Barbados

Mel & Max
Oct 22, 2019
5 min read

Updated: Jan 19, 2020

We've visited the Barbados Island in October 2019. It was pretty calm in general, since we were out of the touristic periods. We've stayed 8 days, which was just enough to view what we though was the best the island had to offer (diving, caves, nature and beaches).

We've rented a nice apartment near a beach and great snorkeling sites in Holetown, on the West Coast, North of Bridgetown. Since, Holetown is centralized, it was a great departure point for our many excursions.

Harrison's Caves

It's unusual to see asphalted driveways in caves, so if you are seeking for an absolute natural cave expedition it may not be the best place. However, the rock formations were amazing with nice lightning effects, water pools and impressive halls. The place is very well equipped for any type of traveler.

We chose the one hour walk-in tour, which is only offered on the last Saturday of each month, at 3 PM. One hour tram tours and 3.5 hours eco-adventure tours are also offered. We were happy with our selection, since we felt that the walk-in tour allowed more exploration and pictures opportunities than the tram option. Our guide was awesome; his explanations were clear and interesting and he gave us extra time to let Max take all his pictures!

On the photography side, the ambient light was pretty low. We had a few nice pictures with a Samsung S10 smartphone but we really recommend bringing in a camera with a larger sensor. We used a Panasonic FZ1000 with 1 inch sensor and it was challenging to get good quality pictures. The visit was a little fast paced, but bringing a tripod could be considered to get nice steady shots.

For more information about Harrison's Cave : http://harrisonscave.com/

Welchman Hall Gully

Welchman Hall Gully is a very nice park that seems under rated on the reviews we saw. It is closely located to Harrison's Cave (2 km) so it can conveniently be combined into the same day, if you rent a car or make proper arrangement with your taxi driver. Walking is not advised.

Unfortunately we did the visit in a hurry as we didn't planned enough time. One can easily spend 2 hours. There are few rock formations from a collapsed cave, panoramic view, tropical plants and possible wild life observation. Indicative signs are posted to give information on the plant species on display. The paths are paved, which makes it easily accessible.

For more information: https://www.welchmanhallgullybarbados.com/

The Bumping Buses

Getting around the island can quickly become a pretty expensive part of your travel. The roads are narrow and frequently congested. Hiring a taxi can easily cost 80 to 100 BDS (40-50 USD) depending on the distance.

But the most intrepid ones can save some bucks by using the buses! They cost 3.5 BDS per person and are pretty frequent. They are not for everyone as they can be quite bumpy; the driver slams both pedals all the way in and it literally feels like there is no suspension! They can get pretty crowded, so be advised! They frequently have double purpose; they can double out as a disco with lights and extremely loud music. It can be annoying or funny, depending on your mood. The buses staff were kind, helping us to find our way on the island.

Neither the buses or the taxi will accept payment by card, so make sure to withdraw enough money and try to plan your withdrawals wisely, as the ATM fees can be pretty high.

Oistins Fish Fry

Speaking of bumping buses, it took us 1.5 hours to get from Holetown to Oistins for Fish Fry during rush hour! Fish Fry happens every Friday and starts around 6 PM. Tourists and locals gather there to enjoy sea food, drink and dance. You can also go on the docks, where you will likely see some turtles (go during day light for better view).

While you walk around, waiters and waitresses will pressure you to have a look at their menus, which, we felt, were more or less the same. We still enjoyed our time there, since there was a good ambiance and a good crowd.

Food tip : Don't be scandalized if you see "Dolphin fish" on the menu, as it is not really Dolphin, but Mahi Mahi! And don't expect your "King fish"to have a crown!

Animal Flower Cave

Animal Flower Cave takes it's name from the anemones that live in its waters. There used to be many more, but the scenery and the cave itself worth the trip, as they were both pretty impressive. There is a nice bar to enjoy a cold beer, a cave to explore with the possibility to swim at low tides and a path to contemplate the power of the waves breaking on the rocks. We only scheduled 2 hours, but one can easily spend more time.

It costs 20 BDS (10 USD) to get into the cave. A guide will show you the best spots and let you plenty of time to swim and even snorkel in the cave if you wish (if you bring your own gear). A few stronger waves make their ways up to the cave.

Photography wise, the cave have extremely challenging contrasts to deal with. The cave was better looking in real life than it appears on the photos. Especially with all the details on the rocks and the nice turquoise blue water.

Wildlife Reserve

We went to the Wildlife Reserve after our visit to the Animal Flower Cave. The reserve is interesting, as it has a natural and calm looking setup. Among others, you'll see turtoises, green monkeys, brocket deers, peacocks, a mara (yes, there's only one!), caimans and even chickens! One of the most impressive moments is when they feed the animals; lots of diverse food are dumped on the floor from wheelbarrows, where animals are fighting and climbing on each other to get their share!

There is also a nice scenic view in the abandoned plantation (Farley Hill National Park) in front of the reserve where you can walk there if you have a few more minutes to spend and the reserve is pretty quick to visit.

For more information about Barbados Wildlife Reserve : https://www.barbadoswildlifereserve.com/

Diving and snorkeling in Barbados

One of our first goal in Barbados was to enjoy the water and explore the marine world, via a combination of diving and snorkeling from the shore.

Awesome free snorkeling spots with shipwrecks!

Note that GPS coordinates are approximate, but once on place just follow the tourist boats. They will gladly show you the points of interest.

1-Holetown

Coordinates: 13.179490, -59.641503

This spot has one shipwreck in a very calm location. You can access the beach near the medical center in Holetown.

2-Carlisle Bay

Coordinates: 13.088223, -59.614382

There is 5 ship wrecks in Carlisle Bay, 2 or 3 of them being accessible for snorkelers from the shore.There are usually Green and Hawksbill turtles also in this area.