Family Activities on the Island of Barbados

With its beautiful sandy beaches, tropical landscapes and seemingly never-ending sunshine, Barbados has so much to see and do. Whether you're a family with young children or teenagers, there's never a dull moment. 

Family Activities on the Island of Barbados

Swim with Turtles

You can explore Barbados from a completely different perspective and with a few finned companions. If you love turtles as much as we do, you won't want to miss this fantastic opportunity to swim with them. As a fun and exciting activity, it's perfect for all the family. Kids will love getting close to an animal they normally wouldn't see and as the animals are so calm, they're sure to make some interesting new friends! 

The turtles are monitored by the Barbados Sea Turtle Project who are passionate about keeping these amazing creatures safe and thriving and as Barbados are incredibly proud of their marine environment, tourists are encouraged to treat it with great respect. 

Catamaran Cruise

What better way to explore Barbados than on a catamaran cruise? A wonderful day out and a fantastic way to soak up the sunshine, it's inclusive of food, drinks and snorkeling. Your friendly crew will set off from Bridgetown port where you'll race the colourful schools of fish to the best snorkeling spots on the island. Companies such as Tiami Catamaran Cruises and Cool Runnings offer fabulous experiences.

Snorkeling/Diving

Explore over 150 shipwrecks and beautiful coral reefs as you scuba dive or snorkel on the coast of Barbados. The most popular diving sites to visit are 'The Stavronikita' and Carlisle Bay where you'll have an amazing time discovering the depths of the Caribbean Sea. Come face to face with giant eels, gorgeous rays and feisty barracuda! 

Horse Riding

A truly unique way to explore the island and its immaculate beaches is on horse back. There are a huge variety of trails and tracks to try for those with any level of horse-riding experience. The eastern coast of Barbados is perfect for horse-riding with scenic views, miles of coastline and the cool breezes. The west coast offers tranquil trails along the beautiful beaches. 

Surfing

Surfing is an immensely entertaining way to enjoy the Caribbean sea in a completely different way. Whether you're a beginner or a pro who loves to shred the waves, you're sure to expel some serious energy whilst having tons of fun! 

The waves may not be massive (unless you're brave and try the Soup Bowl on the east coast!) but trying to stay upright, crashing into the waves and splashing about will create some truly fantastic memories for the whole family. 

We recommend Barry's Surf School where lessons for beginners are offered at $75 including all day surfing, transport and equipment.

Harrisons Cave

In the heart of Barbados lies Harrisons Cave - a magnificent limestone cavern. You can explore the cave in numerous ways such as the tram, where an expert tour guide will point out the various structures, clear streams and waterfalls that dot the cavern. Or if you fancy taking a closer look, you can take the walk-in option. 

Wildlife Reserve

The island of Barbados doesn't feature a zoo. It has something even better - a wildlife reserve. Head to St Peter to walk through the stunning rainforest and see the animals in their natural habitat. Unlike a zoo, you'll experience these wonderful creatures up close as they eat, play and nap in their own home. Colourful birds like the parrots and flamingos, reptiles and snakes (and even a crocodile) and the famous Green monkeys can be seen. The Green Monkeys in particular are very popular towards feeding time which tends to be around 2pm. We could spend hours here and you are sure to as well. (Do resist temptation to touch or feed the animals as they are still wild)

Take a closer look at this stunning tropical paradise and contact our luxury Barbados villa experts today: 

enquiries@elegant-barbados.com

+44 (0)1244 62 99 63

Barbados Festival Calendar

The tropical island of Barbados is home to the liveliest of cultures, a happy-go-lucky way of life and the most gorgeous scenery. Music and laughter are some of the main reasons why people flock to visit there as well as the beautiful sandy beaches, the crystal clear waters and of course, the rum!

With their famous parties and fun filled entertainment, Barbados fills the calendar with an array of exciting and engaging events.

Barbados Festival Calendar

January

Mount Gay Round Barbados Race Series

A fantastic boat race around the island where participants compete for the sheer pride of winning and the ability to claim bragging rights whilst wearing the red cap! Dating back to the 19th century, the race celebrates Mount Gay Rum, the oldest brand of rum in existence.

Barbados Jazz Festival

Attracting many international artists, the Barbados Jazz Festival is held mid-January and provides audiences with historical outdoor settings to enjoy the music by the beach. The final is held in the beautiful Farley Hill National Park.

Barbados Music Awards

The end of January sees the Barbados Music Awards glam up the island with red carpet glitz. The ceremony recognises talented Barbadian musicians with big name labels such as Atlantic, DEFJAM and Sony/BMG all having at least one musician from the island in their name. Massive star, Rihanna, made her debut at this event back in 2006.

February

Holetown Festival 

Possibly the island's most well-known event, the Holetown Festival is a week long celebration that pays tribute to the first English settlers and produces a mix of fairs, theatre and musical performances. 

A bus journey around the town is the best way to take in everything going on. You're able to visit exhibitions at the Holetown Museum, the vintage car parade, the street fairs or listen to public lectures. Open air concerts are also put on by the Royal Barbados Police Force and the Barbados Defence Force bands. 

March

Sandy Lane Gold Cup

This amazing horse race is known for attracting large international crowds and is considered a major event with a stunning parade. 

Holder's Season

Assembling music, theatre and comedy, the Holder's Season closely follows the Sandy Lane Gold Cup. Considered to be the time when Broadway comes to Barbados, the event was hosted by legendary opera singer, Pavarotti back in 1997. 

CHUM FM 104.5 are welcomed to the island all the way from Toronto, Canada for a live broadcast at Harbour Lights Nightclub on the south coast; attracting big names such as Michael Buble, Nelly Furtado and  Bryan Adams to perform. 

Agrofest

A 2 day festival held in Queens Park that celebrates the integral agriculture on the island. The event is especially popular with children as there is always lots of livestock for kids to pet and feed. 

April

Mount Gay/Sagicor Annual Game Fishing Tournament

Held over the 1st weekend of April, this tournament brings together anglers and fishing enthusiasts from all over the world. 

Heroes Day

The 28th of April is a public holiday in Barbados honouring the island's National Heroes.

May

May is the month of sporting events with the 1st of May being Labour Day

Barbados Rally Carnival

A week long celebration featuring local and international high performance vehicles racing at different stages. Motor rallying has become an incredibly popular sport in Barbados and this event shows exactly why. Audiences can watch the exhilarating races from the Vaucluse Raceway, a stunning natural amphitheater with views of the countryside, the tracks and the sea. 

Celtic Festival

A tribute to the large community of Celtic immigrants and the links between Barbados and the Celtic countries Scotland, Ireland and Wales. Award winning chefs cook up a storm and brilliant mixes of folk music are all present at this fantastic event. 

Barbados Gospelfest

The premier regional festival dedicated to gospel music, culture and lifestyle. It promises world class gospel singers from local, regional and international choirs to celebrate the standard of excellence it's known for. 

June

The Sherbourne Conference Centre holds an exhibition run by interior design company, Habitat. Here you can see projects on environment services, home orientated products and constructions. 

Bajan Unifest Sporting Festival

A week long celebration of hockey, football, swimming, netball, tennis and cricket matches all held at the university campus. 

July

July is the home of the Crop Over Festival, starting with the Opening Gala. The Pic-O-De-Crop semi-finals are held mid-month and the finals are a week after. You can find out more details about this amazing festival in our dedicated blog post!

August

Kadooment Day 

The 1st Monday of August and is basically a massive street party! Full of glitzy costumes, live music, delicious food and plenty of rum, it's not to be missed. 

Hockey Federation Banks Hockey Fest

A week of hockey! Teams from Europe, the UK and North America all travel to Barbados to compete in games.

September

September is a quieter month after the celebrations of the summer but you can still find equally impressive and fun things to do.

Sizzlin' Sand Beach Volleyball

All the national volleyball compete on the gorgeous local sandy beaches.

October

National Surfing Championships

A big surfing event where competitors hit the waves for a chance to win a place in the November International Championships.

Barbados Music Festival

Yet more joyous music celebrated on the island with genres covered from rock, blues, folk and of course, reggae acts flown in from the UK.

November 

Sagicor Life Lighting Ceremony & Bajan Folk Crew

All the decorative lights are lit in Bridgetown to signify the beginning of the holiday season. An incredibly pretty sight to see.

Independence Pro Surfing Championships & Banks Pro Long Board Classic

Hosted at the famous Soup Bowl surfing spot on the 4th and 5th of November,  this major international surfing competition attracts world famous surfers to the island. 

December

Yet more sporty and energetic events lead to the festive period with the Run Barbados Marathon, 1/2 marathon, 10K and 4K walks all being held and featuring over 30 countries entering.

Polo Season

The Polo Season starts with events being held nearly every Sunday between December and May, promoting this already popular sport. 

Old Year's Night

A truly magnificent party to bring in the new year. Men are dressed in smart suits while the ladies glam up in beautiful evening gowns. Champagne is flowing, fireworks are going and everyone is guaranteed to end their year in spectacular style!

Would you like to visit this magical island for yourself? Our Barbados luxury villa and apartment experts are on hand to help inspire you with an extensive portfolio of gorgeous properties.

Contact us today:

+44 (0)1244 62 99 63

enquiries@elegant-barbados.com

Barbados: Home of the Sea Turtles

Do you want to see Barbados from another perspective? Maybe you can view the tropical paradise the same way a turtle would...

Barbados: Home of the Sea Turtles

Barbados is where the hawksbill and the leatherback sea turtles call home and the healthy population is now protected and monitored closely to maintain their livelihood and importance to the eco-system. 

The island provides a range of tours and cruises focusing on these delightful creatures. Most tours take place on catamarans that provide guests with lunch, masks and snorkels. Enjoy the incredible scenery as you sail down the coastline, sipping delicious rum punches and indulging in a delicious lunch before snorkeling with the turtles. 

Turtles are very sociable creatures and tend to stay in the same area to ensure they follow a routine. They can be seen playing and feeding along the inshore reefs and certain monitored areas have meant that the animals have become accustomed to humans. 

Moonlight cruises are also available where you can see turtles nesting depending on the time of the year. Pregnant turtles come up from the water and lay their eggs in the soft sand on the shore. The eggs hatch into tiny newborns who make their way back to the sea. 

The Barbados Sea Turtle Project (BSTP)

Established in 1987, this project promotes the conservation of sea turtles in Barbados and aims to maintain and educate the public about the importance of the sea turtles' survival. 

Made up of a joint activity between the Department of Biological & Chemical Sciences at the University of the West Indies, the Cave Hill Campus and the Fisheries Division in the government of Barbados, the group strives to enlighten people about the conservation efforts. 

They rely heavily upon the generosity of the public, the hotel staff and their guests to monitor the nesting and hatching activity happening on the beach during the season. Some local fishermen also feed and care for them as well as scraping barnacles of the shells and protecting nesting areas. 

The main season is normally between April and December with the main hatching happening during the winter. 

The project personnel assist with nightly surveillance of any beaches known to be nesting sites to protect potential babies being accidentally killed or the pregnant females being poached. They also tag and monitor turtles in near shore waters as well as satellite tracking post nesting turtles. The team include a 24hour response and monitor any signs of disease that can afflict the animals. 

Would you like to see these amazing creatures for yourself?

Speak to our luxury Barbados villa and apartment specialists today

+44 (0)1244 62 99 63

enquiries@elegant-barbados.com

Our Top Reasons Why Barbados is the Best Caribbean Island!

With it's glorious white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters and stunning sunsets, Barbados is one of the world's most desirable destinations. A rich and fascinating history combined with some incredibly varied culture and the friendliest locals, we would recommend a trip to the Bajan island to everyone!

Here are our Top Reasons Why Barbados is the Best Caribbean Island

The Food

Barbados includes a wide variety of unique and diverse flavours with influences taken from all over the world including Africa, India and England. The island has so many restaurants to choose from and you're sure to find culinary delights on every corner from five star fine dining to locally run businesses, excelling in authentic cuisine.

Waterfront Restaurants; a dream view over dinner.

Flying Fish; a famous Bajan delicacy!

Rum!

Rum is a massive part of the culture in Barbados. Perfected during the 17th century, there are more than 1,500 roadside bars along the island and they're incredibly proud of their product. Rum tours and local distilleries are an interesting look into the historical side of the Bajan tipple. Mount Gay Rum is the oldest rum brand in the world, established in 1703. 

Just one of the many rum bars you're sure to encounter!

Mount Gay; 'The rum that invented rum.'

The Culture

Barbados has a fascinating historical, ecological and archaeological background. Some of the buildings are built with pink and white coral and the island is steeped with colonial history, adding some extra depth to your visit. St Nicholas Abbey is a 350 year old property that served as a sugar plantation and is a well-preserved historical residence. 

St Nicholas Abbey; the grounds & exterior

The People

When you speak to anyone who's visited Barbados, there will always be a mention about the people who live there. The locals are warm and welcoming to tourists, something that isn't seen as much in other destinations. The majority are friendly, laid back and happy-go-lucky which just adds to the atmosphere of this slice of paradise.

When in Barbados, do as the locals do!

The Nightlife

Whilst the locals on the island are laid back, they still know how to party. Barbados' nightlife is as exciting as you'd imagine. Plenty of bars and clubs fill the skies with music and laughter. St Lawrence's Gap (also known as the Gap) has everything from Irish pubs to Italian bistros and lots of live music. Holetown is on the west side of the island whilst 2nd Street in St James provides even more to choose from!

Crop Over Festival

The most popular and colourful festival dates back to the 1780's and marks the success of a sugar cane harvest. Spreading through May to August, this beautiful celebration is full of music, dancing, arts and crafts and street fares. It's also the perfect place to spot celebrities with Rihanna, Lewis Hamilton and more being spotted enjoying the festivities. 

Crop Over Festival; a sea of laughter, music and dance!

The Perfect Opportunity for Celebrity Spotting!

The Sea Turtles

With a very healthy population of leatherback and hawksbill sea turtles, Barbados is home to these beautiful creatures and if you're lucky enough, you can see these critters hatch from their eggs and make their way down to the beach and into the sea!

Watch a truly memorable experience when the babies hatch

Snorkeling with sea turtles sounds perfect to us!

The Beaches

Barbados has approximately 60 beaches all boasting pristine, white sand and crystal clear, naturally clean waters. If you're after more sun bathing, gentle swimming and wind-surfing then the Platinum Coast is the best place. Surfing is perfect in East Coast where the Soup Bowl is located. 

So many things to do!

Have we planted the seed for a perfect Bajan trip?
Take a look at our exclusive portfolio of luxury villas and apartments or speak to one of our expert Barbados property consultants today:

www.elegant-barbados.com

+44 (0) 1244 629 963

Foodie Guide To Barbados

When it comes to finding great food on your travels the Caribbean island of Barbados may be small but it has a big variety of amazing foods and flavours! From lobster spring rolls to the Worlds best (we promise) macaroni pie; Barbados is a fantastic foodie haven with unforgettable restaurants, cafes and beach shacks serving Delicious local and international dishes you wont be able to resist.

In this guide to the best foodie hot-spots in Barbados, we will reveal five restaurants that might not be the most publicised or famous but offer the very best food that we have found on our trips around the island, all served up with beautiful sea views.

13/59 Port Ferdinand

Port Ferdinand is a prestigious yet welcoming luxury resort where visitors and owners can park their private yacht at their front door. The menu at 13/59 is ever changing and evolving with each season with imaginative and innovate style dishes whether you visit just for a relaxed brunch or an evening of live music and high-end dining.

The tables are booked for the night, so when you arrive, you can stay with your guests all evening if you wish. The atmosphere has a lovely relaxed elegance and the Barbecued pork buns, lobster popcorn, eggs Benedict, grilled lobster tail are some of the delectable delights to taste whilst dining by the relaxing marina. 

Round House Barbados

Located in the historic, rugged east coast of Barbados in the stunning Bathsheba; Round House has been a popular restaurant with both locals and visitors for 100 years! The unique scenic location with commanding views over the Atlantic coast, just one minute walk to the famous 'Soup Bowl' surfers paradise beach. 

This popular restaurant offers casual dining all day long with a menu that emphasizes fresh, and locally-sourced ingredients for its signature soups, salads, and sandwiches. We recommend sitting outside to see some of the best views on the island as well as watching the surfers take on the waves.

Nishi Barbados

Dine under the stars as you enjoy Nishi's award-winning British, Caribbean and Japanese dishes. Owned by British hosts Paul and Steve, this award-winning restaurant has mastered the British classics such as the humble pork pie as well as earning a reputation for their fabulous traditional sushi bar and latest trends in Japanese cuisine. 

With three dining areas you will be spoilt for choice with three dining areas to choose from but we recommend dining in the courtyard offering a relaxed atmosphere to mingle and have a lovely evening with friends. The menu reflects the owners 'passion for good food, good wine and the good life'. The flavours are inspired by tropical fruits and vegetables and the bounty of the Caribbean sea! 

The Atlantis Hotel

This is one of our favourite restaurants on the island, especially for their Sunday lunch buffet! The Atlantis hotel overlooks the stunning Tent Bay in Bathsheba and is synonymous with high quality food and sunset cocktails. 

The legendary buffets are held every Wednesday and Sunday when these feasts of Bajan delight are popular with locals as well as visitors to the island. Open breakfast, lunch and dinner - this sea view restaurant offers appetising food dramatic coastal setting and incredible cocktails for a deliciously authentic Barbados experience. 

Apsara Samudra

Think that it's just Caribbean/American or European style food in the Barbados? Think again! Apsara Samudra is a renowned Indian and Thai fine dining restaurant in St Lawrence's Gap. This beautiful, waters edge restaurant serves up delicious, authentic Asian cuisine cooked up by the Thai and Indian born chefs...so they know their stuff! 
The atmosphere and food are magical as you outside on the tropical terraces looking out to the gentle lapping waves of the Caribbean sea. 

Even more tempted to visit Barbados? Take a look at our incredible luxury villas on the island for an unforgettable holiday to the Caribbean.