Barbados is located in the Caribbean in the North Atlantic Ocean, northeast of Venezuela. The island was uninhabited when first settled by the British in 1627. Slaves worked the sugar plantations established on the island until 1834 when slavery was abolished. The economy remained heavily dependent on sugar, rum, and molasses production through most of the 20th century. The gradual introduction of social and political reforms in the 1940s and 1950s led to complete independence from the UK in 1966. In the 1990s, tourism and manufacturing surpassed the sugar industry in economic importance.The capital is in historic Bridgetown, is one of the oldest cities in the Caribbean.
There is much to see and do in the Barbados. You can easily rent a car or take one of the guided bus tours. If you choose to rent a car in the Barbados, the roads meander and are often unmarked, so don’t get frustrated if you get lost – seems like everybody does! If you make a wrong turn, consider it part of the adventure of touring Barbados. You might want to pick up any of the several free maps available everywhere. The locals are usually very helpful in getting you to your destination. They will do their best to try to steer you the right way, even if the directions seem a bit skewed. But not to worry, you will get there eventually.
The prime resort area with its beautiful beaches can be found on the West coast. Here you will find some small towns with a wide selection of restaurants, accommodations and duty-free shopping.
The southern end of the island is the hub of the island’s nightlife with St. Lawrence Gap as the center of activity. You will find a variety of restaurants, accommodations, duty-free shopping and action-filled beaches during the day. Here you can visit the nature & wildlife reserve and/or the rum distillery.
On the east Coast, with the Atlantic coastline with its crashing waves and empty beaches, this is the quieter part of the island, though very popular with island tours. In the rugged area of the Scotland District, you can find spectacular rock formations – this is a photographers dream. A trip on one of the island’s Safari Tours will ensure that you will see it all. This area is especially known for its relaxing accommodations and restaurants.
In the northern part of the island you will find secluded coves, a wildlife reserve, weathered cliffs, pounding surfs, breathtaking viewsand sleepy fishing villages. This northern section is also the least developed part of Barbados.
In the central part of the island, you will find a great experience for lovers of natural beauty, who want to see an array of botanical wonders, gullies and cane fields. You can go underground by electric tram and see some of the most beautiful caves found anywhere, or soar sky-high over the tree tops for a bird’s eye helicopter view of the shores and countryside.
You can sail along the tranquil waters on a day or night cruise, touring the lovely coastline and witnessing the beautiful sea life. It’s fun to swim with the sea turtles or snorkel on a coral reef. You might just want to lay on one of the many palm-fringed, coral sand beaches and relax!
There are some upcoming festivals yet to come in 2008.
The Taste of Barbados Food Festival starts October 3rd and runs through October 11th.
2008 Virgin Atlantic Music Festival Barbados starts October 30 and runs through November 8th.
More links to visit if you are thinking about a trip to the Barbados:
Official website of the Barbados Tourism Authority.
Fun in Barbados
Barbados Government
Grantley Adams International Airport
Transportion on the island is good, with ‘route taxis’, travelling to most points on the island. These small buses can at times be crowded, but will usually take the more scenic routes to destinations. They typically depart from the capital Bridgetown or from Speightstown in the northern part of the island.
There is also a helicopter shuttle service, which offers air taxi services to a number of sites around the island, mainly on the West Coast tourist belt. Air and water traffic is regulated by the Barbados Port Authority. More information regarding the Port at Bridgetown can be found here: The Port of Bridgetown.
Visit Professor Beach’s Worlds Best Beachtowns Website for more information! You will find maps, photos, chamber of commerce info, airport info and more. Just click on each link below.
Click here to visit Bridgetown
Click here to visit Bushy Park
Click here to visit Holetown
Click here to visit Oistins
Click here to visit Speightstown
Click here to visit St. Lawrence Gap
