BARBADOS HAS IT ALL!
PERFECT FOR FOODIES, EXPLORERS, HISTORIANS AND ADVENTURERS
BARBADOS might be small, but it packs quite a punch. Ringed by soft-sand beaches and the crystal-clear waters of the Caribbean Sea, this beautiful island offers treasures for every kind of traveller — the foodie, the explorer, the historian and the adventurer.
From fantastic cuisine and famous rums to World Heritage sites and natural wonders, there’s more to Barbados than meets the eye.
Each day promises new experiences, discoveries and lasting memories, perfect for those who love mixing cultural and wellbeing experiences with their world explorations.
RUM AND SOUL FOOD
BARBADOS specialises in the kind of food that feeds the soul — meals that make you want to book a flight just to savour it again.
You haven’t really had fish until you’ve tried the island’s fried flying fish, grilled marlin or lobster and shrimp — and you haven’t really tasted rum until you’ve had a Bajan rum punch at sunset.
With more than 100 exquisite restaurants on the island, from fine dining establishments to beach eateries and street food stands, this is the culinary capital of the Caribbean, featuring European, American and Asian influences alongside delicious Bajan fare.
For the ultimate fun night out, visit the Oistins Fish Fry on a Friday or Saturday night and party with locals to the sweet strains of reggae or calypso music coming from the dance hall.
Or join a more mature crew of Bajans grooving arm in arm to music from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.
Dancing builds up an appetite, so head for the stalls and taste Bajan food cooked in front of you, such as swordfish or mahi-mahi, washed down with a cold Banks beer. Meanwhile, the Mount Gay distillery, founded in 1703, is considered the birthplace of rum — and rated as the best in the world.
So do be sure to book a rum tour — you’ll be glad you made the journey from beach to bottle.
TURTLES AND TEE-OFFS
WANT to try your hand at diving?
Barbados is the perfect place to learn, and novices can also enjoy night dives on some of the shallow reefs and wrecks. Spot corals and sponges, as well as parrotfish, turtles, eels and seahorses.
Golf lovers are spoilt for choice here, too, with five PGA-standard golf courses, and major events through the year including the Sir Garry Sobers Tournament involving almost 300 players.
FUN SAFARI TOURS
TO SEE the hidden side of the island, you could take a magical safari 4x4 Land Rover tour, revealing lush valleys, remote bays and stunning coastal views.
Embrace the nature, history, culture and folklore of Barbados as you travel off-road with a knowledgeable guide for a day of fun, adventure and sightseeing.
A safari tour could see you drop in on rum producers, for sampling sessions. Discover flora and fauna in tropical forests packed with plant species and birds, ascend to majestic peaks, or explore coastal reserves where leatherback turtles nest. You can even take a sea safari by boat to learn about the wonders lying beneath the Caribbean Sea.
TROPICAL GARDENS
BRIDGETOWN’S historic Garrison is a must to explore — a Unesco World Heritage site, with buildings dating back to the 17th century.
Walking and foodie tours can be found here, as well as museums. And in the heart of Barbados, at Bathsheba St Joseph, you’ll find the Andromeda Botanic Gardens, owned by the Barbados National Trust and known for its unparalleled collection of tropical plants, trees and flowers.
There’s much more to delight you in this island paradise, which visitors often imagine is a oncein-a-lifetime destination, but soon discover is a place they want to return to, time and time again.
And not least because of the welcoming Bajans, whose captivating sense of joy makes for a unique culture that’s as warm and sunny as the skies above. To find out more, go to visitbarbados.org.