Wanderlust Travel Magazine (UK)
FIND YOUR ADVENTURE IN Barbados
Beyond its postcard-perfect beaches, this diverse Caribbean island appeals to every type of traveller – but which kind are you?
Sure, Barbados is blessed with profuse pink and white sands – but it’s far from just another beach destination. This beautiful island is packed with tantalising experiences to thrill every kind of traveller: foodies, explorers, historians and more. Take a deeper dive into this Caribbean gem to discover a kaleidoscope of places, people, flavours and wild wonders.
THE EXPLORER
Barbados is an adventurer’s dream. On shore, verdant and undulating landscapes provide a playground for active pursuits. The windswept east coast is famed for its rugged beauty and wave-crashed, rocky shores – ripe for exploring on foot. Hikers head inland to Coco Hill Forest, or join cyclists on the evolving Barbados Trailway, repurposing a disused railway line that snakes through fields south of The Valley, St George. Delving into lush central rainforests, you’ll encounter hummingbirds and other feathered species flitting among shady gullies and waterfalls. Meanwhile, beneath the waves you can dive among sponge-encrusted shipwrecks and reefs bustling with dazzling marine life. All in all, Barbados boasts ample activities to enthral any activity-lover.
THE CULTURE SEEKER
Barbados is a true cultural melting pot, with indigenous Taino and Kalinago, West African and European influences mixing to create a vibrant tapestry of traditions and lifestyles. That rich heritage is reflected in the Bajan dialect, blending English with African languages. Church is a focal point for many, from local Sunday services to the annual Gospelfest music and arts festival; others practice the Rastafarian religion.
Music is life in Barbados, spanning a range of styles: you’ll certainly hear the reggae and soca tunes so popular across the Caribbean, but also local specialities such as tuk and spouge – a unique Bajan fusion of calypso and ska. Don’t miss the chance to absorb the island’s rich folklore, too – stories of the mischievous spidery trickster Anansi, or of the rolling calf, a terrifying ‘duppy’ or evil spirit.
Bajans love dancing, of course; watch for performances by the Landship troupe, mimicking a British naval vessel on land. To really take the island’s pulse, though, head to the Kensington Oval. At Barbados’ worldfamous sporting venue, you’ll begin to understand that cricket is more than just the national game – it runs red-hot through Bajan veins.
THE HISTORIAN
More than four and a half centuries after Portuguese explorer Pedro Campos landed here in 1536, dubbing the island Los Barbados (‘the bearded ones’) for its vinestrewn trees, it’s a treasure trove of historical landmarks. Soon after Barbados became an English colony in 1625, sugar-cane plantations were established; the early 18th-century Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill is one of only two working sugar windmills in the world. Built in 1818, Gun Hill Signal Station in St George played a key role in defending the island from attack; today it’s a popular tourist attraction, affording spectacular views across the whole island as well as insights into Barbados’ military history. Another unmissable landmark is George Washington
House, where the first US president reputedly stayed during a 1751 visit, now a fascinating museum. In capital Bridgetown’s historic heart, particularly around the Garrison historic area and St Ann’s Fort, you can roam among Georgian-era houses and barrack buildings. In short, you’ll find heritage stretching back over four and a half centuries waiting to be explored.
THE FOODIE
With more than 100 world-class eateries across the island, it is hardly surprising that Barbados has been called the culinary capital of the Caribbean. As you stroll around Bridgetown, the aromas of sweet breadfruit, spicy Bajan black pudding and freshly cooked fish tantalise the senses. Sustainable farm-to-table dining is championed at Local & Co, a tempting oceanside restaurant also boasting an art exhibition and marketplace. For romantic fine dining head to Champers, perched on a Christ Church clifftop. Just to the west, top chef Barry Taylor conjures up Pan Asian cuisine with a Caribbean twist at Naru.
Typical Bajan food is an informal fusion of American, European and Asian flavours: try, for example, the national dish, fried flying fish with cou-cou (cornmeal and okra) and spicy gravy. Each Friday night, locals flock to the Oistins Fish Fry for grilled or fried seafood and lively entertainment. Other musttaste dishes include the spicy stew called pepperpot, and jug-jug, a kind of haggis with sorghum, pork and pigeon peas. Finally, no visit to Barbados is complete without a tasting at Mount Gay rum distillery – the world’s oldest, dating from 1703.