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Barbados: beaches, resorts and what to do

To combine wellness-enhancing relaxation with adventure and great cuisine, this Caribbean idyll takes some beating

Monday 25 March 2019 16:02 GMT

The legendary white sands and turquoise waters of Barbados belong in the daydreams of most travel obsessives. But what really gives this year-round destination the edge over other island breaks is what Barbados offers beyond the beaches.

Adventure is a way of life in Barbados, and it’s a gloriously accessible and stress-free brand of adventure, with horse-riding, hiking, surfing, paddleboard yoga and swimming with turtles on offer. Intrepid travellers should put the newly opened St Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway high on their itinerary; this 45-minute round-trip on a lovingly restored German locomotive takes in the magnificent views of Cherry Tree Hill and offers unbeatable views of the eastern coastline.

Barbados on horseback

Exploring the coastline on horseback on a guided tour is another highlight for visitors keen to explore the island, taking in dramatic rock formations and spectacular waterfalls along the way. Travellers can also embark upon an island safari in a 4x4, or take a tram ride to Harrison’s Cave, an awe-inspiring, crystallised limestone cave with interactive displays and informative guides that make for a memorable day trip for travellers of all ages.

St Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway

No trip to Barbados would be complete without getting out on the water, perhaps on a catamaran cruise to the reef at Folkestone Marine Park, where visitors can snorkel with tropical fish, swim with sea turtles and then relax with a glass of well-earned rum punch, basking in the sunshine on the sands.

Barbados cuisine

With so many ‘soft’ adventure activities on the menu, wellness and relaxation happens almost by accident on this dazzlingly beautiful island. And after a day hiking or snorkelling, there are plenty of ways to reward yourself. Barbados is the birthplace of rum, and the culinary capital of the Caribbean. Uniting the culinary influences of African, Caribbean, West Indian and European cultures, Bajan dishes heavily feature fresh seafood; flying fish is a particular speciality, as are the host of exotic fruits on offer, such as papaya, mangoes and breadfruit.

Barbados has a well-deserved reputation as the culinary capital of the Caribbean, and nourishing your body as well as your soul has never tasted so good. This year-round destination knows how to party as well as how to relax; visit during the colourful Crop Over Festival (4 May-5 August) or Food and Rum festival (24-27 October) and you’ll find yourself immersed in an island-wide celebration.

Barbados is one of the Caribbean's culinary hotspots

And by staying at a legendary resort such as Sandals Barbados or the all-suite Sandals Royal Barbados, you’ll find yourself immediately immersed in an authentically Bajan brand of barefoot luxury, in the lively but relaxed area of St Lawrence Gap. Sandals has been voted the world’s leading all-inclusive resort for 23 years now, and with the current 2 for 1 offer, holidaying in the height of Caribbean luxury comes at half the price.

The original, iconic Sandals resort set a new standard for all-inclusive Caribbean service and luxury, and the on-site restaurants famously offer a brilliant introduction to one of the most exciting cuisines on the planet, leaving foodies curious to discover more epicurean treats as they explore the island. Sandals Royal Barbados, meanwhile, is a contemporary all-suite resort catering specifically for couples, set in lush botanical gardens. Sandals Royal Barbados is the ultimate romantic and relaxing resort, with a glass-fronted infinity pool overlooking the ocean for the ultimate holiday selfie.

To find out more visit sandals.co.uk/barbados or call 0800 0546 241

Discover Barbados at visitbarbados.org

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