Do they really drive on the wrong side of the road? Well,
Barbados is the 'Little England' of the Caribbean, but not so much
so that the locals have given up rotis for kidney pies, or rum for
bitter ale. Bajans, as the islanders call themselves, are as West
Indian as any of their neighbors, and have tended to appropriate
rather than adopt English customs.
You'll notice this the first
time you check out a local cricket match, since the gentlemanly
English game has a totally different rhythm here. Nonetheless,
there are old stone Anglican churches in every parish, horse races
on Saturdays and portraits of Queen Liz hanging on plenty of
walls.
Tourism is big business on Barbados, and most visitors who come to
the island are looking for that comfortable mix of the familiar
peppered with just enough local flavor to feel 'exotic.' So if
you're looking for a Caribbean island with plenty of amenities,
water sports and nightlife, Barbados fits the bill. Travelers
wanting to explore undeveloped areas and get off the beaten track
should start looking for another island. Coming by air or
sea, Barbados is a must for Caribbean visitors.
Barbados is blessed with beaches and has good swimming, snorkeling
and diving. Some of the island's prettiest beaches and calmest
waters are along the western coast; top spots include Paynes Bay,
Sandy Bay and Mullins Bay. The southwestern side of the island
also has fine beaches, including Sandy Beach near Worthing, and
Dover Beach, just south of St Lawrence.
On the southeastern side is Crane Beach, a scenic stretch of
pink-tinged sand that's popular for bodysurfing but rough for
swimming. The eastern coast has dangerous water conditions,
including rocky shelves and strong currents, suitable for only the
most confident swimmers.
The western coast of Barbados has reef dives with soft corals,
gorgonians and colorful sponges. There are about a dozen
accessible shipwrecks, some - such as the Berwyn in Carlisle Bay -
lie at good snorkeling depths.
The island has excellent
windsurfing conditions from November to June at Maxwell and Silver
Sands, and good surfing at the Soup Bowl, South Point and Rockley
Beach.
The Barbados National Trust leads weekly guided hikes in the
countryside on local history, geology, flora and fauna. You can
also arrange horseback riding along the beach at Mullins Bay.
