Barbados

Overview

Barbados lies at the eastern edge of the Lesser Antilles, where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean. The island was under British colonial administration from 1627 until independence in 1966, and this long colonial history remains visible in the architecture, the local passion for cricket, and the common law legal system. The official language is English, and most of the population descends from Africans brought to the island as enslaved laborers on sugarcane plantations between the 17th and 19th centuries. Barbados has one of the oldest rum-distilling traditions in the Caribbean, with documented rum production on the island dating back to the 1640s.

Bridgetown, the capital, with its harbor and Georgian-style buildings, forms the historic town center, and together with the adjacent Garrison military historic area has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011. The Mount Gay Rum distillery, in continuous operation since 1703, is recognized as the oldest documented rum producer in the world and offers tours with tastings. Harrison's Cave, a limestone cave system in the island's interior, can be toured by electric tram. Animal Flower Cave, at the island's northern tip, is a cave carved into the coastal cliffs from which the waves of the Atlantic can be observed.

The western and southern coasts of Barbados are lined with coral reefs, where relatively calm waters make diving and snorkeling accessible to beginners, while the eastern, Atlantic-facing coast is rougher and popular with surfers. Sea turtles live in the waters around the island and nest on its sandy beaches at night, mainly between May and October. Local cuisine is built around flying fish and cou-cou, a side dish made from cornmeal and okra, which together form the national dish; rum is also an integral part of local gastronomy, with dozens of rum brands produced on the island.