Travel guide Barbados

Designating both Barbadians and anything to do with Barbados, as well as the local dialect, the word Bajan is used more often than Barbadian by Barbadians themselves. More than just a word, this colloquial term is the expression of a true affirmation of their identity. We also use it throughout this guide.

Or Bim, the nickname given to their island by Barbadians. While the origin of the word Bim remains uncertain, the suffix shire is a reference to the British counties. It recalls Barbados' long colonial past and the special relationship between the two countries, while evoking a sense of familiarity and belonging.

A familiar sight along the roads of Barbados, the white disc surrounded by a red circle with the inscription To City or Out of City is a true Bajan icon. They can be found on postcards, magnets, paintings, mugs... The most elaborate, with a roof to shelter you from the sun, all bear feminine names.

This is the typical Barbadian wooden house. Prefabricated, they could be easily dismantled and reassembled in another location. Previously used by slaves (hence the word " chattel") and farm workers, they were built on stone blocks. Today, they're renowned for their aesthetic appeal.

During British colonial times, sugar cane made Barbados rich, on the backs of a veritable army of slaves plucked from Africa. Cultivation was so intensive that it only took a few years to practically deforest the entire island. The sugarcane fields are still there, giving rhythm to the island's agricultural landscape.

One of the country's emblems, the flying fish is featured on its seal and coins. It's also the most widely consumed fish in the country. Served with cou-cou (cornmeal) and a Creole sauce, it's even the national dish. A fish that fishermen have to fetch further and further away due to climate change.

The "great house" was the center of the cane, tobacco or cotton plantations, where the owners or their representatives lived if they didn't live on the island. Often sumptuous and richly decorated, many of them are now in ruins (like Farley Hill) or have become museums (Sunbury Great House) or guesthouses (Clifton Hall).

" Gullies are canyons carved out of the island's coral rock by water run-off, and are one of the places where nature is still preserved. It's lush, the air is fresher and it's in these gullies that you can still find endemic species of flora (especially at Welchman Hall Gully).

This little word encapsulates a whole part of the Caribbean art of living: the art of doing nothing but relaxing, spending time with friends, chatting, laughing, having a drink... and thus strengthening ties with loved ones. Some hotels even organize limes between guests and staff.

Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born and raised in Bridgetown. In just a few years, the "Diamond of Barbados" has become one of the most famous singers on the planet. The performer of Umbrella and Please, Don't Stop the Music is also a businesswoman with her own brand, Fenty. A philanthropist, she has been named "National Heroine" in 2021.

It's the neighborhood bar. And they're REALLY to be found everywhere, as there are an estimated 1,500 across the country. Often housed in a chattel house, the bar serves rum, the famous rum punch, as well as sodas and often a snack bar. It's undoubtedly one of the best places to meet Barbadians.

Leatherbacks, hawksbills and green turtles are the main species of marine turtle protected in Barbados. A fine story of conservation that makes the island one of the main nesting sites in the Caribbean. Excursions are organized to observe them, but often just snorkeling is enough.