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October 2, 2022October 3, 2022

Ten activities not to miss on Barbados

A lifeguard tower on a beach in Barbados.

People usually do not need convincing to go to Barbados, as it is on top of most of our must-visit lists. Among so many things this magical island has to offer, here are ten activities not to miss on Barbados. Bring your camera and comfortable shoes, and let Barbados enchant you.

Walk the Barbados Boardwalk

Now, there’s a walk to remember! Barbados Boardwalk is a solid structure deeply set in the sand that blends nicely with its breathtaking surroundings. It follows the coastline for a brisk stroll and takes in the air and views of the island you will never forget. Don’t be surprised if you bump into some of the rich and famous since, reportedly, Barbados is their playground.

Explore Bridgtown

As the largest city and the capital of Barbados, Bridgtown is the location to move to from abroad if you prefer the urban way of living. Of course, if your family is large, you have to plan this out together, but generally, it is our top choice for those accustomed to city life. This town will not let you get bored as all the usual city stuff is different here. You’ll find multiple unusual shopping locations, such as the Pelican Village, where you can buy local crafts, and Cheapside Market, offering almost everything. Of the truly unique things you can do here, the most interesting is the submarine tour you can take at night. The reefs and underwater world will be seen under the submarine’s bright lights. Bridgtown will show you life from a different and immensely entertaining perspective.

Hug the ginormous baobab tree in Queen’s Park

Spending a vacation in Barbados means you will be surrounded by the stunning artwork only nature can produce. To complete this experience, visit Queen’s Park to see a very large baobab tree. This tree is over a thousand years old, and it takes 15 people joining hands to cover its circumference. Baobab trees don’t grow just everywhere, so while in Barbados, don’t miss the chance to appreciate it and to teach your children about yet another beautiful gem nature has blessed us with.

One of the activities not to miss on Barbados is a turtles and shipwreck tour

Those with a thirst for adventure will be happy to learn you can explore a shipwreck using snorkeling equipment on Barbados. There’s a very fun cruise you can book that will take you on turtle sightseeing through the glass bottom of the boat. The shipwreck exploring is not obligatory, but there’s equipment for those who crave it onboard. Along the way, you will be able to explore the reefs as well and see the beauty many organizations are putting a lot of effort into saving.

A person diving next to a turtle. — One of the ten activities not to miss on Barbados is a tour that includes diving near the turtles and a shipwreck.

Take your family to Harrison’s Cave

The knowledgeable guides will take you on a tour through the Harrison Cave where you will see the most amazing deep pools and crystalized limestone natural ornaments. Your whole will love the area with zip-line activity and rainforest nature trail as well. A great place to create some awesome memories.

Barbados Wildlife Reserve – taking a zoo to a whole other level

No, this is not a zoo; this is a whole lot better! At Barbados Wildlife Reserve, you can see Barbados Green Monkey, macaws, and agouti (among other species), all at close range. Most animals are free, with very few being in cages which makes this place a must-see for all animal lovers.

A colorful macaw standing on a branch, looking at the camera. — In Barbados Wildlife Reserve, you will see the beautiful macaws.

Harbor Lights Show offers unforgettable food and music

Among the activities not to miss on Barbados is definitively Harbor Lights Show. The food that is served there is absolute perfection, a Bajan delight your taste buds will never forget. The music and the performers will wow you while you are sipping on some fine beverages. You can fully let go for the night because this activity usually comes with a round-trip transportation service. Tour companies offer a package that includes transport, food, and an open bar, so all you need to do is book yours and fully unwind.

Dover Beach – a place you imagined when dreaming of a paradise vacation

Judging by what the tourists are saying, this beach will blow your mind. The experts from excalibur-movers.com say many of their clients said this beach made them decide to move to Barbados. It has everything one urban nature lover might need – the toilets, the sunbeds, the food, the white sand. Truly a place to relax and reconnect with nature but not lose the comforts of modern life. The view here is heavenly, especially in the early morning when you will experience almost meditative calm. The atmosphere is friendly thanks to the locals working on organizing the sunbeds and in the restaurants and bars in the area. Truly, what this beach has to offer is what most imagine when talking about a paradise island, so don’t miss it.

For an engaging lesson in history, visit the Historic Garrison and its museum

In the books describing the history of Barbados, the themes of conquerors and occupation are pervasive. The Historic Garrison and its museum will make your day if you like history. This audio-guided tour will introduce you to the times of British military occupation and the buildings dating back to that period. Among these lavish properties, there is also the one where President George Washington stayed during his visit to Barbados. A perfect activity for all that want more from a holiday than to eat, swim and drink.

Learn how they make the Barbados rums and enjoy their supreme taste

Arguably the best thing you can drink on Barbados is one of their award-winning rums. But why not go a step further and learn about the process of its making? Some tours include visiting the best distilleries in Barbados, where you will meet the rum experts. Regardless of whether you are a rum enthusiast or not, you will be enchanted with the fine art of rum-making. In the end, you will have the chance to sample different blends of award-winning rums that will not disappoint you. So, this activity is both educational and entertaining.

Three glasses with rum in them, the tasting of which is one of the activities not to miss on Barbados. — All rum enthusiasts will really enjoy the rum distillery tour.

Final thoughts

Whatever you decide to do with your time on this endearing island, you will have a blast. Any of these ten activities not to miss on Barbados will make your vacation a perfect story to tell your grandchildren and friends.

Publisher’s favorite activity: Kitesurfing at Silver Rock, Christ Church with Endless Kiteboarding.

Photos used:
https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of-red-blue-and-yellow-parrot-on-tree-branch-1165082/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/sea-beach-vacation-sand-8920863/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-of-liquor-on-glasses-7135958/
https://www.pexels.com/photo/brown-tortoise-in-body-of-water-beside-man-3041869/

August 26, 2019

Sustainable Seafood

Oistins. Friday night. Enjoying some delicious local fish? Bridgetown Fish Complex. Saturday morning. Choosing some fresh local fish to cook for Sunday lunch? Chances are that close to ¾ of the ‘local’ fish that you are buying and consuming is not even local. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, approximately 70% of seafood consumed in Barbados is imported.

The fisheries sector, one of the established sectors within the Blue Economy is important for employment, livelihoods and food security. Barbados has a history and culture strongly linked to fish with fishing and associated activities having been integral components of the social and economic fabric of Barbados for years. Approximately 8,000 people are employed in this sector which accounts for ~6% of the labour force with over 1,000 active fishing vessels. Bajans also eat a lot of fish with consumption per capita being very high in the Caribbean region.

However in recent years, annual catches have declined with marine capture production being between 2000 – 2500 tonnes of fish, with flying fish, dolphin fish and yellowfin tuna contributing to the majority of landings. Lower catches and high imports are not the only threats that the fishing industry faces. In addition, overfishing and unsustainable fishing, land based and marine sources of pollution, coastal development and loss of coral reefs, changes in climate and the introduction of invasive species such as lionfish and the influx of sargassum further threaten the fisheries sector.

Read Full Article Here

January 15, 2019January 15, 2019

‘Not so fast on the weed’

Some members of the clergy believe that Barbados should approach the legalisation of marijuana for medical purposes with a greater degree of caution.

Head of Mount Zion Missions, Reverend Dr. Lucille Baird, condemned what she called the sudden introduction of medical marijuana legislation as Barbadians were grappling with economic challenges. She accused the relevant authorities of “slipping it under the radar” while Barbadians were otherwise distracted.

“While Barbadians were under the aneathesia of the Barbados Economic Recovery and Transformation (BERT) programme, and anxious about the layoffs and the other issues associated with that, they got injected with legalised medical marijuana.

“What is worse is that this measure was introduced without any national referendum, town hall meetings or any other public discussion, and it can potentially cause long-term devastating effects on this nation, as other much bigger countries have experienced since making similar moves,” she charged.

Read on

July 29, 2018July 29, 2018

A Revolution to Save the Caribbean’s Coral Reefs

The Nature Conservancy is launching a revolution to save our coral reefs throughout the Caribbean and beyond. Joining forces with the world’s best scientists, we are developing and deploying groundbreaking techniques to grow new corals and bring dying reefs back to life.

Learn more about how we’re fighting to save these unique and essential ecosystems before our oceans are irreversibly damaged. The Year of the Reef! Keep up with The Nature Conservancy’s latest efforts to protect nature and preserve life on Twitter (twitter) and Facebook (facebook) Text NATURE to 97779 to join The Nature Conservancy on text.

To sign-up for nature e-news visit: support.nature.org

March 19, 2018May 19, 2018

Barbados – Playground of the Rich and Famous

BARBADOS. We have been to many islands, and not only in the Caribbean. So far Barbados, St Barth and Virgin Gorda seem to be the main celebrity playgrounds here. Barbados is just as beautiful as any other island in the Caribbean, so what makes it so special?

There are probably a myriad of reasons why it’s such a favorite with A-listers, but it could boil down to just sun, sand, sea specifically combined with direct flights from major cities like London and New York and high-end hotels aplenty on the island. That is, mostly on the west side of the island where it is quite “over-developed”, some would say.

Sandy Lane is a famous hotel, often hosting clients that are much more well-known than its name. Though quite pricey, if you want to see the likes of Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones or Hugh Grant and Simon Cowell (of American Idol) while having your sundowners, you’ll get your money’s worth. Bajan born music celebs often seen here include Rihanna and Shontelle.

Once, we saw Rihanna walk down the street in Holetown, Barbados, in a bikini – like only Rihanna can! In fact, you can take a stroll on a street named after her in Barbados – called Rihanna Drive. It is actually the street where she stayed on and her childhood house can be visited. You can’t miss it – brightly painted to commemorate a big star’s humble beginnings.

Unfortunately, if you want to view the house of Tom Selleck, Bill Gates, Cliff Richard or Elton John, you can only see the outside walls of their estates from the road.

The southern part hosts most tourist resorts, shops and restaurants, making it a very welcoming social scene. Its beautifully scenic and entertaining parts make it a must to explore these environs. Oistins, in particular, is an active fishing town, a hub of activity on weekend nights. On Friday nights it’s Fish Fry at Oistins Bay Gardens where the food is the main draw with excellent fish, (tuna, swordfish, marlin, mahi-mahi, flying fish), lobster, chicken etc. served in an informal setting. Your dish is cooked on the spot in front of you, and you can choose between grilled or fried depending on the vendor. Nice!

Should you be more attracted to the laid-back, tranquil section of an island, the eastern part is for you. People who love surfing and kite boarding frequent especially the Silver Sands beach area or Long Beach, minutes’ walk from each other. This is the Atlantic Ocean side, so the sea is a tad more wild, which makes for an interesting wave riding and wave jumping experience if you’re into kite surfing. Silver Sands in particular is 100% set for kiting with accommodations right on the beach. A kiter’s haven! Any given day you’ll see about 25 kiters doing their thing. Actually, it’s a spectacular sight having those colorful kites parked on the beach or speeding off towards the waves. You’ll see professional athletes among students who are being taught. Apparently it’s a highly disciplined sport and those who partake are very respectful – so we’ve heard.

For kitesurfing lessons in Barbados: www.endlesskiteboarding.com (in Silver Sands), contact Roland Boyce.

For day trippers from the cruise ship dock in Bridgetown, a taxi could cost you $75 for about 5 people there and back – not bad. But if you’re alone, get yourself to the taxi ranks, downtown, and ask for the number 11 Route Taxi. It’s a 10 minute walk from downtown to the route taxi ranks, but it’s ony US$1 (yes, one US dollar) for a forty minute ride to Silver Sands. If you want to meet the real locals and share the taxi with about 10 other Bajans heading in the direction of Silver Sands – do it – it’s a thrill ride.