Barbados
A narrow but pretty stretch of sand just north of Holetown with good swimming. The real reason to come here is the marine life. The waters are inhabited by hawksbill turtles, which come to feed on sea grasses just offshore. Many snorkeling tours stop here, but you can also rent snorkel gear along the beach and go it alone.
Like many spots along this stretch, beach access is becoming increasingly blocked off by large hotels and private properties. Parking is nigh on impossible.
15.16 MILES
Well off the beaten track, the pint-sized Shark Hole is one of those special places for which your selfie will not do justice. Down a short flight of…
12 MILES
A somewhat hidden gem that is the antithesis of its American namesake. Small, shady and intimate, it's well removed from the often frenetic south-coast…
6.08 MILES
St Nicholas Abbey is a Jacobean-style mansion that is one of the oldest plantation houses in the Caribbean and a must-see stop on any island itinerary…
7.56 MILES
On the north side of National Heroes Sq are two stone-block, neo-Gothic-style buildings constructed in 1871. The western building with the clock tower…
15.32 MILES
On an island blessed with beautiful stretches of sand, Bottom Bay is up there with the best. With translucent turquoise waters framed by rocks and…
9.65 MILES
The largest beach in the area, Rockley is a picture-perfect crescent of sand. Backed by shade trees, there’s moderate surf. The new boardwalk allows you…
2.63 MILES
Fringed by a fine stretch of sand, gently curving Paynes Bay is endlessly popular and its calm waters make it one of the west coast’s best spots for…
5.67 MILES
These gardens at the home of famed local horticulturalist Anthony Hunte already have a magical aura. Set mostly within the confines of a collapsed cave,…
2.03 MILES
A popular and family-friendly beach along Hwy 1 between Holetown and Speightstown with waters that are usually calm and good for swimming and snorkeling…
2.63 MILES
Fringed by a fine stretch of sand, gently curving Paynes Bay is endlessly popular and its calm waters make it one of the west coast’s best spots for…
3.09 MILES
A radiant vision in white stucco, this 18th-century colonial house now has an engaging museum run with love by the National Trust. It's divided into…
3.78 MILES
One of the best strands on the west coast for day-trippers from elsewhere on the island, Heywoods Beach offers good parking, a location well off Hwy 1 and…
4.32 MILES
Once part of a large estate that covered the area, this National Trust property contains some rare tracts of original Barbados tropical rainforest,…
4.68 MILES
This cave is promoted as one of the island's premier attractions, but how much you enjoy it will depend on which tour you choose. The main 'tram tour'…
4.95 MILES
A tree-covered hillside set around the ruins of an old estate home. Climb to the top and sit on one of the benches in front of the pagoda for a fresh…
5.01 MILES
A 20-hectare botanic garden on the site of a former sugar estate that has many stately, mature citrus and breadfruit trees as well as a fine range of…