ROAD BOOK TO BARBADOS
INFO
Granted independence from United Kingdom in 1966, 431 km2, 290 000 habitants, 230 Km south-east of Martinique
Capital: Bridgetown
Official language: English
Currency: Barbadian dollar (2 $ Bds = 1 $ US)
Time difference: GMT -4
Bridgetown airport (south-west of the island): direct flights from London with British Airways or Virgin. Flight time 9 hours. Indirect flights from Paris via Miami with American Airlines (roughly 800€) or via Guadeloupe with Corsair or Caribbean Airways + LIAT (roughly 1000 €)
ACCOMMODATION
South-east: Moon Raker beach hotel, Zed’s Adventure, Ocean Spray
South: Turtle Beach, Bougainvillea Beach Resort, Coconut Court, Sugar Bay (hotels)
South-west: Hilton (hotel), Radisson (hotel):
East: Sea U Guest House (Tent Bay), Island Villas
WHERE TO EAT
Pebbles: Brown Sugar
Hastings: Tiki Bar, Mojo
St Lawrence gap: Café Sol (Mexican), Sweet Potatoes (local), Paulo’s Churrassco (Brazilian)
Oistins: Pat’s Place (superb fresh grilled fish), Surfers Café (amazing views, great food), Chefette (fast food)
Silver Sands: Surfer’s Bay / Moon Raker Reef
West Coast: Just Grilling, Sea Cat (Holetown)
WHERE TO ENJOY A COOL DRINK
Hastings: Tiki Bar, Mojo
St Lawrence Gap: Primo Bar, Crave, Old Jamaica Inn, The Cove (club/disco)
Oistins: Surfers Café
West Coast: Cliff Bar/ Beach Bar (Crystal Cove)
WHERE TO SURF
East coast –
Parlour: massive right, very interesting for SUP
Soup Bowl: a world-class and very powerful right, but SUP-ers are not really welcomed by the many surfers there, one to avoid
South coast –
Silver Sands: some good waves when there’s no wind
South Point: well-exposed, long left rolling along the coast below/beyond the lighthouse.
Freights: magnificent bay with easy, well-sheltered waves. Very popular.
Brandons (drill hall): nice left over a well-exposed reef, just along from the Hilton hotel. Magnificent beach.
West coast (very well protected, needs a major north or north-east swell to bring in the waves):
Pebbles: small left on big swell days
Batts Rock: really cool peak, incredible scenery
Sandy Lane: short but perfect left Tropicana a good left but lots of riders
Duppies: a long right running under the foot of the cliffs
WHERE TO PADDLE
West coast: Batts Rock, Pebbles, Crystal Cove, Reeds Bay, Sandy Lane, Mullins Beach
South coast: Accra Beach, Sandy Beach, Dover Beach, Miami Beach, Freights
EQUIPMENT
Short/Bikini, lycra, plus a lot of factor 50 sun cream to protect from the very hot sun between 10am and 4pm. SUP surf model, not too wide or flat to help you get the best from the hollow water contours. An inflatable (if you have one) for simple paddling.
SUP RENTAL AND SCHOOLS?
– Paddle Barbados (Pebbles beach south of Bridgetown)
www.paddlebarbados.com
– What’ SUP (mobile SUP school)
www.surfsupbarbados.com
SURF SHOPS
Paddle Barbados (Pebbles beach)
Barrys (St Lawrence Gap)
Dread or Dead (Hastings, next door to Brandons)
OTHER ACTIVITIES?
Scuba and snorkelling, Kitesurf, Windsurf, Walking
NOT TO MISS!
– Animal Flower Cave: stunning coastal caves and grottos on the north coast
– South east beaches: Crane Beach, Bottom Bay
– West coast beaches: Batts Rock, Tropicana, Pebbles, Paynes Bay
– Parlour beach rocks (Bathsheba).
