Explore Barbados

Barbados is an island in the Caribbean, northeast of Venezuela. The island is portrayed as the Little Britain of the Caribbean because of its long association as a British colony.

The name "Barbados" comes from a Portuguese explorer named Pedro Campos in 1536, who originally called the island Los Barbados ("The Bearded Ones"), after the appearance of the island's fig trees, whose long hanging aerial roots resembled beards.


The island of Barbados has eleven parishes which can be sensibly divided into four regions:

Bridgetown
the eponymous capital city of Barbados and surrounding areas in Saint Michael Parish.

Central Eastern Barbados
the parishes of Saint Andrew, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Joseph and Saint Thomas. The east coast is the rugged Atlantic side of the island.

Western Barbados
the parishes of Saint James, Saint Peter and Saint Lucy. The calm, Caribbean Sea side of the island covering the parishes of St. James, St. Peter and St. Lucy. Holetown and Speightstown are the two main towns.

Southern Barbados
the parishes of Christ Church and Saint Thomas. Includes St. Lawrence Gap, a lively area full of bars and restaurants, Oistins, and Grantley Adams International Airport.


Top things to do:
World class watersports including surfing at Soup Bowl on the east coast and various breaks along the west when the swell is up. The south coast has great surf and a spot on the world windsurfing tour at Silver Sands.

Travel inland to various plantation houses which put on meals and exhibitions. Visit the animal flower cave or Barbados wildlife reserve.

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