Barbados
Out on its own, the easternmost island nation in the Caribbean, Barbados is two land masses merged together by the collision of the Atlantic crustal and Caribbean plates. Proud, prosperous, progressive, charming, and friendly, the people of Barbados refer to their home island as Bim and call themselves Bajans. A nation of a single coral-limestone island with cliffhanging hikes, secret beach picnics, lush gardens, limestone caves, giant baobab trees, underground aquifers, flying fish, whistling frogs, and over fifty beaches. The Bajans, a blend of West African, Creole, Indian, Portuguese, and British cultures, have a high life expectancy with many centarians and an almost 100% literacy rate.
The name Barbados came from either Portuguese “os barbudos” or Spanish “los barbudos” meaning “the bearded ones,” which might have either referred to the long hanging roots of bearded fig trees or the bearded Carib inhabitants.
Twenty-one miles across at the widest point, it can take many hours to get from one place to another because of traffic. Route taxis (ZRs) are small buses with regular routes that go to most points on the island.
The Barbados Whistling Frogs make an enchanting flute-like sound at night. Select the link in the name to listen.
The Barbados Flying Fish are incredible to watch. Select the link to see them fly!
It is possible to Swim with the Turtles in Barbados. Select the link to find out more.
Edward Kamau Brathwaite is the national poet of Barbados. Born in Bridgetown in 1930, he died in February 2020. He had a freeflowing, jazzlike style and incorporated pre-colonial African myths. Barbadian Prime Minister Mia Mottley stated that “his chronicling of our past through his magnificent works shone a powerful light on the realities of our present and, in turn, guided our sense of self and national identity” in the article Barbadian poet Kamau, who exalted Caribbean’s Afro roots, dies.
Select the title to read Brathwaite’s poem The Day the First Snow Fell.
Select the title to read The Bleaching Process by Anthony Kellman.
Novelist George Lamming’s In the Castle of My Skin is about 1930s Barbados.
Novelist Karen Lord’s The Best of All Possible Worlds is a social science fiction.
Crop Over is a carnival cultural festival celebrated each July through early August with music contests and election of King and Queen of the Sugarcane Crop.
Calypso, jazz, soca and ska are common Bajan music styles. If you’re invited to a Tea Meeting in Barbados, you’re going to a gathering for music and drama.
Tuk bands are music ensembles with bow-fiddle, pennywhistle flute, kittle triangle, snare, and drum.
Select Tuk Band to listen.
Select Grynner We Want More Grynner to listen to a song all Bajans know.
Select The Merrymen of Barbados to hear more island music.
Rihanna is a famous popular musician from Barbados.
Cou cou with flying fish is the national dish. Cou cou is cornmeal cooked with okra and water.
Pudding and souse is steamed sweet potatoes made with onions, salt, and pepper, and pickled pork.
Pepperpot is a potluck stew.
Conkie is a snack, especially served on Independence Day (November 30), that includes pumpkin, sweet potato, grated coconut, and raisins steamed in a banana leaf.
Guava cheese is guava pulp with sugar and lime juice that’s the color of cranberry and the consistency of fudge.
Select the link for more about Food in Barbados.
Following is a list of locations and attractions on the island. Select the links to find out more.
NORTH POINT
Animal Flower Cave is a sea cave under the cliffs with coral steps leading to an opening at the top of the cave. The cave at the North Point of the island has beautiful yellow sea anemones called animal flowers that grow in the cave.
NORTHWEST
Six Men’s Bay is a quiet fishing village offering scuba diving opportunities.
Speightstown along the northwest coast has tours of historic buildings.
5 Historic Facts You Didn’t Know About Speightstown
Holetown, the first British settlement in Barbados in 1625, has colonial buildings, tours, and a week-long festival in February.
Folkestone Marine Park, just north of Holetown, offers coral reef snorkeling and scub diving.
NORTHEAST
Barbados Wildlife Reserve has macaws, green monkeys, flamingos, iguanas, turtles, parrots, and caiman.
Select the title for more about the Barbados Wildlife Reserve.
Farley Hill National Park is just south of the Barbados Wildlife Reserve is a stunning site for events such as Soca on the Hill, Reggae on the Hill, and Gospel Fest. Select the title for more about Farley Hill National Park.
St. Nicholas Abbey is a sugar plantation with a Jacobean mansion from 1658 with tastings and tours.
For more information, select St. Nicholas Abbey.
Morgan Lewis Windmill, built in 1727, is the only operational sugarcane windmill in the Caribbean.
HEART OF THE ISLAND
Mount Hillaby is the highest point in Barbados at 1,115 feet (343 meters) with spectacular views.
Harrison’s Cave is a limestone cave with underground streams and stalactites at the heart of Barbados.
Select Harrison’s Cave for more information.
Hunte’s Gardens is another lush area to explore.
Hackleton’s Cliff provides one of the best views of the east coast of Barbados from 1,000 feet above sea level.
St. John’s Parish is a Gothic church built in 1846 to replace a church destroyed in a hurricane.
Andromeda Botanic Gardens is six acres of limestone boulders and tropical flowers such as orchids and hibiscus.
Flower Forest Botanical Gardens are lush, colorful gardens just north of Harrison’s Cave in central Barbados.
SOUTHEAST
Sunbury Plantation Great House is an estate from the 17th century with a bell house.
Sam Lord’s Castle is a beautiful Georgian mansion built in 1820 with a beautiful beach.
Crane Beach is rated among the ten best beaches in the world.
SOUTHWEST
Mount Gay Rum Factory provides tours of the world’s oldest, most storied rum, first distilled in Barbados in 1703.
Bridgetown is the capital city of Barbados with colorful Victorian buildings, the Chamberlain Bridge, and the largest tree in Barbados: the baobab of Queen’s Park, 55 feet in circumference.
For more information, select 10 Things to See and Do in Bridgetown.
There are Atlantis Submarine Tours that depart from Bridgetown.
Carlisle Bay Beach is a natural crescent-shaped harbor in Bridgetown.
Garrison Savannah Historic Area has historic military buildings, a horse race track, and the George Washington House where the future president stayed for a few months in 1751.
Select Garrison Historic Area for more.
Needham’s Point has a great beach, fish stands, and iron canons on display at the old naval dockyard.
The Barbados Boardwalk is two kilometers of beachfront on the southern coast.
Oistins Fish Fry can be found between Welches Beach and Miami Beach on the south coast and is said to be a must stop for visitors to Barbados. Select Oistins Fish Fry for more.
For more about Barbados Beaches, select the link.
For more about Barbados, select the link.
Barbados and Grapefruit.
