Barbados (2)

Barbados Travel
Guide

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Table of Contents
Page
Number
About Barbados
Important Information
Transportation
Things to Do and See
Bajan Food
4-5
6-9
10-15
16-39
40-45

About Barbados
Barbados is an independent British
Commonwealth nation in the eastern Caribbean.
Barbados is the top of a submerged mountain of
coral and limestone. The island is 21 miles/34
km long, 14 miles/22.5 km wide, and relatively
flat. The population is approximately 280,000.
Bridgetown is the island’s capital and is a cruise
ship port. Barbados is busiest during their high
season which is from December 15 through
April 15. Often restaurants and hotels close
during September and October, the slowest
months of the off season, for renovations.

Barbados is known for its white sand beaches,
resorts, golfing, variety of activities and nightlife,
as well as welcoming locals. Its west coast has
luxury hotels and villas overlooking narrow
pretty beaches. On the western coast and most
of the lively and more developed south coast the
sea is safe for children to play in and calm
enough for all swimmers . The eastern Atlantic
Coast is described as tranquil although the surf
is too rough for swimmers - it's largely
undeveloped with few places to stay.
The northeastern area of the island is often
referred to as Scotland because of its hilly
landscape and broad vistas. The island's interior
offers plantation houses, gardens, caves, and
sugar cane fields. Bridgetown is known for its
upscale shopping and its historic Garrison area
is a Unesco World Heritage site.

Click on this text to change
it and write your own

Important Information About Barbados
Barbados is a relatively safe island however be
careful in isolated places and avoid the beaches and
unlit streets after dark. Most crimes are simple tourist
scams - normal precautions used in public are
appropriate. Keep your valuables secure particularly
around Bridgetown’s bustling center on Swan and
Broad Streets. Be aware of anyone looking to take
advantage of tourists in popular areas such as St.
Lawrence Gap and nightlife venues on the south
coast. Petty robberies have occurred in Bridgetown
and other tourist areas. Police advise tourists and
locals against wearing visible gold jewelry.
The tap water is safe to drink.
The electricity voltage and outlets are the same as
Bermuda and the US.
June through October is wet season. Expect rain and
temperatures of 70-88 F.

Money Matters
A 7.5% V.A.T. is imposed on restaurant meals,
attractions, and merchandise.
The Barbados dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar at a
rate of approximately $2.00 BD to $1. 00 US. US
currency is accepted almost everywhere on the
island, so many travelers never change their money
into local currency. However be aware that
exchange rates may vary in some establishment
from $1.95 - $2.00 US and change will most often
be given in local currency. ATMs dispense local
currency only.
A 10% - 15% service charge is often added to
restaurant checks and 10% in hotels.
Recommended tipping is 10%–15% if there is no
included service charge.

Health Matters Too
Dengue, chikungunya, and zika have all been
reported throughout the Caribbean. They are all
carried by mosquitoes. Its recommended that you
protect yourself by keeping your skin covered and/or
wearing mosquito repellent at all times. The
mosquitoes are as active by day as they are by night.
Barbados healthcare is the best in the region. The
main hospital is in Bridgetown.
Did you Know?
******
Camouflage clothing is prohibited by law in
Barbados.
Do not bring or wear any clothing with a
camouflage pattern on it regardless of the colour.
No swimsuits, shorts, shirts, bags, towels, or
blankets. You will at least be asked to change and
the items likely will be taken from you.

Getting Around
You can get everywhere by bus as early as 5am
until 11pm - before or after those hours, you will
need to take a taxi. There are 3 types of buses in
Barbados yet the fare is always $2 BD or $1 US
regardless of where you go or how long you ride
on the same bus. Exact change is preferred.
All buses run about every 20 minutes along
Highway 1 (St. James Road) and Highway 7
(South Coast Main Road), as well as inland routes.
Bus stops are marked by small signs on roadside
poles that say "To City" or "Out of City," meaning
the direction you want to go in relation to
Bridgetown. Flag down the bus with your hand
even if you're standing at the stop.

All buses will have a sign board with their final
destination at the top or in the bottom of the
windscreen. If you are unsure simply ask the driver
and he will confirm or inform you of which one to
look out for. Its recommended to tell the driver
where you wish to get off.
The public buses are operated by government's
Barbados Transport Board and are blue with a
yellow stripe.

Yellow buses with a blue stripe are privately
owned and operated.
Also privately owned and operated are ZR vans
(due to their ZR license plates) or dollar vans are
white with a maroon stripe. These vans are much
smaller than the minibuses and buses and typically
run shorter routes concentrated in highly trafficked
and highly populated areas.

Travelling by dollar van is a unique Bajan
experience - they are known for their speed, loud
music, sudden stops and packing in as many
passengers as possible! Particularly in ZRs/dollar
vans the custom is to rap your knuckles making a
knocking sound on the area directly above the
windows to signal to the driver to stop.

Taxis
Taxis have a ‘Z’ on the license plate and usually a
‘taxi’ sign on the roof. They’re easy to find and
often wait at the side of the road in popular tourist
areas.
The rate per kilometer is around $3 BD, but short
trips cost more. A 10% tip is the norm in taxis.
Taxis operate 24 hours a day and carry up to three
passengers, and the fare may be shared. Taxis
aren't metered and rates are fixed by the
government but expect some negotiations on taxi
prices. Be sure to establish the fare before getting
into the taxi and confirm whether the price quoted
is in U.S. or Barbadian dollars.

Sample one-way fares from Bridgetown are $22
US to Holetown, $30 US to Speightstown, $18
US to St. Lawrence Gap, and $38 US to
Bathsheba. Drivers can also be hired for an
hourly rate of about $35–$40 US for up to three
people.

Shopping, Sites
& Activities

Monkey Bread Tree
Located in Queen's Park in Bridgetown, are two
magnificent baobab trees estimated to be over one
thousand years old. It takes 15 adults joining with
outstretched arms to cover its circumference.
Its thought that seeds floated from West Africa
across the Atlantic Ocean to the shores of
Barbados and eventually grew into this
magnificent tree.

Historic Bridgetown and Its Garrison
Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison participated
in the international trade of not only goods and
people, but also in the transmission of ideas and
cultures in the colonial Atlantic World.
The Barbados Garrison was largest in the British
Colonies during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Established in 1780 as the military headquarters
Imperial Forces stationed here until 1906. It
began with St. Ann’s Fort in 1705. Over the
years the Garrison area has expanded and now
includes the Savannah as well as some buildings
in Bay Street and Hastings. This Savannah is one
of Barbados’ most popular recreational areas.

Agapey Chocolate Factory
Purchase these local products throughout
Barbados. Look for them at Best of Barbados, a
store that specializes in local products and is located
at the airport, Holetown, St. Lawrence Gap, and
near Accra Beach.
Take an interactive tour of the factory available by
reservation only on Wednesday and Fridays at
11:00 am for $20.00 US per person. You can
taste local chocolate and sugar while learning about
the history of chocolate and the chocolate making
process.
Book your tour at
http://www.agapey.com/barbadostours.html

St. Nicholas Abbey
https://www.stnicholasabbey.com/
Barbados is famous for its rum and rum cake. Visit
the St. Nicholas Abbey a 350 year old plantation to
learn more about this heritage.
The property is open Sunday - Friday starting at
10:00 am. Last tour at 3:30 pm. Admission is $23
US per adult/$10 US per child which includes a
one hour tour of to the great house, syrup factory
and rum bottling plant.
Explore the abbey's gardens and enjoy a
complimentary rum or fruit punch on their terrace
overlooking the gully. Visitors 18 and older may
also enjoy a complimentary rum tasting.

Don't miss nearby Cherry Tree Hill with an avenue
of mahogany Trees and a breathtaking view from
850 feet above the island’s rugged east coast. Local
crafts and other souvenirs are also for sale here.
The plantation is often visited by a variety of birds
and iconic Green Monkeys. Its also home to a flock
of Guinea Fowl birds, Cocktatoos, Lance and Baby,
as well as a pair of Macaws. Plan to spend a
minimum of 2-3 hours touring the plantation
which also has a cafe or enjoy local cuisine in
nearby Diamond Corner and Shorey Village.

100% Bajan Products
Cigars made by ‘The Caribbean Cigar Company’
located in The Pelican Village complex, just outside
the capital city of Bridgetown
Pottery made by ‘Earthworks Pottery’ studio located
in the lush parish of St.Thomas. Visit to see clay
being transform into functional art
Local Seasonings and hot pepper sauces by
Delish , Amanda's, or Aunt May's. Look for local
sauces in grocery stores.
Did you Know?
******
Barbados is the only coral island that continues to
grow sugar cane and produce sugar!

Mount Gay Visitors Experience
Mount Gay Rum is the product of over 300 years
of knowledge, experience and refinement applied
to the process of making rum. They offer 5
different tour options to explore their distilleries.
More information is available at
http://www.mountgayrum.com/pub/n/docs/Mount_G
Taking the Bus to Mount Gay Rum Tour
Make your way to Bridgetown; you may board any bus
with the destination sign – Bridgetown. If you’re on the
South Coast, your final stop in Bridgetown will be the
Fairchild Street Terminal. Make your way to the Princess
Alice Bus Terminal. If you’re on the West Coast its a cinch,
as your bus will take you directly to the Princess Alice Bus
Terminal

Animal Flower Cave
https://www.animalflowercave.com/
This attraction opens at 9:00 am; last tour at 4:30
pm. Cost to enter the cave is $10 US for Adults, $5
US for children 12 and under, under 5's enter free.
The restaurant is open daily from 12pm - 3pm
Animal Flowers are small tube worms that live in the
crevices in the rocks. They open up and look like
flowers and when they close they go back inside their
tubes, hence the name! They are found in the pools
of the cave. Some of these pools are deep enough for
you to swim in. They are no longer abundant in the
caves and are seasonal however the cave is a
beautiful place, if you do happen to see an Animal
Flower then it is an added bonus. The walls of the
cave are full of interesting formations which have
been coloured green and brown by oxidation of
copper and iron. See if you can spot the lizard, turtle
and hand formations as you explore the cave!

There is a large children's playpark as well as stalls
and stores selling local jewellery, art and crafts.The
cliffs surrounding the Cave offer spectaular views of
the northern coast of Barbados where huge
Atlantic waves crash against the cliffs.

Barbados Wildlife Reserve and
Grenade Hall Forest & Signal Station
https://www.barbadoswildlifereserve.com/
View from Signal Station
The Barbados Wildlife Reserve is located across
the road from the Farley Hill National Park in
northern parish of St. Peter. Here you have a
unique opportunity watch the animals at close
range and in their own environment as they eat,
play and interact with other animals. There are
few cages here. Barbados Green Monkeys are
common especially during the afternoon feeding
time.
Birds include parrots, flamingos, peacocks,
brown pelicans and sparrows as well as a
walk-through aviary.

Reptile are caged here such as snakes, iguanas, turtles
and tortoises. There are non-native animals including
the Brocket Deer, agouti, caiman (like an alligator)
and armadillo to see.
The entrance fee to the wildlife reserve also gains
admission to the Grenade Hall Forest and Signal
Station. History and nature buffs will enjoy this
attraction which combines a restored historic site
with a natural forest. The station was first constructed
in 1819 as one of a group of signal stations used to
communicate across the island with news such as
warnings of approaching ships or of slave rebellions.
Explore the signal station's amazing views and then
follow paths through the Grenade Hall Forest and
learn about the healing powers of the many plants
found there.

L
m
Harrison's Caves
http://www.harrisonscave.com/index.php
Harrison's Cave is an amazing gallery of caves
with streams of crystal-clear running water that
drop from breathtaking waterfalls to form deep
emerald pools. The island's underground water
systems supported the great sugar plantations of
the past and continues to sustain a diversifying
base of agricultural production.

Gun Hill Signal Station
ocated in the parish of St.George, the station provides
magnificent and captivating views of the entire island!
The station has landscaped gardens full of tropical
flowers - a winding path past historic lamps and
garden benches leads to panoramic views from a
wrap-around balcony.
These stations were used signal to each other. The
station houses a collection of military memorabilia.
There is a small restaurant here as well as magnificent
lion statue carved out of a single piece of rock in
1868 by an officer at the signal station.

Barbados Concorde Experience
http://www.barbadosconcorde.com/
Barbados Museum
Artifacts from Arawak
days, galleries of military
and social history,
cane-harvesting tools,
wedding dresses, ancient
dental instruments, slave
sale accounts, rare West
Indian materials, and
children's exhibits all
housed in the former
British Military Prison.
The retired supersonic jet
has made its permanent
home here. Besides
boarding the sleek
aircraft itself, you learn
about how the
technology was
developed and how this
plane differed from other
jets.

Andromeda Botanic Gardens
http://www.andromedabarbados.com/index.html
6 Acres of tropical gardens with more than 600
unique plant specimens - some that can not be
found anywhere else in the Caribbean.
The Gallery Shop at Andromeda Botanic Gardens
showcases some wonderful local talent. The
Garden Café provides sandwiches, fishcakes,
delicious pain aux raisins, and organically grown
salads from the Gardens when available.

Welchman's Gully
http://www.welchmanhallgullybarbados.com
Formed from the
collapsed roofs of caves,
this three-quarter mile
long gully is home to a
number of tropical plants
and trees, including
nutmeg, bamboo, clove
and palms. There is also
an 80 ft long kid friendly
zip line, a swing rope,
tight rope, tree house,
and picnic tables here.
You can watch wild green
monkeys in their natural
habitat in the gully. You
can see them tuck into
bananas on a specially
built feeding platform,
which is near the gully
entrance especially during
feeding time between
10:30 am and noon..

Flower Forest
http://www.flowerforestbarbados.com
A ½-mi/1 km path winds through a former sugar
plantation. Benches are placed throughout the
53.6-acre grounds and also a snack bar, a gift shop,
and a beautiful view of Mt. Hillaby, the island's
highest point.
Huntes Garden
http://www.huntesgardensbarbados.com
These magical gardens are one of the most popular
Barbados tourist attractions - a horticultural
wonderland.

A Day in Barbados
___________________________
How will you explore?

Folkestone Marine Park & Museum
Dive, snorkel, kayak, or paddle board at a series of
reefs featuring numerous fish and other marine life,
including sea anemones, sea lilies, corals and sponges.
Folkestone Museum features an aquarium and
photographic exhibit on marine life. Children love
the playground, tennis courts and basketball courts
There's a souvenir shop for gifts, drinks, ice-cream
and snacks. You can stroll along the boardwalk for
views of the ocean, relax on the benches or under
the shade of the trees around the park.

Cheapside Market
Open Monday - Saturday 7:00 am - 5:00
pm the biggest market of its kind in Barbados
is a main feature of activity in Bridgetown.
Vendors and farmers sell their clothing, craft,
fruit, vegetables, plants, spices, fresh meats
and food in this beautiful architectural work
of art.

Day or night, St. Lawrence Gap in Barbados is a
great place to eat, have a drink and a chat with
locals and tourists.
Located in Christ Church, The Gap, as its locally
called, is a little over three quarters of a mile
stretch of road lined with local fare from food
vendors, restaurants, night clubs, shops, and
hotels. It provides a relaxed but exciting
atmosphere to stroll, shop, and indulge.

Fun Things to Do In Barbados
Visit any beach on the west coast or Barbados
Boardwalk along Hastings' coast and watch the sunset
Swim with turtles on a catamaran tour.
Visit Holders Farmers’ Market on Sundays
Stop at the Morgan Lewis Windmill -the last sugar
windmill to operate in Barbados.
Crane Beach is famous with tourists. Enterprise Beach
aka Miami Beach is more popular among locals. Visit
Bottom Beach for something more secluded.

Websites for More Information
and Tour Bookings
http://www.barbados.org/tours/toursisl.htm
.
http://www.funbarbados.com/Tours/
https://www.viator.com/Barbados/d30-ttd
https://www.visitbarbados.org/things-to-do/itiner
http://www.vacation-in-barbados.com/things-tohttp://www.mybarbados.org/
https://www.lickrishfoodtours.com/

Eating Out
Rum shops double as the village pub and
shop selling random household essentials.
They are also the cheapest places to buy a
flying fish cutter i.e fish on a bread roll, or a
traditional Bajan meal of chicken, pork, or
fish, with macaroni pie, cou cou, or potato,
and salad for about $12 US.

Bajan Fish Frys
Oistin's Fish Fry on Friday night is famous for its
seafood vendors cooking up the catch of the day -
swordfish, flying fish, tuna, lobster, or mahi mahi
- with macaroni pie, cou cou, jerk chicken, and
other local specialties along with music from local
djs, plenty of locally brewed Banks beer, dominoes,
and cards.
Oistin's is an area that actually serves fish on
Friday and Saturday evenings. There's also other
fish frys across the island like every Thursday -
Sunday night in Moontown north of
Speightstown.
Or for an upscale local experience consider
Lancaster Great House's Thursday Fish Fry &
Plantation Dinner serving 4 courses under the
glow of candles to the beat of live Jazz music and
the scent of fresh fish sizzling away in the coal pot.
Price: Bds $175 per head.

Bajan Food
Cou Cou - part of the national dish of Barbados –
flying fish and cou cou. It's made with cornmeal
and okra, and is usually served with flying fish and
gravy but can be added to most any meal with meat
and fish to give it a bit more heft.
Flying fish - it's a staple food that can be fried,
steamed, baked, or pickled but is usually fried or
stewed with onions and tomato gravy.
Salt bread - Unlike most Barbados breads, salt
bread is savory. It's typically used for cutters
(sandwiches) but makes a delicious dinner roll next
to fried flying fish. Try it with butter or cheese as a
snack.
Bajan fish cakes - traditionally made into little discs,
today you will most likely find them as fish balls
deep fried. The addition of baking soda makes the
texture different from the more dense Bermudian
fish cakes.

Pudding and souse (pictured above)- pudding is
made with sweet potatoes, and onions then stuffed
into intestine and tied off like a sausage and boiled.
Souse is traditionally made with scrap parts of the
pig but today is often made from lean pork meat or
chicken. Pudding and souse is usually served with
pickled sweet potato or pickled breadfruit. The pickle
is made of lime, cucumber, onion and hot peppers.
Considered a Saturday meal.
Sweetbread - also called coconut bread because it's
bread sweetened with coconut. Sugar is also added
and sometimes raisins and dried cherries. Although
it's baked in a loaf it's more cookie-like.
Bakes - These delicacies are pretty much teeny
pancakes made with flour, salt, and water. Some
use sugar.

Sea Eggs - A species of sea urchin, sea eggs are
found on the ocean floor. They can be eaten raw,
fried or stewed. It's an acquired taste.
Cassava pone - made from cassava flour it's slightly
sweet. Sometimes raisins or carrots are added.
Guava cheese - not cheese at all - more like
cranberry jelly. The sweet, slightly citrusy treat is
usually cooked to a soft, taffy-like consistency.
Bread and two - 2 fish cakes in saltbread
Lemonade - made with limes but called lemonade

Next Stop
Bridgetown!