Barbados... one of the best liked islands in the region
Barbados is one of the most popular and well known islands in the Caribbean, appealing to experienced travellers and first timers alike. With its white sand beaches and clear blue sea it's an obvious choice for the traveller looking to relax and unwind in paradise.
Barbados's tropical, year round climate is a great pull for travellers from far and wide, the weather being at its best in the high season of mid December to mid April and you'll be pleased to know, low rainfall and wonderful cooling trade winds to temper the heat of the sun drenched days.
Leave your visit till summer, especially September and things get seriously hot with humidity virgin on being oppressive, plus there's the threat of the hurricane season which runs from June to October. It's worth noting however that a big hurricane hits approx. only once every decade.
Barbados was for more than 3 centuries, a British colony and this has left its mark on the island which unsurprisingly retains a subtle British feel. The horse -racing, place names, the polo and the many Anglican parish churches all add to this fact.
Tour the island on its many sugar cane bordered roads and you will find small local rum shops, plantation houses, botanical gardens, military forts and signal stations plus of course many beautiful palm fringed beaches and bays - some busy some deserted. You will find areas of the island where tourists outnumber the local Bajans, especially on the south and west coasts but travel by bus, taxi or rental car to the rarely explored north or the rugged and beautiful east coast and you will find complete island solitude, punctuated with breathtaking views and scenery.
The national museum is in the capital, Bridgetown, the busiest and most populated place on the island, this is where you will find the larger schools and bajan business and of greater interest to most travellers, great duty free shopping opportunities, local markets, restaurants and nightlife.
Check out the many restaurants and bars with stunning sea views or the many other eateries and bars with their first rate food and Caribbean charm... and don't miss Crane Beach in St. Phillip, one of the top ten beaches in the world - Harrison's Cave, the only one of its kind in the Caribbean - The Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill, The only intact windmill in Barbados
A brief Guide to Barbados regions...
Barbados South Coast - Main resort area with fantastic white sand beaches, restaurants and many hotels and guesthouses.
Barbados Southeast Coast - Fields of sugar can punctuated by small churches, villages, rum shops quaint chattel houses… an area once frequented by the smugglers of old.
Barbados West Coast - This is where the stars and the rich live, in homes scattered along the miles of white sand beaches that run northward from Bridgetown. The beaches remain open to all visitors and along the coastal road you will find small towns such as Holetown which boasts restaurants, banking and shopping then you will come upon Speightstown, a calm and sleepy place which once was a busy port for the island.
Barbados Central Region - Sugarcane and more sugarcane is the one thing you cant miss while traveling away from the coast, occasional small holdings, and natural attractions make for some interesting sights.
Barbados North - Great views of some rugged beaches, constantly bashed by the fierce Atlantic waves. Check out the green monkeys at the Barbados wildlife reserve.
Barbados East Coast - If you want peace and tranquility on Barbados then this is where you'll find it… empty beaches, small villages, its an area of great scenery and loved by surfers and hikers… escape the tourist beaches for a day.
