-s most exciting drives. A rugged coastal route overlooks treacherous reefs with an inland road that weaves through rolling sugarcane to quaint plantation towns topped by church steeples.

Scuba diving

Barbados-s rainbow of coral reefs offers a pristine watery home to seahorses, sponges and giant sand eels. Hidden caves and shipwrecks provide plenty of underwater nooks and crannies along a shoreline nested by Hawksbill Turtles.

Rum tasting

Barbados is the birthplace of rum, and, understandably, rum is the island-s favourite tipple. A thousand rum bars offer plenty of choice while Mount Gay Rum, the oldest rum producer, on the island-s west coast offers tours - and tastings.

Cricket

Cricket is the national sporting obsession. Choose from barefoot village friendlies to international and local club cups - where many of the great names of West Indian cricket are honoured, most notably Sir Garfield Sobers.

Horse riding

It-s possible to gallop along the beach at sundown or simply trek along inland trails. Over two-dozen horse-riding events take place on the Garrison Savannah. Polo is also played to a high level by fiercely competitive Barbadian teams.

Crane Beach

The baby-pink sands of cliff-flanked Crane Beach, an idyllic spot that is one of the most beautiful on the island, are perfect for a stroll. Moderate, foamy waves draw a body-surfing crowd and there are plenty of shaded spots to chill out until the magical sunsets arrive.

Fishing

Wahoo, dorado, barracuda, tuna and sailfish, together with mighty blue marlin and shark, all patrol Barbados-s deep sea waters. There are plenty of game fishing tournaments and inshore competitions to join or just grab a rod and head to the jetty.

Watersports

The island-s rugged south and west coasts boast world-class watersports where windsurfers, jet skiers, parasailers and water skiers enjoy perfect conditions. To ride the waves head to the Soup Bowl, South Point and Rockley Beach, Barbados-s surfing mecca.

Guided hikes

The Barbados National Trust offers free guided hikes, which last around three hours and cover distances of 8 to 22km (5 to 14 miles). They are divided into three categories: stop-n-stare, where-n-there and grin-n-bear. Moonlit walks are also held.

Top Things To See in Barbados

Barbadian gardens

Rare fruit and spice trees are on display in Welchman Hall Gully-s magnificent botanic garden and an exotic array of blooms in Andromeda Gardens. Another highlight is the Flower Forest, a 20-hectare (50-acre) leafy garden rich in native plants.

Bridgetown

Barbados-s capital, Bridgetown is the best place to see the island-s colonial history and English character. There-s a miniature of London-s Trafalgar Square (now known as National Heroes Square), which boasts a statue of Lord Nelson - without the pigeons.

Viewpoints

Lofty Mount Hillaby, the island-s highest point at 343m (1,125ft), offers incredible panoramas across the east, west and northern coasts. Dramatic vistas also abound from St John-s Parish Church over miles of jagged coastline and moss-covered family vaults dotted with tropical flora.

Caves

The sea anemone-covered Animal Flower Cave is a cavern of coral rock and flowers. Harrison-s Cave is another jaw-dropping spectacle: a mysterious subterranean world and geological phenomenon abundant in stalactites, stalagmites, deep emerald pools and waterfall cascades.

Colonial architecture

The Jacobean St Nicholas Abbey is graced with ornate Persian arches and well-kept gardens. Although now in ruins, Farley Hill is still covered in hibiscus and poinsettias and is one of the island-s most storied plantation houses.

Chalky Mount Potteries

Barbados-s famous Chalky Mount potters are renowned for their high-quality inexpensive art. You can watch the local potters at work at the wheel fashioning centuries-old designs - a respected 300-year-old tradition.

Tyrol Cot

Tyrol Cot, the grand former home of Sir Grantley Adams, the first premier of Barbados, is a stunning example of local architectural styles. Constructed in 1854, this architectural gem characterizes an interesting mixture of Palladian and tropical vernacular - beautifully restored by the Barbados National Trust.

Morgan Lewis Mill

The aged and charming Morgan Lewis Mill is one of only two of the Caribbean-s intact sugar mills, and a noteworthy example of a Dutch windmill from the days of the sugar cane planters.

Going Out in Barbados

Food and Drink

A good range of restaurants offer an array of international and Bajan cuisines to suit every budget, from grilled meat joints and street-food markets to upscale diners. Replica British pubs are popular and serve genuine British bitter and stout - often with fish-and-chip bar snacks.

National specialities:
• Cutters (large flying fish sandwiches, often served with coucou (seasoned cornmeal topped with spiced tomatoes, onion and peppers)).
• Conkies (cornmeal blended with coconut, pumpkin, raisins, sweet potato and spices steamed in a banana leaf).
• Rice'n'peas (made from a local bean and usually flavoured with coconut).
• Sea eggs (devilled sea urchin roe).
• Souse, or Pickled Pork (brawn with tomato).
• Other local specialities include crane chubb, grilled pigtail, conch fritters, plantains and breadfruit.

National drinks:
• All types of rum-based cocktails including rum punch, planters punch and pina coladas.
• Top rum brands include Cockspur-s Five Star and Mount Gay (the oldest rum blend on the island).
• The local beer is Banks.
• Falernum (rum, sugar, lime and almond essence).
• Mauby (non alcoholic, made from the boiled, strained and sweetened bark of a local tree), tastes like an extremely potent sarsaparilla.

Legal drinking age: 18.

Tipping: Allow for 10 to 15% in restaurants, round-up taxi fares and tip porters at around a dollar a bag.

Nightlife

West Indians love to party, be it in a nightclub, disco, bar or simply on the beach. Entertainment is everywhere, from limbo dancing, fire eaters, steel bands and live music. Most bands play calypso and reggae, but a few play excellent R'n'B. There is usually a small cover charge. As in all Caribbean countries, swinging nightspots tend to come and go with seasons. Twilight boat cruises with live entertainment, free-flowing rum and local food are very popular; most sail twice daily. Caribbean-style dinner shows are also well attended and typically feature steel pans and dancing men on stilts, BBQ food and free drinks until the early hours.

Shopping

As a trading hub since the early 1600s, Barbados has a long history of commerce and boasts excellent links with merchandisers throughout the Caribbean. High quality, inexpensive goods and first-class service await shoppers and Barbados is the eastern Caribbean-s tax-free haven. Umpteen chichi boutiques and funky street stalls are found along the coast. Bridgetown is the shopping epicentre and boasts major Caribbean chains as well as local crafts. Local specialities range from rum, straw goods, painted silk prints (batik) and woodcrafts with black coral and shell jewellery especially popular buys.

Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1700, Sat 0830-1600 (supermarkets are open longer on Saturdays).