After morning mists burn off to expose panoramas of valley and ocean, the Bajan landscape is one of the most majestic in the southern Caribbean. Barbados is famed for its easy-going calypso culture; a strong sense of history and culture fuses with a laid-back vibe. Known as the ‘Little England’ of the Caribbean, afternoon tea remains a tradition on Barbados, cricket is still the national sport and many Bajans speak with a British accent. The island is one of the best for a first time visit to the Caribbean as it has more to offer for its size than any other island. Many visitors then return to Barbados for more visits, till the island becomes a trusted friend.
The west coast has stretches of sand, pretty cliffs, a string of fine hotels and restaurants and some villas worth tens of millions of dollars: this is where the millionaires and horse-racing moguls live and the scene is one of sophistication and luxury. The south coast is younger and more active, with some remote corners and pretty coves where life doesn’t seem to have changed over the last hundred years.
From the peaceful, rugged coastline of the Atlantic eastern coast to the attractive resorts of the northern shoreline, Barbados offers world-class, warm waters that are a paradise for diving, snorkelling and swimming. Underwater caves teem with colourful fish amidst vibrant coral reefs.
Inland, cities offer 18th-century colonial streetscapes, and land-based attractions run from lush botanical gardens and historic plantation houses to sumptuous tropical spas and first-rate golf. Some less developed areas of the country contain tropical woodland and mangroves. Other parts of the interior, which contribute to the agriculture industry, are dotted with large sugarcane estates.
The gardens on Barbados are probably the best in the Caribbean. There’s windsurfing and golf for those who like to be active, fun music, lively clubs and extraordinary history (plantations and rum), too. Whether you want to stay in exquisite luxury or hide in a secret getaway, whether you want to plan your first visit or your fiftieth, Inspirational Travel can tailor-make your perfect Bajan escape.
