About Barbados

It's hard to describe exactly what makes Barbados so special. The quintessence of the Bajan experience is the island's iconic beauty and people. They exude a warmth and friendliness that capture your heart and with nearly 350 years of British rule many are ardent Anglophiles. Here it is considered one of the most stable island-nations in the Caribbean, perhaps due in part to the exceptionally high literacy rate of 98 per cent. More than 40 per cent of visitors to the island return, and the British truly see Barbados as a home from home. Everything is geared to enable the tourist to relax, and you won't find a more comprehensive array of sport facilities in the Caribbean, together with modern music and lively entertainment to keep night-owls amused until dawn.

Natural attractions on the Island are plentiful, including tropical fish and coral, Harrisons Caves, Andromeda Gardens, The Flower Forset, The Wild Life Reserve, Orchid World, Sunbury Plantation House, Fisherpond Plantation House (can book for dinner) and shopping at Walkers World.

History

The English settled here in 1627 at Holetown and stayed until independence in 1966. The island is 14 miles wide by 21 miles long and lies outside the main island chain in the path of the cooling trade winds. This small pear-shaped island has about 260,000 inhabitants, although you will rarely be aware of crowds, except on shopping day in Bridgetown, the Capital. Driving is on the left and the island is divided into 11 parishes. St James on the West Coast is home to Porters Court.

The language is English with Bajan dialect due to a blend of English, African and North American cultures. It is tropically beautiful from pristine Caribbean beaches edged with palms, to the windswept Atlantic coast with its high cliffs and rugged appeal. Unlike the neighbouring volcanic islands, Barbados is capped by limestone and coral, and when rain falls it is trapped underground to be drawn in a pure state from wells. Hence, it is free from many tropical diseases. It is not deemed necessary to have yellow fever or typhoid vaccinations here but it is if you visit Trinidad and Tobago. With an average annual temperature of 26 degrees it's no wonder Barbados is named 'The Island in the Sun'.