Barbados Travel Guide
Barbados is an island in the Caribbean, known as the Little England' of the Caribbean because of its long association as a British colony. Barbados is set on its own to the east of the Windward Islands in the south–eastern Caribbean and is one of the most developed islands in the region; it offers the greatest depth of tourism in any small' Caribbean island, with a full range of budget and luxury options.
The name "Barbados" comes from a Portuguese explorer named Pedro Campos in 1536, who originally called the island Los Barbados ("The Bearded Ones"), after the appearance of the island's fig trees, whose long hanging aerial roots resembled beards.
As a former British colony, Barbados has retained close ties with the United Kingdom and is a favourite with British holidaymakers. If you want a holiday of paradise, beautiful beaches, turquoise waters, then this coral island is the holiday destination for you. Barbados boasts 70 square miles of beaches along each coast and as such there is definitely a beach for everyone. Beaches on the north and east coasts are known for large waves; south coast beaches are great for swimming and water sports; and west coach beaches are the calmest on the island.
Due to its position right on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, Barbados boasts a balmy, tropical climate that is cooled by continual trade winds blowing in from the east. The fresh breezes, warm sunshine, and sufficient rainfall are a recipe for year–round terrific weather with an average temperature in the mid 80's. The best time of year to travel to Barbados is during the cooler, drier months of late winter and early spring.
The biggest annual event in Barbados is the Cropover Festival, celebrating the harvest of sugar cane, formerly the island's main industry. The five week summer festival is a fiesta of colourful floats, parades and people in costume dancing and enjoying themselves to the background of music and fireworks.
If you're looking for a Caribbean island with plenty of amenities, water sports, good food and nightlife, then Barbados will fit the bill.
Things to do
Sunbury Plantation House
The Sunbury Plantation House is the only house on Barbados that can be explored in full. The house was built from coral blocks and ballast stones from English sailing ships that collected shipments of Barbadian sugar.
Sam Lords Castle
Situated on the east coast of the island, Sam Lords Castle is a mansion constructed by Sam Lord, who according to legend hung wrecker lanterns off the point to lure ships into Cobblers Reef. The ships assumed they were arriving into a safe harbour, when they crashed into the reef Lord then collected the cargo. Sam Lord's former home has the appearance of a stately residence rather than a castle and houses a modest collection of paintings and antiques.
What to Eat
Bajan cuisine is a strange mix of spicy, flavorful treats. Flying fish, the icon of the islands is found on coins, bills, and menus. Flying fish is usually served lightly breaded and fried, with a yellow sauce. Be warned: this yellow sauce consists of VERY hot Scotch Bonnet peppers with onions in a mustard sauce. Pepperpot a dish of long tradition and great pride among the Bajans, it is a pork stew in a spicy dark brown sauce. Don't miss this. Try "cutters" a local sandwich made using Salt Bread (not regular sandwich bread). Varieties include flying fish cutters, ham cutters and the popular "bread and two."
What to Drink
Barbados has a well–deserved reputation for producing excellent rum, e.g., Mount Gay. Rum distilleries are usually open for tours, and typically offer samples and product for sale at prices often equal to the best found anywhere else. Small establishments called rum shops can be found all over Barbados. They are where local citizens (95% men) meet to catch up on the local news. Drop in and you can easily have a conversation with a real Barbadian.
