Barbados is many things to many people. There is a plethora of things to do on this 166 sq mile Caribbean Island and my wife and I are always seeking out and finding interesting off the beaten path places that most tourists and even some locals don’t even know about. If you’re a student of history and heritage, a foodie, an adrenaline junkie, a lover of music and festivals, a connoisseur of rum and of course a beach lover, there’s something to suit every taste here. Gone are the days where only the wealthy from North America and Europe could afford to travel to the island. They generally stayed on the beach and hardly interacted with locals. In these times of changing attitudes and demographics, visitors are looking for a more immersive experience and what we have to offer as a destination is beginning to reflect that. What we want to cover in this post is both the rugged and the calm of Barbados’ 100 km coastline where all the beaches are public. Some areas are well known while others, not so much.

The North and North East.

The Animal Flower Cave

Our first area of interest is The Animal Flower Cave. Located in St Lucy parish it is one of the oldest attractions in Barbados and is very popular. Its location puts it at the northernmost point of the island. The cave was discovered in 1780 from the sea side and a tunnel and steps were hand carved in 1912 to allow for access. There are amenities such as a cliff top restaurant, gift shop and a kids play area. You can walk some of the trails while experiencing the sound of the waves as they crash against the cliffs and creating blow holes. From December to April, you may spot humpback whales on their annual migration.

River Bay

River Bay on the northeast coast of the island is also located in St Lucy and is only a 10-minute drive from the Animal Flower cave. There’s a small river that flows down to the sea and exits between two cliffs. You can swim here but stick close to the river side, as the ocean currents are quite strong if you venture too far out. This area is a popular spot for locals on weekends to picnic but during the week when we were there, it was relatively quiet. I found a low crossing in the river and was able to climb onto the cliffs for the amazing views. There are toilets, showers and changing rooms on site as well as picnic tables and plenty of parking.

Little Bay

Staying on northeast coast, and a further 15 minutes away, Little Bay was an obvious choice for our next stop. This is one of those gems that is nicely tucked away between cliffs with a small beach, natural pools, a rock arch, sea caves and blow holes. Once again, not very crowded, with only a few neighborhood kids enjoying the pool and some guys with fresh caught lobsters and fish. We hiked the cliffs for more views of the adjoining bays and the northern coast.

Cove Bay

While still in the area, Cove Bay, only 5 minutes away is another lovely viewing spot. The bay is actually in St Peter parish, but we viewed from St Lucy. The last portion of the drive took us past the remnants of an old windmill and across a field with cows and other livestock. There are rows of coconut palm trees, casuarina and other trees for shade. This is a great picnic spot as well. As you look out across the wind-swept bay, you can see the rocky cape Pico Tenerife, a pinnacle shaped peak that rises 100 meters above the pounding Atlantic surf.

The East Coast.

Walkers Beach

We said goodbye to the cliffs of the northeast for now and headed southward along the East Coast Road for a stop at Walkers Beach in St Andrew parish. Nearby is Walkers Reserve, an area of ecological and environmental significance. There’s Long Pond which is great for bird watching, sand dunes, cacti, palm trees, other native plants and flowering vines. This is also a nesting zone for leather back turtles. The East Coast is not widely developed and with the low population density in this area means you are able the stroll the beach and have a relaxed and serene experience. There are no amenities here, so you have to prepare accordingly.

Joe’s River

Next up is Joe’s River. While this area of the coast may not have the majestic cliffs that we saw in the north, it’s still pretty rugged. Barbados is not very mountainous like its sister islands, so what we call rivers here are more like large streams mostly generating from underground pools. Joe’s River in St Joseph parish falls into that category. Its flow takes it through a small gully of dense brush, beneath an old railway bridge emptying into the ocean just north of Bathsheba. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hike through the ravine to the sea all the while clambering over rocks and boulders that are strewn about. From there, you can connect to the beach at Bathsheba.

Bathsheba Beach

To be clear, the beach at Bathsheba has other access points that doesn’t entail climbing over rocks and boulders so nothing to worry about. The east coast of the island is our favourite place to be and we visit often. We love the natural unspoiled beauty, the secluded and quiet beaches and the cool breezes of the prevailing northeast trade winds. There’s a section of this beach that’s referred to as the “Soup Bowl,” this is the surfers’ beach. Without the occasional surfing competitions and other surfing activities, you can have the beach almost all to yourself. While not a real swim beach, you can still enjoy the tide pools safely. There are a few restaurants, bars, rum shops and other amenities in the area.

Another section which I will call Lower Bathsheba has a stony beach, rock formations and swimming holes.

Bath Beach

Heading further south, Bath Beach in St John parish is located between Martins Bay and Conset Bay which we’re not featuring in this post. Despite being in the East Coast where the ocean currents and the waves are strong, Bath beach is great for swimming as it’s somewhat protected by the offshore coral reefs. This has always been a popular picnic spot especially on weekends and public holidays. We liked the large car park, the casuarina shaded picnic areas and the food vendors. There are showers and toilets here as well. We’ve heard there’s a natural spring in the area which we’ll try to find at a later date.

Ragged Point

Ragged Point in St Philip is the easternmost point of the island. We’ve left the beach and we’re now back on the cliffs. There’s really not much going on here except the views, just another one of those hidden gems that lightly used. The lighthouse, built in 1875 is not accessible but there are trails along the cliffs. There were plans to open a small cafe and lighthouse gift shop, maybe add some benches for viewing but as of now nothing is moving forward. We still enjoy coming here as we live not too far away.

Southern Coasts.

Bottom Bay

As we made the turn for the southern coasts, we stopped in at Bottom Bay, also in St Philip parish. Despite the fact that there are some cliffs here, you can still find pockets of beaches unlike the north and southeast coasts where the cliffs meet the ocean directly. Bottom Bay is another one of those hidden beaches that’s accessed via a set of stairs through a pathway with a cave like feel. Those who are lucky enough to find this semi enclosed beach with the tall swaying palms, like the relaxed, peaceful and quiet atmosphere here. There are no amenities except a small makeshift bar where you can get a fresh coconut and cocktails.

Harrismith Beach

Harrismith Beach viewed from the cliffs at Bottom Bay is also accessed by a set of steps. There’s shallow lagoon created by the coral reefs which makes it great for a dip.

The Shark Hole

Also nearby, the Shark Hole is quite the unique swimming area. This inlet is formed by a break in the cliffs and the normally choppy waters are tempered by a reef that stretches across the mouth of the inlet. This secluded beach is popular with locals, and some tourists who enjoy the lagoon like setting. We can enjoy this at any time as it’s within walking distance from our house.

Crane Beach

Crane Beach with its slightly pink sand is a nice wide stretch of beach which is mostly utilized by the guests of the Crane Resort. This cliff top resort is the oldest continuously operated hotel on the island, dating back to 1887. Guests access the beach by elevator or stairs while public access is at the far end of the beach.

Foul Bay Beach

Despite the name, there’s nothing foul about this beach. Foul Bay is a beautiful, long and wide stretch of beach that offers sweeping panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and the protruding cliffs. For those looking to get away for some peace and quiet, this is a great option as the beach is rarely crowded. There are not a lot of hotels in the areas we’ve covered so far, so only the more adventurous tourists will find these secluded beaches. Bring a beach chair as there’s nothing to rent, park amongst the shade trees, have a picnic or just stroll the beach and while the time away.

Freights Bay

We come to the parish of Christ Church where we stumble across this smallish beach at Freights Bay. There’s beautiful landscaping with some benches on top of the small cliff and access to the beach is by a set of stairs. This beach is popular with beginning and intermediate surfers, boogie boarders and students from the nearby surf schools.

Enterprise Beach

As we leave behind the sparsely populated, rugged and naturally beautiful north, east and southeast coasts, we ventured into more developed areas with hotels, villas and residential developments. The last of the cliffs fade away and calmer waters now prevail. Enterprise Beach, also called Miami beach is one of those beaches that tends to get very crowded with tourists and locals. There are restaurants nearby, food trucks and all the amenities you need including showers and toilets. On weekends, the nearby Oistins town comes alive as it hosts the very popular “Fish Fry” with entertainment and plenty of grilled seafood. We like to get there early as it gets quite crowded later in the evening.

Maxwell Coast Beach

Maxwell Coast Beaches are nearby as well. Nice wide beaches with powdery white sand and relatively calm waters. There are lots of hotels, villas and restaurants along this stretch so no shortage of amenities. Grab a cocktail, sit back and enjoy this great sunset viewing spot.

Hastings Boardwalk

Continuing along the coast, we pass through the heavily touristed areas of Dover, Worthing, Rockley and Hastings. The Richard Haynes Boardwalk in Hastings is a favourite of ours. It’s a 1.5 km stretch located in the heart of the Southwest Coast tourist district, and we love the area for its walkability. There are lots of beach bars, restaurants, and a few small beaches. This is a popular spot for a seaside stroll especially at sunset. It is also a hawksbill turtle nesting site; if you’re lucky, you could see some hatchlings emerge from their nests in the evening and make their way to the sea.

Carlisle Bay.

Needham’s Point, Pebbles Beach, Brownes Beach

At roughly 2.5 km long, Carlisle Bay in St Michael parish, is one of the longest continuous stretches of beach on the island and is just a few minutes from the capital Bridgetown. This crescent shaped beach is known for its beautiful white sand and calm waters. Just offshore there’s a designated marine park with shipwrecks, and plenty of marine life including turtles, sting rays, seahorses, barracudas and reef squid. There are opportunities for catamaran cruises, snorkeling with the turtles, scuba diving, paddle boarding and jet skiing. Day passes are popular with cruise passengers and are available for the beach clubs like the Boatyard, Harbour Lights, Copacabana and Savvy on the Bay with the latter being our favourite so far.

West Coast.

Just north of the port is where the west coast really begins. Also referred to as the Platinum Coast, this area has the highest density of hotels and high-end villas, catering to the likes of Rhianna, Lewis Hamilton, Beyonce, Elton John and Simon Cowell to name a few. This stretch of coast sits on the leeward side of the island and has the calmest waters.

Brandons, Brighton, Paradise & Batts Rock Beaches

Brandons beach to Batts Rock is another continuous 3.5 km long stretch which also includes Paradise and Brighton beaches. There are a few beach bars and a small water park here and also the Hot Pot, which is a hot water pool formed from the discharge of hot water from a nearby power plant. Local residents can be found having a soak as they have done for many years, and some swear that the water has healing properties. As far as we know, there has been no documented cases of any adverse effects regarding this activity and I myself have taken a dip.

Paradise beach.

Batts Rock Beach is a lovely strand of beach that backs up to a wooded area where we occasionally spot monkeys in the trees near the parking area. The waters here are very calm and it’s one of our favourite beaches. There’s a beach bar and restaurant at this location. You can walk the entire length of this beach virtually uninterrupted all the way to the port 3.5 km away.

Holetown Beach

Holetown in St James parish which sits midway between Bridgetown and Speightstown on Hwy 1 is the site of the initial settlement of the British in 1625. These days it’s home to boutique and other luxury hotels, high-end shopping, gourmet restaurants and of course great beaches.

Speightstown, located in the north is the second largest town and is located in St Peter. This quaint little seaside town once home to a bustling port, is currently going through a revival with a new jetty, restaurants and beach bars. With a major road running through town, all the beaches are easily accessible.

Queen Street, Sand Street & Heywoods Beaches

Barbados, unlike her island sisters that are volcanic and mountainous in nature is a relatively flat coral island, the highest point being only 1115 ft (340 meters) Despite this fact, there are lots of areas of rugged natural beauty that are fun to explore. I hope you enjoyed this post and got some insight into the rugged and the calm of Barbados, see you next time.