On the one hand the Caribbean Sea, with long beaches and relaxing views, on the other the Atlantic Ocean and the strength of its waves. In the middle of a lush nature, made of mountains, gorges in the tropical forest, caves and natural reserves: It is Barbados you don't expect, a small Caribbean island other than usual, which surprises with the variety of experiences and scenarios that you can find. If you love eco-tourism and active holiday you will not be disappointed: here is a must see guide not to be missed for a green stay.
Welchman Hall Gully and Harrison’s Cave: travel in the heart of Barbados
The travel in the nature of Barbados from Welchman Hall Gully to St. Thomas: it is a gorge, originating from the collapse of the ceiling of a cave, inside the tropical forest, where you can walk among plants of nutmeg, bamboo, palms, exotic flowers and make meetings with green monkeys, the "green monkeys" symbol of the island.
From Welchman Hall Gully, you can access Harrison’s Caves: the caves, located in the center of the island are a rare natural phenomenon in the tropics. With plenty of stalactites, stalagmites, streams, lakes and waterfalls, speleologists agree to consider the Harrison’s Caves Crystal Room among the most beautiful caves in the world.
Botanical gardens, flower forests and orchids: all the scent of Barbados
If you love flowers, mark these three addresses on the agenda: Andromeda Gardens, Flower Forest and Orchid World. Facing the wild eastern coast of the island, in St. Joseph, the Andromeda botanical gardens are among the richest in all the Caribbeanopened in 1954 by the horticulturalist Iris Bannochie, who brought exotic plants from all over the world, and today owned by the Barbados National Trust.
You can admire specimens of orchid, palm, fern, bouganville, begonia, ibiscus, heliconia and cactus. The Flower Forest is located in the hinterland, where numerous rare specimens of tropical flowers and plants are preserved. Orchid World, instead, surrounded by sugar cane plantations, houses more than 20,000 orchid specimens, with varieties coming from the middle of the world, as well as endemic species of Barbados.
Discovering parks and natural reserves in Barbados
Located within a mahogany forest, la Barbados Wildlife Reserve hosts green monkeys, deer, otters, raisins, iguanas, turtles in freedom. A landscape not to be missed is the one offered by Barclay’s Park, along the eastern side of the island: an ideal place to admire the Atlantic Ocean kissing the east coast of Barbados.
The best way to immerse yourself in the nature of Barbados is by walking or riding a horse. In St. Peter, on the western side of the island, Arbib Nature and Heritage Trail is an excursion that allows you to discover the mysterious Whim Gully, with its bearded fig trees and coral-based boulders, observe the harvest at Warleigh Plantation, listen to the stories of the guides on the old Barbados and bathe in the beach of Heywoods.
On the east coast, there is the Highland Adventure Centre: here you can choose between different walking or cycling routes, surrounded by exotic fruit trees such as mango, guava and paw-paw on the hills of Barbados.
