From its white sandy beaches and clear blue waters to its rich and vibrant culture, Barbados is a holiday destination with a difference.
Here we give you the low-down on the must-visit tropical island that has a surprisingly British feel…
The Climate
Thanks to its tropical climate, Barbados is known for practically perfect weather for holidaymakers. It’s average daily high temperature is 26°C/78°F, there’s an average daily rainfall of less than ¼ inch and the island boasts 3000 hours of sunshine a year.
The Culture
With it’s British, African and West Indian roots, Barbados has formed a distinctive identity that incorporates many different influences.
Barbados was a colony of the British Empire for over 300 years. However, the majority of its population are of African origin and as such many colourful traditions have carried over into modern island life.
The tuk band – a collection of brightly attired musicians playing a bass drum, kettle drum and pennywhistle – accompanied by a variety of costumed characters and stiltmen can be seen performing at all of the islands major festivals, like Holetown Festival, Crop Over and the Oistins Fish Festival.
Barbados Landship is a unique part of the culture of the island. It sees a ‘theatrical group’ perform intricate dances that reflect the passage of ships through rough seas and the activities that take place on board. Performers wear costumes similar to those worn in the British Navy but dances are performed to an African rhythm and the Landship is often accompanied by a tuk bank. Yet another indicator of the island’s rich history and merged cultures.
There’s a strong cricketing tradition in Barbados, that dates back to the 1800s when the game was played by British soldiers who were stationed on the island. Road Tennis was invented on the island in 1930 and playing dominoes is a highly popular pastime.
The Beaches
Barbados has many beautiful beaches. On the west coast you can enjoy white sandy shores and clear blue waters – perfect for those who want to relax and enjoy the idyllic setting. There’s always the option to go jet-skiing, kayaking, snorkelling or swimming, as well as maybe enjoying a catamaran cruise.
Watersport enthusiasts will love the island’s south coast where they’ll find flawless beaches, lively surf and the ideal setting for windsurfing, kitesurfing and boogie boarding.
Surfers from all over the world head to the east coast of the island to make the most of the wide and wind-blown beaches that are pounded by the Atlantic.
And in the north, coral and sandstone cliffs rise straight out of the sea, reaching up to a hundred feet in height.
Things to Do
Animal lovers will certainly want to take a turtle tour, where you can sail down the beautiful coastline on a catamaran, enjoy lunch and drinks, and of course get a chance to see and swim with the turtles.
Horse racing is an important part of Barbados heritage and dates back to 1845 on the island. The Garrison Savannah Racetrack is located just outside of Bridgetown and is becoming increasingly popular with tourists who are looking for an exciting day out.
It’s said that Barbados is the birthplace of rum and the island was the world’s largest producer of the drink in the 1600s and 1700s. Rum still plays a massive part in island life and visitors must make a stop at one of the numerous rum shops that fill the island.
The Food
It’s easy to get a taste of traditional Barbados cuisine on the island, look out for Cou-cou and flying fish – the national dish of Barbados – as well as pudding and souse. Cou-cou is similar to polenta but more creamy and is made from corn meal and okras, its usually served with flying fish in a tomato-based sauce. Pudding and souse consists of pickled pork served with pickled sweet potato or breadfruit.
