.png)
There’s something in the air in Barbados—a laid-back ease that speaks to every kind of traveler, from the well-heeled clientele of luxe resorts on the western “Platinum Coast” to bohemian adventurers drawn to the more freewheeling eastern shores. The island is divided into 11 parishes, each with its own character and unique attractions, but all united by the warmly inclusive spirit of the Bajan people. No wonder so many visitors return, year after year.
Choosing where to stay is an appealing challenge, as Barbados boasts an incredible number and variety of hotels, resorts, and guesthouses. Let your mood guide you to the perfect spot, be it the grandest grande dame of them all, the legendary Sandy Lane—in posh St. James Parish, on the serene Caribbean-facing west coast—or the ECO Lifestyle + Lodge, a beautiful back-to-nature guesthouse overlooking the dramatic Atlantic surf to the east.
To truly experience the island in full, consider splitting your stay between the two coasts, or opting for one of many accommodations in Christ Church, the fun-loving parish on the southern shore. Little Arches is a standout—an adults-only boutique hotel on a romantic bay, boasting one of the island’s best restaurants, Café Luna. On this island, known as the culinary capital of the Caribbean, that’s really saying something.
Feasts & Festivals
Like the overall culture, Bajan cuisine reflects a rich variety of influences, from Caribbean and West Indian to European and African. Be sure to sample traditional local favorites, like flying fish—served on a bun with hot sauce, or accompanied by cou-cou, a mixture of cornmeal and okra. Oistins Friday Night Fish Fry in Christ Church is a must-do—for the quintessentially fresh Bajan fare, and for the lively crowd that turns out for it. Old and young; ritzy and boho; surfers, golfers, and polo players—all can be found mixing and mingling, caught up in the irresistible good mood of the island at this ultra-casual, ultra-festive weekly shindig.
When you’re in the mood for fine dining, Barbados effortlessly kicks it up a notch with foodie meccas such as The Cliff, chef Paul Owens’s renowned restaurant in St. James. Some say this is the place that put Barbados on the international culinary map, catalyzing the island’s emergence as a gastronomic hot spot. If so, then its worthy descendants would have to include nearby Daphne’s, where chef Kirk Ruck reinvents Italian classics with the freshest seafood imaginable.
If the dining options seem innumerable, wait until you check out the rum shops. This is the birthplace of the sugarcane spirit, and no Barbados experience would be complete without visiting at least a few of the roughly 1,500 shops that dot the landscape. Many are located in brightly painted chattel houses that spill over with locals and visitors sipping delicious rum, exchanging the latest news and gossip, and playing dominoes. Maybe you consider yourself too shy for the scene? Don’t be surprised if that quality is charmed right out of you by the friendliness of the atmosphere; Bajans are born hosts.
To really get a taste of Barbadian rum culture, embark on a rum safari tour or pay a visit to the Mount Gay Distillery & Visitor Centre in Bridgetown. Better still, time your visit to coincide with the annual Barbados Food & Rum Festival, an island-wide celebration in October, featuring celebrity chefs and mixologists hosting beachside tastings and other events. Another not-to-be-missed fete is the Crop Over Festival, a 200-year-old tradition honoring the end of the sugarcane season. This sweetest of celebrations stretches over six weeks in the summer, with dusk-to-dawn parties, local craft displays, and food fairs.
Choose Your Own Adventure
This island hosts festivals and events all year long, but the truth is there’s an endless array of activities to choose from no matter when you come. Your Barbados experience moves at the pace you choose, whether you’re a thrill-seeker determined to catch a wave at the Soup Bowl, Bathsheba’s ultimate surf spot, or a wanderer more inclined to connect with the local flora and fauna at St. Peter’s Wildlife Reserve or the stunning botanicals at Orchid World & Tropical Flower Garden, in the lush parish of St. George.
Barbados offers every kind of soft adventure imaginable, on water or land. Explore the varied terrain on a mountain bike, or better yet on horseback, from the stunning beaches to the hilly interior. Harrison’s Cave, in the parish of St. Thomas, offers an unforgettable underground adventure in a crystallized limestone wonderland. If you want to see even more of the island’s most glorious hidden treasures, a 4x4 safari tour is a great way to go, particularly in the remote eastern and northeastern stretches.
Swim with sea turtles and other marine creatures in Folkestone Marine Park, where the coral reef teems with life and the calm, clear Caribbean waters offer peerless visibility. Most catamaran cruises offer the chance to jump in and swim, as well—but you’re also welcome to just sit back and enjoy your rum punch.
Clearly, Barbados is so much more than its beaches—but those beaches are undeniably among the best in the Caribbean: seventy miles of coastline, and all open to the public, so that citizens and visitors can enjoy them equally. Take your pick, from the serene shores of Mullins and Reeds Bay on the west coast to the more exciting waves at Crane and Bottom Bay in the east. Miami and Silver Sands, on the southern shore, offer the best of both worlds.
The easternmost island in the Caribbean, Barbados is surprisingly easy to get to. With nonstop flights from many cities, you can be toasting the sunset with a rum punch in seemingly no time, with very little of the multi-leg hassle that often accompanies tropical island getaways. No wonder it’s been ranked the top destination in the world for visitor satisfaction. More than a beach vacation, Barbados offers a way of life you simply can’t help becoming immersed in. Come as a visitor; leave as a friend.
Discover more at visitbarbados.org.