Over the last few years, I’ve fallen head over heels in love with the Caribbean. As a backpacker by heart, the Caribbean wasn’t on my radar for many years, instead, I chose to travel to places like Nepal, India and Guatemala, searching for ancient temples and intriguing cities. But all that changed when I headed to Cuba a few years back. Cuba in itself is an incredible country for so many reasons, but on one particular bus journey from Havana to Trinidad, I remember gasping in excitement at the view of the Caribbean coast from the open bus window. I expected the Caribbean to be super luxurious (parts of some islands are, of course). In contrast, I’m more of a wild, deserted beach kind of girl, so I was excited to discover that there are endless rugged beaches throughout the Caribbean and you don’t have to spend thousands of pounds to see them. A year after my trip to Cuba, I visited the Dominican Republic and not long after that headed to Barbados for ten days with a friend whose family grew up on the island. And while parts of Barbados are known for incredible luxury, (the hotel Sandy Lane in Saint James charges close to $1,200/£1,000 a night for example) there are also more authentic parts of the island, places where you can have the entire beach to yourself.
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One of my favorite Beaches in Bardados—Paynes Bay on the west coast of the island |
11 BREATHTAKING BEACHES IN BARBADOS
WEST COAST BEACHES
1. Paynes Bay
2. Mullins Beach
3. Gibbes Bay
4. Smitons Bay
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Sunset on the west coast |
We visited many stunning beaches along this stretch of coast. Paynes Bay is good for swimming and turtle spotting—although it does get busy. Mullins Beach, further north, is much less crowded and a little calmer and is home to a cool restaurant and bar called Sea Shed where the rum punch is delicious and the staff are super chilled. I’d recommend getting drinks to take out and walking around the corner along the sand to one of my favorite beaches in Barbados, Gibbes Bay. This pretty patch was deserted on most days we visited and provided the perfect sea-front stretch to laze away on—the sea here is beautifully tranquil too and there are no rocks or coral as you enter. And to catch the best sunset I like the tiny stretch of sand at Smitons Bay which you’ll likely have it all to yourself.
NORTH COAST BEACHES
6. Animal Flower Bay
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Catch 22's pool with a view |
EAST COAST BEACHES
From what I saw of the east coast, it can only be described as magical. This was the coast I explored least, simply due to time constraints but I did manage to make it over to the stunning stretch of beach in Bathsheba. The magic around this area starts with the drive alone, winding up and down hills, through lush scenery, past pink churches, palm trees, and banana plantations until the view opens up to huge boulders strewn across the Atlantic Ocean as Bathsheba begins to dominate the landscape.
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The beach at Bathsheba |
SOUTH COAST BEACHES
8. Worthing Beach
9. Carib Beach
10. Sandy Beach
11. Crane Beach
The south coast is pretty popular, and given its closeness to the airport and the country’s capital Bridgetown, that makes sense. We stayed in Worthing and I headed to Worthing, Carib, or Sandy Beach every day to swim and sunbathe. This whole area is perfect for swimming and snorkeling with an easy-to-swim-to coral reef not too far from the shore. It’s also pretty good for beginner surfers as the small waves further out each morning make it easy to practice. There are some cool little beach bars and restaurants along the beachfront and St Lawrence Gap, known for its fun nightlife, is a short stroll away.
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Carib Beach |
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Coconut stand at Crane Beach |
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