Barbados / Beaches

The West Coast of Barbados is Caribbean picture-postcard perfection - calm seas that wash up onto superb blond sand backed by palm trees. The sand, with the occasional interruption from equally pretty cliffs, runs pretty much the whole length of the West Coast. If you are not staying in a beachfront hotel there is still public access to all the beaches through marked paths and tracks. As with all the Caribbean islands, beaches are public up to the high water mark on Barbados. Perhaps try Payne’s Bay, Holetown and Folkestone Beach, and Mullins Bay.

As you head south and east around the coastline the water gets steadily livelier and the sports more adventurous, though there are still many beaches that are protected by reefs along the southern shore which offer good and safe swimming. Try Worthing Beach and the lagoon side of Miami Beach for instance. There is good windsurfing and kitesurfing around the south of the island, at Maxwell (protected, good for beginners) and at Silver Sands (full-on, with waves, for advanced surfers). Silver Sands can be very lively during the winter season (December to February), particularly at weekends.

There are also some lovely, secluded stretches of sand cut into the coastal cliffs in the south-east of the island - Crane Beach, Bottom Bay and Harrismith Bay - which are ideal for a day out, for a picnic and boogie-boarding.

Farther around, on the dramatic Atlantic side, around Bathsheba, the coast sees huge waves rolling in from the Atlantic and is known for its surfing.

Click on the map to see an interactive map of Barbados Beaches.

Here is a selection of the best Barbados beaches...

...in order from Speightstown high on the West Coast, then along the South Coast and round to the Atlantic side, is as follows...

West Coast

Six Mens Bay - Small stretch of sand in a Bajan fishing village north of Speightstown where you can still see traditional boat building. There is an excellent restaurant, the Fish Pot in nearby Shermans.

Port St Charles - This is a glorious 1300ft stretch of broad sand running in front of the Port St Charles beachfront apartments, just north of the narrower Heywoods Beach. There is a public access road with parking in between Almond Beach Village and the Port St Charles residential marina. Watersports available.

Heywoods - A pleasant stretch of tree-lined beach with golden sand, home to Almond Beach Village. Areas of shallow reef provide good snorkelling and enclose natural pools which are ideal for children. The main beach area (the widest section, which is used most by the resort) is just south of Port St Charles. A public access road with parking runs in between the two properties.

Mullins Bay - A very attractive strip of sand with shallow water and a busy beach bar/restaurant. Beach chairs and umbrellas and watersports equipment for hire. Royal Westmoreland’s beach facility (they own the beach bar) is also located here and an area of beach is set out with loungers and umbrellas for the use of their guests. The beach is good for children. See a Review of Children on Mullins Beach.

Gibbs Beach - Wonderful stretch of bright white sand with excellent swimming. Relatively quiet – there are mostly holiday villas fronting the beach.

Reeds Bay - A stunning stretch of blazing white sand, one of Barbados’ better kept secrets, unless you are at the helm of a sail boat (it is often used as a lunch/swimming spot on day cruises). Otherwise it’s mostly used by guests and owners staying in a string of private beachfront villas, and some locals. Very little natural shade.

Glitter Bay - A first class strip of golden sand with excellent swimming and a good sunbathing area (set out with sun loungers for residents and guests of Glitter Bay Estate). The beach extends north from Glitter Bay Estate to Fairmont Royal Pavilion next door. There is no public beach access nearby although the beach is accessible by sea or on foot along the sand from nearby Colony Club/Heron Bay.

Church Point - Location of Folkstone Underwater Park, where there is a marine reserve that is excellent for snorkelling. A popular picnic spot with locals at the weekends.

Discovery Bay - Curved stretch of sumptuous sand along the Holetown area with good swimming, plenty of activity, watersports and places to stop off for lunch.

Sandy Lane - An excellent beach set on its own wide, broad bay which has perfect sand that shelves gently to a sandy bottom. The Sandy Lane hotel is set back off the beach amongst vast mahogany and manchineel trees. There is a public footpath for access just south of the hotel, where Paynes Bay beach begins. Watersports available.

Paynes Bay - A broad, deep sweeping curve of excellent sand with good swimming and snorkelling areas. One of the pleasures of this stretch of beach is to walk along it, and it is possible to do so from the fish market to the south right up to Sandy Lane to the north. Some watersports available.

Fitts Village - A fairly quiet stretch of pure white sand which attracts mainly locals, but which is also used by villa guests from the area. There is an esplanade with a small bandstand that occasionally hosts events. Good snorkelling nearby.

Batts Rock - Take the sign-posted track just south of Prospect and down to the beach, which has good swimming and snorkelling, plus a small children’s playground. There is a parking area with lots of shade, picnic benches, shower and changing facilities. Please note that the Four Seasons project/construction site is next door, although it is currently on hold.

Brighton Beach - Fairly active strip of endless, excellent sand that is home the Malibu Beach Club, which itself is popular with cruise ship passengers. Located between Paradise Beach (Freshwater Bay) and Brandons Beach. At the northern end is the electricity generating plant and what is known as the ‘hot pot’, an inlet of hot water created by one of the run-off pipes (water used to cool equipment) which is frequented by local bathers. Take heed, as there are warnings of this area being unsafe for bathing in. This is due to strong currents and often undertow created by the force of water coming out of the pipes.

Brandons Beach - A broad sweep of sand just north of the shallow draft and deep water harbour, and the first of the West Coast beaches. The southern end runs along part of the Spring Garden Highway and is a main venue for Crop Over. Popular with locals.

South of Bridgetown - South Coast

Brownes Beach / Pebbles Beach, Carlisle Bay - A long stretch of fine white sand set on a huge bay in the south of Bridgetown, with excellent swimming in calm waters, which also make it a good yacht anchorage. To the north it is very lively with beach bars, activities and watersports, including snorkelling and diving (there are six wrecks). The Boatyard, which is popular with cruise ship passengers, also has ocean trampolines, a glass bottom boat and a floating ‘mountain climbing iceberg’ and waterslide. South of here, the Bay Street Esplanade gives onto Brownes Beach (opposite Government Headquarters) and at the southern end The Barbados Yacht Club is located on Pebbles Beach.

Drill Hall - Located behind St Anns Fort just south of the Hilton, near the Garrison Savannah, this is a popular picnic spot for families with young children. There are good areas of shallow water, rock pools and plenty of shade. It is also a good spot for boogie boarding or surfing during the winter season.

South Coast Boardwalk - The mile-long South Coast Boardwalk runs along the seafront from Rockley just north of Accra Beach to Hastings and includes an offshore breakwater and five headlands, each with a new sitting area, as well a new beach at Hastings Rocks (created with sand dredged during the expansion work at Bridgetown Port). The boardwalk became an instant hit with both visitors and locals, many of whom use it to keep fit, having switched from using the track around the Garrison. It is at its busiest with joggers and walkers in the cool of the morning and early evening, when even groups of mothers can be spotted speeding along with their pushchairs.

Accra Beach (Rockley Beach) - A lovely stretch of white sand, with shallow water, which is ideal for children - though it can get choppy at times. There is a beach bar and a snack wagon, several craft and beachwear stalls, a small playground with a slide and climbing frames and a large indoor playroom across the road at Chefette. There are lots of hotels nearby. Beach chairs, umbrellas and boogie boards for rent. See a Review of Children on this Beach.

Sandy Beach/Worthing Beach - Narrow stretch of bright white sand with reef-protected swimming. Home of the Carib Beach Bar. See a Review of Children at Worthing Beach.

Dover Beach - A long and wide stretch of sand, with several hotels, a watersports shop (kayaks, hobie cats, boogie boards, windsurfing and jetskis) and a vendors’ market for crafts, beachwear, snacks and drinks. Beach chairs and umbrellas for hire. Located opposite Dover Playing Fields which sees regular cricket and football matches of both local and visiting teams. Review of Children on Dover Beach.

Casuarina Beach - Pure white sand and deep stretch of beach with nice breeze and lively waters. Directly in front of a popular family hotel.

Miami Beach (Enterprise Beach) - Fantastic turquoise waters and shell pink sand, just outside Oistins. There is shallow swimming in a protected area, but the seaward section has livelier water and is open to sea. Popular picnic spot with lots of shade from casuarinas trees. Beach chairs, umbrellas and boogie boards for hire. Public beach facility and a mobile snack bar. See a Review of Children on Miami Beach.

Silver Sands/Silver Rock - An active beach at the southern tip of the island, with windsurfing, kitesurfing and plenty of spectating. Local championship windsurfer, Brian Talma has his deAction Beach Shop just above Silver Rock’s ‘deAction’ beach. You can hire equipment (surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, stand up paddle surfing) and arrange lessons. Upstairs there is a small bar with snack service. A short walk away there is a playground and beach facility at the Silver Sands end.

Crane Beach - A glorious beach with soft, pink-tinged sand and startling turquoise water set between limestone cliffs. Crane Beach is a popular picnic spot with big waves, making it ideal for body-surfing and boogie-boarding. Note that there are often strong undercurrents. There are two access options, from The Crane Beach Resort and Residences (it charges an admission fee, which can be redeemed at the bar, which serves an excellent rum punch, or restaurant) and from the cul-de-sac at the opposite end of the beach (parking is limited to the roadside and can get busy at weekends). From there, a rough pathway leads over the rocks down onto the beach.

Foul Bay, Bottom Bay, Harrismith Beach - Three extremely pretty coves cut into the south-eastern cliffs. Big waves, body-surfing, boogie-boarding, sometimes strong undertows – do not go out alone. It is a popular picnic spot on weekends. See a Review of Children on Harrismith Beach.

East Coast

The East Coast is beautiful but it can be dangerous. It has extremely strong undercurrents (there are signs pointing out the dangers) and it is not safe for swimming unless the water is protected by a reef offshore. Please seek local advice on where you can enter the water.

Bath - A reef-protected Atlantic beach with a spectacular setting. Bath is a popular picnic spot on weekends and bank holidays, and there is a small playground and snack bar. Behind the beach are several private beach houses, used by well-to-do Bajan families as weekend/holiday retreats.

Martin’s Bay - Small fishing village in a shallow, reef-protected bay with lots of rock pools. There is little activity outside bank holiday weekends.

Bathsheba - A surfing beach that gets the full brunt of the Atlantic. The main surfing spot is known as the ‘Soup Bowl’, which is the venue for a number of local and international surfing competitions. There are several rum shops and small restaurants, plus weekend beach houses.

Cattlewash - Another spot on the rugged Atlantic coastline where Barbadians get away to their beach houses. The bay is good for surfing and boogie boarding, though currents are strong (there should be a life guard). There is a broad area of sand for beach games and rock pools for paddling.

Hazards

Note that there are strong undercurrents on the East Coast (and in some places on the South Coast too), so swimming outside designated beaches (those protected by offshore reefs) can be extremely dangerous. Please heed local warnings.

Beware of the caustic manchineel trees that line the West Coast beaches. They are fairly large and have small dark green leaves and small yellow/green apples. Contact with the sap of the tree or apples will cause blistering. In fact even rainwater dripping off the leaves can have the same effect, so do not shelter under them during rainfall. Manchineel trees are usually marked by a red ring around the trunk. Extra care should be taken with small children, as the small apples are fairly prevalent – please seek immediate medical advice if consumed.