Set along the southeast coast, Bottom Bay offers a quintessential Caribbean beach. Rugged cliffs, pocked with caves, form a rocky cove that shelters turquoise waters, with swaying coconut palms in the background. Waves are strong and the water is bluer than on other beaches, so swimming and snorkeling are not what you come here for. Nor will you find amenities such as restaurants and bars. No, you head to Bottom Bay for a nature break, perhaps trying to spot turtles in the inland waters and whales further out.
Don't be thrown off by the name. This is not some dusty old monastery. St. Nicholas Abbey has no connection to any church whatsoever, and the reason it was named so has been long-lost to history. This sugar plantation is about producing rum and has been since the mid-1600s. And they still make rum in the traditional way, in small batches, today. You can sample it for yourself with a visit to the distillery and a free rum punch sample, also getting a look at the steam-driven syrup facilities for production, though today the sugar cane is brought in from fields that lie a few miles from the plantation. Tour the 350-year-old manor house and a museum that recreates life on a plantation as it was in the 1700s.
Spread over six acres, the Andromeda Botanic Gardens invite you to stroll past placid lily ponds, rippling streams, and stunning ocean overlooks as you immerse in a haven with more than 600 different types of plants. Native both to Barbados and across the world, they include heliconia, hibiscus, bougainvillea, orchids, cacti, and begonias, just to name a few. Monkeys swing through towering trees and cool ocean breezes offer refreshment in true island style.
The only sea cave on the island that you can enter, Animal Flower Cave derives its name from the sea anemones you can find in its tide pools. Some pools are big enough to swim in when weather conditions are right. While a few different portals provide access, none are as dramatic as the craggy opening that faces the sea. Venture inside to behold cave walls that look like works of modern art, with splotches of brown and green created by oxidized deposits of iron and copper. When you're done, head up topside to a clifftop restaurant that offers dramatic views of the rugged coast from its outdoor seating.
Looking to take some stunning photographs on a beach? Look no further than Bathsheba. Its rock formations make for a dramatic backdrop to any photo and make it one of the most popular spots. Though not the most crowded, as the beach isn't easily reached by public transportation, leaving a rental car as your best option to get there. Bathsheba Beach is also a top destination for surfers, who flock there to take on the waves of the famed Soup Bowl, a foamy section with massive waves that hosts world-class surf competitions. Though the rough waters also mean you don't want to go swimming here. You also won't find many services, other than restrooms and a pair of rum shacks.
A few miles south of Bathsheba Beach, Hunte's Gardens provides a drastically different experience that is nonetheless as dramatic. Maintained by local horticulturist Antony Hunte, the oasis welcomes with an overflow of tropical trees, flowers, and an exotic assortment of other foliage. You're apt to see monkeys in the tree and hummingbirds drawn to the colorful flowers, set to a serene zen-inducing soundtrack of light classical music. Bring the makings for a picnic and eat amid the lush scenery.
About half of the island's residents live in the capital, making Bridgetown a bustling place. Cruise ships regularly pull into port to add to the lively scene, with most visitors heading to the town's historic heart that threads out from the centuries-old harbor along narrow cobblestone streets where colonial buildings mix with the ever-encroaching modern world.
Making the cut on USA Today's ten Best Caribbean Beaches, Crane Beach offers a secluded feel and crystalline azure waters with waves that are great for surfing and boogie boarding. The scenery leans to the sublime, with lines of coconut palms and rugged cliffs standing as a dramatic backdrop to golden sands.
© Copyright Vagabuzz.com - All Rights Reserved
