Independent since 1966, Barbados still has traces of traditions formed when it was a colony of the British Empire, going back to 1627. That's Lord Nelson himself in statue form standing on Bridgetown's Trafalgar Square. Afternoon tea remains a tradition, cricket is the national sport, and many Bajans speak with a British accent. The historical past is everywhere, including 18th- and 19th-century homes scattered around the island. Barbados is not called "Little England" in the Caribbean without some reason.
Jamaica too has its British traditions and lingering colonial overtones, but Barbados is a safer destination with far less crime and violence than you find in Jamaica. The difference between the haves and the have-nots didn't result in the social protest Jamaica witnessed.
It's not British tradition today that keeps the visitors returning. It's those seemingly endless pink-and-white sand beaches. Easily reached on flights from North America, Barbados has a grand array of resort hotels (but no casinos), many of them superexpensive, although neighboring St. Lucia seems to be catching up. Barbados has more natural and man-made attractions combined than any other island in the southern Caribbean.
Unlike its neighbors, lonely Barbados stands on its own in the Atlantic Ocean, 160km (100 miles) east of St. Lucia. Bridgetown is its capital and commercial center, where most of the 280,000 Bajans live and work. But few visitors lodge here.
The south coast is known for its nightlife and more moderately priced hotels, whereas the north coast is filled with the gold-plated resort properties. The east coast, facing the more turbulent Atlantic, is far less built up and is more for escapists who don't want to be part of the westcoast scene. The east coast is also home to some of the island's major attractions, including Andromeda Botanical Garden, Farley Hill National Park, Barbados Wildlife Reserve, and Harrison's Cave.
Don't Miss Experiencing . . .
- Flower Forest, preserved as a living legacy for future generations, a 50-acre park and botanical garden filled with exotic flowers and spice trees.
- Harrison's Cave, spectacular caverns with stunning crystal rooms, waterfalls, underground pools (filled with blind crayfish), and subterranean streams. An electric tram carries you through.
- Welchman Hall Gully, the home of the wild monkey. The lush tropical gardens are filled with tropical specimens -- here before the British arrived in 1627 -- set amid natural caves.
