Barbados

What to do in Barbados

The Barbados Wildlife Reserve

This reserve is located in natural mahogany woods, where you have a unique opportunity to stroll freely through what is primarily a Green Monkey sanctuary. The green monkeys originally came from West Africa about 350 years ago, and today's population is the 75th generation! St Peter.

Harrison's Cave

A unique phenomenon of nature, this cave is an amazing gallery of stalactites hanging from the roof of the cave, and stalagmites emerging from the ground, with waterfalls that form deep emerald pools. The stalactites and stalagmites take thousands of years to grow and, in some places, the two meet in the middle to form a "pillar of time." Expert tour guides provide historical and geological information. St Thomas.

Day Cruises

Cruise through the translucent waters of the west coast to a secluded bay, where you'll spend the day relaxing in a hammock on the beach, snorkeling over coral reefs, and exploring the tropical scenery like a carefree castaway. You might even find yourself on a festive pirate ship that adds calypso music and pirate punch to the mix.

Starlight Party Cruise

Sail into the sunset with dinner and unlimited drinks, as you enjoy fabulous floor shows, and dancing music spun by one of Barbados' hottest resident DJs.

Scuba Diving

The diving in Barbados has everything you dream of - healthy sponges, thriving corals and plant life, and a kaleidoscope of colorful fish. The barrier reefs, + to 2 miles offshore, contain large coral head habitats that lure big animals like the Hawksbill Turtle; fringes and patching reefs are found closer to shore with smaller corals and abundant plant life, as well as a sea horses, frog fish, giant sand eels, and more. There is also an excellent collection of wrecks, with over 200 reported wrecks in Carlisle Bay alone! Most of the popular sites are found along the west and southwest coasts.

The Baobab Tree

The Baobab tree (also known as the "monkey-bread" tree) was brought to Barbados around 1738 from Guinea. Two of these magnificent trees - with possibly the widest trunks in the Caribbean - grow in Barbados, the largest found in Queen's Park. It takes 15 adults joining outstretched arms to cover the circumference of its base! Bridgetown.

St Nicholas Abbey

Barbados is the home of 2 of the 3 Jacobean Mansions left in the Western Hemisphere. St Nicholas Abbey was built in 1660. Distinguishing features of this elegant and well-preserved mansion include curved Dutch gables, chimney stacks, coral stone finials, and a Chinese Chippendale staircase. St Nicholas Abbey even has with a wistful tale of romantic tragedy you will learn from your guide! St Peter.

Drax Hall

Built in the 1650s by the Drax brothers, this is one of the earliest and biggest sugar properties in Barbados. Its classic Jacobean architecture features steep gable roofs, corner finials, casement gable windows, and a carved staircase archway. St George.

Morgan Lewis Mill

This is one of the only 2 intact and restored sugar mills in the Caribbean. It includes an exhibit of the processing equipment from a time when the industry was run by wind power. The most surprising architectural feature is the make-up of the rubble walls, which are comprised of boulders held together with a mixture of egg-white and coral dust (there was no cement when this plantation house was built)! St Andrew.

Jewish Synagogue

Bridgetown's only synagogue was built in the 1660s by 300 Brazilian Jews escaping persecution by the Dutch. They are the ones who introduced sugar to Barbados, and with their help Barbados became one of the world's major sugar producers. It is now a Barbados National Trust building and an active synagogue. Bridgetown.

Cannons Galore

The Caribbean is still full of secrets, and a recently revealed one is that Barbados has the world's rarest collection of 17th-century English iron cannons - to date, more than 400 have been unearthed from gardens, cellars, beaches, buildings, and forts! The gem of the collection is the rarest cannon of its kind, a Cromwell Commonwealth Cannon. Only one other is known to exist and it is held in the Tower of London. St Michael.

Grapefruit Trees at Citrus Paradise

An old Barbadian legend says the grapefruit was created on this island in beautiful Welchman Hall Gully, first recorded in the 18th century. It is a hybrid of the Shaddock and Sweet Orange, and originally named the "Forbidden Fruit." The name was changed to "grapefruit" because it grows in large grape-like clusters. St Thomas.