10 of the Best Day Trips in Barbados

 

We wouldn’t blame you for wanting to spend your entire trip to Barbados chilling out on the beach, but with so much else on offer, it would be a shame not to get out and take at least one day trip to the rest of the island during your break!

For such a small island, there is loads to see and do right across Barbados, so here are ten of our best day trip activities.

St. Nicholas Abbey

Cherry Tree Hill
St. Peter

 

For a bit of a history lesson, head north through the sugar cane fields to the St. Nicholas Abbey.

This Jacobean building is the oldest plantation house on the island, and in addition to the Great House itself, it’s also home to a working rum distillery.

The whole plantation will take at least two to three hours to see properly, so be sure to set aside plenty of time.

 

Andromeda Botanic Gardens

Bathsheba
St. Joseph

Just inland from Bathsheba beach, on the east coast, is the beautiful Andromeda Botanic Gardens.

The gardens were created back in the 1950s and are now run by the Barbados National Trust, with highlights including the huge bearded fig tree, with aerial roots.

Barbados Concorde Experience

Grantley Adams International Airport
Christ Church

At the Grantley Adams International Airport, you can visit Concorde G-BOAE, the last Concorde to fly supersonically over the Atlantic.

Barbados was one of the Concorde’s destinations, and a popular one among the rich and famous, and with this exhibition, you can explore the plane’s interior for yourself.

Calabaza Sailing Cruises

A catamaran cruise is a great way to chill out and enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean Sea, and Calabaza Sailing Cruises currently offer the best-reviewed tours on TripAdvisor.

Their cruises give you the chance to swim and snorkel in the deep blue ocean and get up close and personal with the local turtles!

And of course, you can enjoy an authentic Bajan lunch as well as special rum punch while on board!

Boosy’s Surf School

Freights Bay
Atlantic Shores
Christ Church

If you’ve never tried surfing before, you’re in the perfect place to give it a try, so why not head down to Boosy’s Surf School for the day?

The school is run by Christian, who has been surfing for over 25 years and teaching for ten, and he will take you to wherever the waves are best and most suited for your skill level.

Ted’s Tour

Coconut Court Beach Hotel
Hastings
Christ Church

The best way to cram seeing as much of the island into one day as possible is to take a guided tour, and Ted’s Tour is one of the best.

Ted is a native Barbadian who has been offering tours of the island since way back in 1983 and has a great knowledge of the island and its history.

The tours are a great, laid-back way to experience the island in a day, taking in everything from the West Coast to Cherry Tree Hill.

GFish Watersports

Barbados Cruising Club
Aquatic Gap
Bridgetown

Snorkelling and scuba diving are hugely popular activities with visitors to the island, and GFish offer some of the most highly rated snorkelling and scuba tours in Barbados.

It’s a lot easier than you might think, and there’s so much to see under the ocean waves, whether it be the local turtles, colourful tropical reef fish or the many famous shipwrecks that litter the surrounding sea.

Atlantis Submarines

The Shallow Draught
Bridgetown

Submarine tours are another popular Barbados attraction, and Atlantis are one of the leading providers on the island.

Their submarine tours will take you 130 feet under the Caribbean to explore shipwrecks, corals and all of the colourful marine life which populate them, the sort of sights that are usually reserved for scuba divers.

Island Safari

Salters Road
Lower Estate
St. George

Island Safari Barbados allow you take unique Barbados adventures, in both their rugged 4 x 4 vehicles and their powerboats.

These exciting tours take you off the beaten track to see the parts of the island that you’d usually never get to see, all in the company of their informative and entertaining guides.

Paddle Barbados

Barbados Cruising Club
Aquatic Gap
Bridgetown

Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) is another great way to experience the island, and it’s easy to pick up even if you’re a total beginner.

Based on the crystal clear Carlisle Bay, Paddle Barbados is the hub of all things SUP, offering other activities such as snorkelling, kayaking and boogie boarding. They even offer SUP Yoga classes too!

 

There are loads of ways to spend a day in Barbados away from the beaches, and while you understandably want to go on holiday to relax, we recommend that everyone takes at least one day to get out and explore what this beautiful island has to offer!