Co-Founded by Bret Love & Mary Gabbett, Green Global Travel is an ecotourism, nature / wildlife conservation & cultural preservation magazine. More about us.
Published July 15, 2012 | 
Things To Do In Barbados
Like virtually every country in the Caribbean, Barbados has more than its fair share of beautiful beaches. But for those who want to see more of this former British colony—the most developed island in the region and the third most developed country in the Western Hemisphere—Barbados offers a broad range of intriguing attractions. Whether you’re a nature lover, a history buff or simply someone who loves a good party, you’ll find that Barbados attractions offer numerous options well worth exploring.
BARBADOS MUSEUM & HISTORICAL SOCIETY
This impressive museum, located inside a 193-year-old colonial building that once housed the British Military Prison, offers an immersive look back at the Caribbean country’s history and growth. Their expansive collection includes a natural history display on the island’s coral structure; artifacts from the area’s original Amerindian inhabitants; furnishings from an 18th-century plantation home; antique maps of the region; and a children’s gallery focused on historical education. As a bonus, you can also enter some of the old prison cells.
BARBADOS WILDLIFE RESERVE
This 4-acre paradise was originally founded in 1982 to preserve and study Green Monkeys, which were brought to the island in the 17th century. Today the popular primates are just one of many species that roam freely around the reserve, including Red Brockets (a South American deer), Patagonian Maras (a short-eared hare from Argentina), Cuban Rock Iguanas and Red-Footed Tortoises. Your entry fee also grants you admission to the Grenade Hall Forest & Signal Station, an adjoining attraction that affords amazing views of the island’s landscape. With the closing of the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary back in 2008, the Barbados Wildlife Reserve has emerged as one of the island’s most relaxing natural retreats.
CROP OVER
What Mardi Gras is to New Orleans and Carnaval is to Brazil, Crop Over is to Barbados. The traditional harvest festival includes music, dancing and all sorts of Bacchanalian indulgences. One of the most popular features is the competition for the Calypso Monarch Award, in which colorfully costumed calypso bands vie for the public’s affection in hopes of being crowned King and Queen of Calypso. The festival stretches from June until the first Monday in August, culminating in the national holiday known as Grand Kadooment, in which pulsating Bajan rhythms fill the streets and fireworks light up the sky.
HARRISON’S CAVE
Re-opened a few years ago after extensive renovation, Harrison’s Cave has emerged as one of Barbados’ most popular tourist attractions. The tour begins at the Visitor Reception Centre, and then you have the option of taking two scenic trails or glass-fronted elevators to descend from the cliff top to the valley floor. The Cave Interpretive Centre’s interactive exhibits and short video presentation provide a brief overview of the 2.3-km cave’s history, preparing you for a 45-minute tram tour through an underground wonderland filled with stalactites, stalagmites and waterfall-like flowstone formations.
MOUNT GAY RUM DISTILLERIES
Even people who know nothing about Barbados know the name Mount Gay, which is considered the world’s oldest rum company. Mount Gay’s iconic logo is everywhere on the island, and their rum is in everything. In Barbados there seems to be as many rum shacks as New York has hot dog stands. The Mount Gay Rum tour offers a behind-the-scenes look at their entire production process. You’ll learn about everything from the harvesting of the sugarcane to the bottling of the final product, but the best part is the tasting at the end, in which guests sample a half-dozen varieties ranging from top-notch sipping rum to liqueurs flavored with vanilla, mango and passion fruit.
SNORKELING WITH SEA TURTLES
Imagine yourself swimming in warm, aquamarine waters so clear and calm you can see every indention in the sand nearly 40 feet below. Now imagine yourself surrounded by hundreds of yellow and black sergeant majors, brilliant blue Barbadian chubs and surprisingly friendly greenback turtles as you float above the wreckage of two barges intentionally sunk to create man-made reefs around 30 years ago. That’s one of many highlights of a rejuvenating 5-hour adventure via catamaran with Tall Ships Cruises, which allows you to snorkel in numerous spots off the coast of some of the island’s most breathtaking beaches.
SUNBURY PLANTATION HOUSE
Built around 1660 by Matthew Chapman, one of the country’s first land-owning settlers, this plantation home in the Barbados countryside is a remarkable reminder of the island’s colonial history. The home was severely damaged by fire in 1995, but you’d never know it today: Sunbury has been lovingly restored to its original glory, packed with authentic antique fixtures and furnishings. The cellars, which were originally used for storing vegetables grown on the plantation, now house an impressive collection of antique carriages, and the lushly landscaped grounds feature old carts and machinery used to cultivate the land in centuries past. –words & turtle photo by Bret Love; other photos courtesy Barbados Tourism Board
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39 Responses to Top 7 Things To Do In Barbados
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Looks like there are far more interesting things to do now than there were years ago when I honeymooned here.
Leigh recently posted..Hiking the Henry MacLeod Trail in Jasper National Park
Yeah, and I understand there are even more new things to do there since I visited a few years ago!
This is a great compilation of things to do in Barbados. I’d just add 2 others – a dive on the Atlantis Submarines and a trip to the Oistins Fish Fry.
So glad you’ve included the Museum and Sunbury; Barbados works diligently at preserving our heritage and it shows in the collection of museums across the island. In fact, the capital city Bridgetown and its Garrison have just been named a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Thanks Kathym and congrats on the UNESCO designation! I heard a LOT about Oistins during my time in Barbados, but unfortunately was not there on the day they do it (Fridays, if I’m not mistaken). I didn’t hear anything about Atlantis Submarines, though: Is that a new thing?
The snorkelling with turtles sounds like loads of fun! Would definitely go.
It was awesome. On the downside, our guides chummed the waters with squid, which seemed a bit like cheating. But on the upside, there were TONS of turtles swimming all around us. Quite a memorable experience, to be sure.
I still haven’t been. There are a group of Russians here who my friend Hans was involved with (dating one of them) who actually came here to Cancun after Barbados, and they had nothing but amazing things to say about the place. Loving the photos….truly a culturally unique destination.
I’ve also never snorkeled with sea turtles…it’s on my list of things I want to do, and that shot in particular is just further motivation to get my butt in gear!
Thanks for sharing again, you two
T.W. Anderson @ Marginal Boundaries recently posted..Comment on Backpacking Basics for Expats by T.W. Anderson
Most of what I know about the Caribbean comes from a Pirates video game as a kid. So much for public schooling.
I did go to Bahamas on a sail cruise a number of years ago. It was really fun. Kind of the other end of the area, but similar trees and wildlife.
Andrew recently posted..Dubrovnik, Croatia
Yeah, the big islands of the Bahamas I visited were WAY more developed than Barbados, which largely feels fairly rural by comparison. But both do have that British influence, so there are definitely similarities.
I’ve somehow never been to any of the islands in the Caribbean! This looks gorgeous, and it sounds like there’s a lot to do and see besides just laying on the beach.
I really love the Caribbean, for the weather, the scenery and the culture. The mixture of African, European and native Carib influences is really rich and vibrant, and each island has its own distinctive flavor. You should go!
Well now it seems there’s loads more to do than just sit on a beach, maybe I could put it on my list after all!
Natasha von Geldern recently posted..Destination Malaysia: On the Straits of Melaka
Hehehe indeed! That’s what I thought when I read this as well. I knew a little bit about Barbados from friends here in Cancun, but mostly it’s always been about the beach. Loved the deeper insight here!
T.W. Anderson @ Marginal Boundaries recently posted..Comment on Backpacking Basics for Expats by T.W. Anderson
It’s worthwhile, especially if you haven’t been to any of the other islands in that part of the Caribbean. After this, St. Kitts and Dominica, I’m becoming increasingly fascinated with the eastern Caribbean islands.
Wow, I haven’t been to Barbados yet, but now I need to go! haha. I love knowing about all of the fun things you can do in a place where people think all you can do it lay on the beach. I especially love snorkelling with the turtles. I did that in Indonesia, and it took a lot to get me out of the water. I was completely fascinated. That alone would make me go to Barbados. Thanks for sharing!
I have a personal problem where I am physically incapable of laying on a beach for more than 20-30 minutes at the time. Wherever we go, there’s always so much to see and do, doing nothing feels like such a waste. When I’m home, I go to the lake and lay on a float. But when I travel, I want to explore!
Yet, another article by Bret that makes us want to book a flight immediately. Barbados looks amazing!
Travel and Escape Community recently posted..Istanbul – Scam City
Thanks, guys. It was pretty awesome, though I wished I’d had more time to explore the island even further.
Our honeymoon was there 8 years ago! Trying to get back for our big 1-0!
Erica recently posted..Omaha, Nebraska: King of Dive Bars?
Very cool. I think we might know some folks at the Tourism Board, so let us know if you need contacts. I’m sure they’d love to host you.
That first photo is the only reason I need to visit.
Christy recently posted..Levanto – An Eclectic Town Full of Surprises
Well, that was easy then! LOL
Wonderful places, the wildlife is gorgeous! So much to discover in this world
Angela recently posted..A trip, a photo – The wooden angels of Ignazio Mura, Oristano
Great stuff…I have been all over the Caribbean but know surprisingly little about Barbados…
D.J. – The World of Deej recently posted..The Peachtree Road Race From The Sidelines
It’s worth getting to know, for sure!
Sounds fascinating! I had no idea there was the oldest rum company there.
A Montrealer Abroad recently posted..Toronto’s Best Places, Approved by Locals
Yes, indeed! The best part is the tasting at the end of the tour. I ended up buying several bottles and making Rum Punch when I got home.
Looks like such a fun and lively place!
Andrea recently posted..Travel Memories: Singapore and Thailand
It was awesome. But then I love most of the lesser-visited islands of the Caribbean.
As a Brit what I love about the island is the lingering air of colonial splendour.
My tip would be to always try and find an elderly expat. Chances are they’ve been on the island years and – as they love to meet folks from back home – they often divulge the best places to eat and drink with very little persuasion.
Looks like lots of great stuff…. now if only flights from Australia were not so expensive!
Funny… that’s what I say about flights *TO* Australia. But I feel you…
I’ve always wanted to go to Carnivale! Looks like Barbados might be a good place to add to the list of possible places to do so!
Alexandra recently posted..Travel Porn: Chiang Mai, Thailand
It’s certainly less crowded than the Rio version, that’s for sure. But the Caribbean islands DEFINITELY know how to party!
All of these excursions and sights mentioned here have been around for years. You just have to see what’s here before you arrive so that you can partake in as many as possible. Come back and visit soon; Barbados is a wonderful place, indeed!
Mag
Thanks, Margaret! I would love to come back from Crop Over someday. Heard great things about it…
Great post, thanks guys. We are off to Barbados in a few months so this will come in handy! We cant wait to try all the 7 things on the list!
Thanks again!
Suitcase Stories – Nicole recently posted..Why I left my successful career for a life of travel
If you’re there for a full week, you should be able to work them all in without too much trouble. Let us know how you like it!