Barbados Tours and Island Activities

Whether you choose one of the guided Barbados tours or decide to explore some of its many attractions on your own, there are a wealth of things to see and do.  Here are a few that are sure to make your Barbados vacation even more enjoyable!

Barbados Wildlife Reserve

The Barbados Wildlife Reserve should definitely be on your Barbados tours list. This walking tour offers visitors the opportunity to see creatures in their natural habitat. Although green monkeys can be seen here feeding, playing and always ready to showoff, they are often spoted wandering through hotel lobbies and in all sorts of other unexpected places. The reserve also has exotic snakes safely confined for the protection of visitors. Other island creatures not often seen anywhere else are parrots, flamingo and caiman which are relatives of the alligator family.

George Washington House

For visitors from the United States, one home sure to be enjoyed during Barbados tours is the tour of the home where George Washington spent a few months on a visit to the island in 1751. One very interesting exhibit shows how water was filtered many years ago by using three stoneware jugs which purified and cooled the water as it passed through to the final jug. Along with mosquito curtains surrounding the bed, medicine bottles and other medical supplies are displayed showing how Washington was treated for smallpox by a native physician. Outside of the main house, visitors can see what slave life was like including some of the articles used for punishment and the few tools available for harvesting sugar cane and other plantation crops.

St.Nicolas Abbey

St. Nicolas Abbey is another must see to be included on your list of Barbados tours. Aside from the opportunity to learn about sugar plantations and viewing demonstrations of how rum is made in a completely operational distillery, the abbey has a history of special interest to those from the United States. Built in 1658, the abbey was the home of Colonial Benjamin Berringer and his wife. According to many sources, Berringer’s next door neighbor and business partner, Sir John Yeamans was accused of making improper advances to Berringer’s wife. Following a duel resulting in the death of Berringer, Sir John made the widow his wife. Around 1669 the couple fled Barbados and made there way to the United States where they formed the present day state of South Carolina.

Swimming With Sea Turtles Catamaran Tours

For deep water enthusiasts, Barbados tours would not be complete without a special sea turtle and shipwreck snorkeling adventure. This activity begins with a power boat ride to reach the designated area where qualified instructors stand ready to offer lessons and tips needed to make your experience both safe and enjoyable. In a special area which is home to hawksbill and gigantic green turtles, visitors can swim with the turtles before they make their way to view actual wreckage from ships resting at the bottom of Carlisle Bay.