Barbados

Steel Drums and Cocktails in a Caribbean Paradise 

 Barbados is a small but charming coral Island, with an area covering just 430 sq km. This mainly flat Island has fantastic beaches, a few rolling hills and plenty of ridges and gullies. The Barbadian people have a love of life and it shows in their cheerful personalities, they are so welcoming you won’t want to leave! 

Barbados is warm and sunny all year round with an average daytime high of 75 - 85˚F; the nights are a little cooler. The hurricane season in the Caribbean is from June to November.

Most of the beaches in Barbados consist of finely ground coral which forms a clean fine grain. Normally, the beaches on the shore have lovely sand. Natural sand dunes aren’t the norm on Barbados, but some are present in Long Bay on the southwest coast. All of the beaches are open to the public and there are no nudist beaches.

The west coast offers (mostly) calm seas perfect for swimming and the south and southwest has several serene bays that contact with the Caribbean Sea. The south coast is ideal for surfing and windsurfing, surfing competitions are held yearly and International surfing competitions take place on the south and east coasts. The more rugged north and east coasts lie to the Atlantic Ocean. Swimming is not recommended on this coast, apart from a few of the much protected Bays. This is due to the strong currents and ferocious waves.

For scuba diving and snorkelling, there are over twenty dive sites between Maycocks Bay and Bridgetown on the west coast and off the south coast as far away as the St Lawrence Gap. The marine reserve, a stretch of protected reef between Sandy Lane and the Colony Club, has stunning coral formations that are easily reached from the beach.

If golf is your cup of tea, there are exceptional golf courses spread around Barbados. Some are open to the public, whilst admittance to others depends on staying at specific resorts.

For keen hikers, the National Trust holds ‘Hike Barbados’ every Sunday. These hikes are free of charge but a donation to the National Trust will always be gratefully received. All walks (morning, afternoon and some by moon light) are led by the very experienced and knowledgeable National Trust Guides. A lot of the hikes are taken through verdant plantations, picturesque local Villages, beaches, hills and cliffs.

Bridgetown is the Capital of Barbados; the main airport (Sir Grantley Adams International Airport) is located about 5km away. This is the home to the renowned Kensington Oval Stadium, which will host the 2007 Cricket World Cup. The Oval also stages other events like: football, beauty pageants and rock concerts.

There are lots of attractions in Bridgetown, including Churches, museums, National Heroes Square (formerly Trafalgar Square), the Garrison Savannah, The Pelican Village and Craft Centre and National Historic Area and lots more.

Ocean Park is located in Balls, Christ Church; it has a captivating underwater display of freshwater and tropical marine life of the Caribbean. This is a perfect way to see the various species if you prefer to stay on dry land!

For those with a sense of adventure, take a trip underwater in the Atlantis submarine (which is a real submarine). Diving 55 feet down, large windows allow for fantastic viewing of the magnificent coral reef and fish life. Then the submarine descends even further down (115-150 feet) to see a sunken shipwreck.

The nightlife in Barbados is vibrant and lively with calypso, reggae and quite a few brilliant R&B bands playing International music. Nightclubs are mainly located in St Lawrence Gap and Bay Street in St Michael. Restaurants and bars are abundant all over the Island, Baxter’s Road in Bridgetown has numerous traditional and authentic Bajan Restaurants offering local cuisine and various tropical drinks and of course beer!

Accommodation from budget to luxurious resorts is available on the Island, in condo apartments, guesthouses and hotels. Many people seem to believe that the Island is just for the rich list, but that is a misconception as there is accommodation to suit all budgets.

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