10 Unique Things To Do in Barbados to Make It Your Best Trip Yet

Beach in Barbados

Barbados is the homeland of Rihanna, but it's also a beloved travel spot for celebrities of all kinds. Justin Bieber, Simon Cowell, Marc Anthony, Cara Delevigne and more have been known to take a trip to the luxurious paradise. Don't you worry, it's a great spot for us "normal" people as well. And I've got a list of the very best things to do in Barbados for your very own dream vacation.

The island of Barbados is located just north of the equator, not too far from the coast of Venezuela. It's neighbors with some other island favorites like St. Lucia, Aruba and Trinidad and Tobago. It also happens to be home to some of the absolute friendliest people on earth. I guess living life on a beautiful island surrounded by turquoise blue waters doesn't leave much room for a bad mood! 

I recently returned from a trip to the Caribbean island paradise and have rounded up some of my top favorite, most unique activities to do while visiting Barbados, including some fun experiences I wish I'd been able to get to, as well as some tips for making your travels and stay as stress-free as possible. So pack your sunscreen (I'm not kidding! Don't forget it.) and let's get into it.

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10 Best Things To Do in Barbados

1. Take a tour of the island on a catamaran

Taking a catamaran tour might just have you feeling a little bit of that Rihanna energy. A catamaran is the perfect way to shake off all that "work, work, work, work, work" that plagues us in our day-to-day life. I took a catamaran through Seaduced and had a truly fabulous time. 

Catamarans are large enough that they'll stay calm enough for those of us prone to a bit of sea sickness (I'm usually the first one to feel the nausea wave hit, but I didn't even need my motion sickness wristbands. That's a win!) I'd recommend taking a Dramamine ahead of time as a safety precaution, but you're unlikely to need it.

Our catamaran experience included an open bar (pi?a colada on the water?! Yes, please!), lunch, swimming and guided snorkeling. We were lucky enough to see several sea turtles. You're also welcome to kick back and relax on the front deck and soak in the sun. Be warned, Barbados is quite close to the equator, so the UV index is high. Reapply some SPF to keep yourself from burning, especially while on the water!

P.S. If you ask nicely, your boat driver will point out the villas owned by celebrities (yes, including Rihanna). 

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2. Go on an island "safari"

I'm putting "safari" in quotes because this isn't necessarily what you think of when you think of meandering through the plains and animal spotting. This is an activity for the adventurous. We took our tour through Island Safari Barbados and honestly didn't know what to expect. 

For this experience you're buckled in to a pickup truck with seats in the open bed, cruising around the dirt roads and forested areas at high speeds. We were screaming and laughing as if we were on a roller coaster. When I tell you our driver was whipping the vehicle around, I definitely mean it. 

On our tour, we spotted plenty of monkeys and other animals. We also had the chance to catch our breath from all of the high energy at an absolutely breathtaking overlook of the Atlantic coastline of the island.

3. Have a bucket-list-worthy dinner in a cave

If you're looking for an experience during your time in Barbados that you know you'll remember for the rest of your life, this is it. The Fairmont Royal Pavilion is hosting dinners deep down within Harrison's Cave. Words truly can't do justice to what it's like to dine deep within the ancient cavern structure. The cave is filled with stalactites, stalagmites, waterfalls and pools of water. 

The meal is four courses, complete with cocktails and wine pairings all prepared by the luxury team at Fairmont Royal Pavilion. It's priced at $669 per person, which sounds a bit pricey until you consider that this is the only event of its kind in the entire Caribbean. Plus the food was very, very good. They were great about accommodating allergies as well!

To those looking to get engaged: this would make a truly unforgettable location for a proposal. Who knew that caves could be so romantic?

4. Shop around in the ultra-colorful Chattel Village in Holetown

Chattel Village is a row of rainbow-colored shops with tourist trinkets and fabulous island fashions. It's incredibly cute and features some restaurants for a bit of dining as well. Be warned, the clothes in the shops aren't exactly inexpensive, so it may be more of a window shopping venture, but it's a fun activity nonetheless. 

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5. Spend an afternoon at Hunte's Gardens

Hunte's Gardens is a beautiful, serene, tropical oasis. It's run by Anthony Hunte, a horticulturist who happens to be quite the character. Hunte owns a home on the property and is most often seen milling about, greeting guests. I took a seat on the balcony of Anthony Hunte's home (also known as the gift shop), drank an absolutely delightful ginger lemonade prepared by the owner himself and listened to his story.

I'm not a huge plant person (i.e. I'm known to accidentally kill every plant I've ever owned, but love a vase of fresh-cut flowers), but found that Hunte's passion made it impossible not to fall in love with the space. It's filled to the brim with a variety of tropical foliage with light sounds of classical music smattered throughout. Hunte recommends that guests bring a book and a lunch and sit at one of the many shaded tables and chairs in the space. The shade throughout the space makes it feel significantly cooler than many other parts of the island, which is a big added perk.

6. Take a steam train at the historic St. Nicholas Abbey

If you're a history buff, a trip to St. Nicholas Abbey should be near the top of your list. It's a former sugar cane plantation turned tourist site. It was purchased by a Barbadian family who hoped to preserve it as a historical site. 

Here, you can take a tour of the over-350-year-old home, filled with fascinating antique furniture pieces. Seeing how people lived in 1658 is something you don't get to see too often! I found the tour to be incredibly captivating—be sure to check out the old-fashioned "La-Z-Boy." 

Other activities at St. Nicholas Abbey include taking a steam train to the breathtaking coastal overlook at Cherry Tree Hill and a rum-making tour where they'll take you to the very beginning of the rum creation process, down to the harvesting of the sugar cane.

7. Go for a swim at Animal Flower Cave

The Animal Flower Cave was flooded during my trip to Barbados and the fact that I missed it is proof to me that I'm going to need to make a second trip! Their tagline is "Where the earth meets the sky meets the sea." It features stunning views and the chance to take a swim in the crystal-clear cave waters. You're also able to add on a lunch, eaten while overlooking the Caribbean Sea. 

If that didn't sound cool enough, also note that Rihanna has been to the Animal Flower Cave (I'm sorry I keep talking about Rihanna. Or am I?)

8. Show off your bartending skills with a rum mixology class

Barbados is known for its rum. The island produces a lot of sugar cane, one of the main ingredients used to make rum, so they know their stuff! I did a mixology class with Mount Gay Rum, otherwise known as the world's oldest commercial rum distillery. They educated us on how to create some classic vacation-worthy rum cocktails with the perfect balance. 

Prefer to sip a cocktail without having to do any work? I don't blame you, you're on vacation, after all! I highly recommend trying one of Barbados' famous rum punches. It's heavy on the rum, but has a nice balance of sweetness and spiced flavors. It's a vacation in a cup, but I personally plan to partake any time I hope to bring a little island energy back into my life. 

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9. Dine on the beach

Dining while listening to the ocean? What could be better?! I had a rather spectacular beach dinner while staying at the Fairmont Royal Pavilion. They're able to create a romantic set up for two or a tablescape for an entire family, all complete with tiki torches, if you wish. Our dinner was private, intimate and very memorable. As an optional add-on, you can request a performance. We watched a man dance around with fire as we ate and it was the perfect addition. 

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10. Spend some time on the poolside or on the beach

Grab a book, order a rum punch and lay out in peace! What's vacation for if not to take a moment to do a bit of nothing? The crystal clear blue waters of Barbados are as warm as bath water, so don't be afraid to take a dip. I highly recommend regular reapplication of sunscreen and the use of a trusty umbrella because, as I said, the sun hits a bit differently on the island.

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