It’s easy to see why so many people think Barbados is paradise. As you approach Oistins’ fish market on a Friday night, your senses are awakened by the delicious aromas of fresh fish being cooked and the sweet strains of calypso – music so rhythmic you won’t be able to stop yourself from dancing along. Yes, this fish market – where you can enjoy traditional Bajan fare such as fish cakes, Jug-Jug (guinea corn and green peas) and fried fish, washed down with an ice cold Banks Beer – might be an unusual place to find the best party on the island, but this is Barbados and it is a must for anyone who wants to get a real taste of life here.
It’s a world away from that glam, celeb hotspot Sandy Lane, which is another side of this stunning, sunny island. Visit the Spa, housed within a splendid Romanesque building fronted by a spectacular waterfall cascading into a large, freeform swimming pool, and feel like VIP as you are pampered.
For a completely different experience, head inland to the heart of Barbados and tour Harrison’s Cave – a beautiful, crystallised limestone cavern of rumbling, flowing streams, deep pools of crystal clear water and vast stalactites and stalagmites. It is truly breathtaking.
In total contrast, stop at one of the 1,200 rum shops across the island to join in a karaoke session or, to discover rum’s colourful history, embark on the Mount Gay Rum tour, where you can also become a bit of an expert as you explore the subtleties of rum’s flavours.
Are you beginning to get the picture? Barbados might only be 166 square miles, but its colourful past and beautiful natural wonders – as well as its perfect year-round climate – mean this island is full of surprises.
Place a bet during Saturday horse racing at The Historic Garrison Savannah and delight in the Broadway acts before the Barbados Gold Cup every March, with its parade through the streets of Bridgetown. If you’re a cricket fan, make sure to visit the Cricket Legends of Barbados Museum.
If participating in sport, rather than watching it, is more your thing , there are five international golf courses and some of the best surfing in the world, including The Soup Bowl in Bathsheba on the north-east Atlantic coast, as well as some more usual pursuits.
Go horse riding along Morgan Lewis Beach, try a yoga class on a paddle board in the ocean or learn to kite board at Silver Sands on the South Coast. For diving enthusiasts, Barbados offers 200-plus wrecks to explore and some excellent dive sites in the barrier reefs, which blossom with sponge, coral and plant life, where you can come face to face with the Hawksbill Turtle, frog fish, giant sand eels and sea horses.
Visitors should also take time to discover the history of the stunning island. Barbados’s beautiful capital, Bridgetown, the Barbados Garrison UNESCO World Heritage Site and Sunbury House a resorted, working plantation house are just some of the sites (and sights) that will give you a glimpse into the past of this strategically placed island and the role sugar has played In its history.
These traditions continue today. The Crop Over five-week summer festival can be traced back to the 1780s when Barbados celebrated the harvest. Submerge yourself in the atmosphere watching the calypso competitions, browsing the arts and crafts markets in Bridgetown, marvelling at the Cohobblopot carnival-like show and celebrating at the Grand Kadooment carnival parade with large bands.
With so much to see, enjoy and explore, you might have to come back for more. From the Mount Gay Rum Round Barbados Race Series to the Food & Wine and Rum Festival, Barbados has a packed calendar of world-class events.
Still, it would be a pity to come all this way and not spend time soaking up the sun or sipping cocktails as you watch the sun set on the Caribbean Sea. And life really does not get better than relaxing on the deck of a luxurious catamaran while a sumptuous meal is prepared by a top chef.