Things to do in  Barbados

This small island (just 21 by 14 miles / 34 by 23 km) in the Lesser Antilles has beach-worthy weather all year around and sits outside the so-called “Hurricane Alley.” The bustling capital and UNESCO World Heritage Site of Bridgetown boasts many multicolored historical buildings as well as some pedestrian shopping streets. The fine sand beaches and azure waters in the south draw travelers from all over the globe while the wild and rugged coast of the island’s north offers natural wonders. In between lies the famous Harrison’s Cave, a limestone formation that contains stalagmites, stalactites, and underground water features. To cover all of that—and the mix of colonial, native, and immigrant cultures in between—tours by car, catamaran, and 4x4 help speed transport and shed light on Barbados’ food and customs. Visitors join local and international surfers at a beach called the “Soup Bowl,” in the quaint fishing village of Bathsheba, peek at the local green monkeys at Welchman Hall Gully, and stop at Saint Nicholas Abbey, which opens a window into what life on the island may have looked like in the 17th century. For more relaxed—but no less impressive—sights, Hunte’s Garden showcases the lush, tropical flora and fauna found in Barbados, and nobody can resist a stop at the famous Mount Gay Rum Distillery, where travelers visit the Heritage Museum and even take a course in mixing the perfect rum cocktail.