Barbados is a beautiful island with diverse beaches located in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies. It is generally referred to as a Caribbean Island, but it is actually located in the Atlantic Ocean. Due to it’s location, it is a prime spot for surfing and hosts international surfing competitions. While this island is known for it’s surf, it is also home to beaches perfect for soaking up the sun, swimming and snorkeling. In this article we visit eight different beaches on Barbados to help you plan your perfect beach day on the island.
Video footage of each beach is located at the end of the article.
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Soup Bowl
Location: East side of the island
We started our beach tour by driving across the island to see some of the more rugged east coast beaches. Our first stop was the Soup Bowl. It is a beach you can be quite active at by surfing and walking along the beach, or you can relax by listening to the constant waves and watching the surfers. This beach is a great destination for surfers or for those who enjoy watching others surf. The area is known for having consistent waves and odd shaped rocks that stick out of the sand. This beach is not a destination for swimming but would be enjoyed by individuals who like to walk along more rugged beaches. The Soup Bowl is a destination to take in the natural beauty of the east side of the island.
Tip: This beach does not appear to have any facilities but it is next to Bathsheba Beach.
Bathsheba Beach
Location: East side of the island
Bathsheba Beach is right next to the Soup Bowl so the beach and wave conditions are similar. This area is much more manicured and tends to be a stop for tourists. Many buses stopped by during our brief visit. Like the Soup Bowl, this beach is not ideal for swimming due to the waves and the rocks. Even though it is a bit touristy, it is worth a visit to see the vegetation and rock formations along the beach. During our visit there was a small restaurant and a few vendors in the beach area.
Tip: There are restrooms available at this beach but there may be a bathroom attendant present that will expect a tip. Be sure to carry smaller bills on the island for situations like this.
Bottom Bay Beach
Location: Southeast side of the island
Bottom Beach is a cove situated between two cliffs. To access the beach you take the path on the left which leads down a set of stairs to the beach. This beach has a secluded feeling and does not tend to be busy. You may find a few vendors along the way. During our visit there were vendors selling coconut drinks and souvenirs. There are a few lounge chairs that can be rented as well, but there are no facilities. This is a beach you can take some time to relax at. There is limited shade so be sure to bring appropriate sun protection.
As far as swimming, when researching this beach it seems that many people do not recommend it. The waves tend to be strong and others have reported an undertow. Those who have swam here tend to recommend it only for strong swimmers. We visited during surf season and we did not attempt to get in the water at Bottom Beach. The waves would have easily knocked me over!
Tip: At the parking lot there is another path to the right. If you take this path you can get an amazing view of Bottom Bay from above the cliff.
Shark Hole
Location: Southeast side of the island
Shark Hole is a hidden beach that can be a bit tricky to find. We would recommend using google maps to find it. When you park you can walk over a rugged rocky area to view the beach area. We have heard that there is a path that runs between two villas leading to the beach. From other reviews we were unsure if the path went through private property so we didn’t end up walking to the beach. For those who do make it down to the beach, it sounds like this can be paradise if you are lucky enough to have it to yourself, otherwise the beach starts to feel crowded pretty quickly.
Tip: Make sure to check the tide schedule. If you visit during high tide the beach area can be quite small and the waves can be rough. During low tide the water tends to be calmer.
Crane Beach:
Location: Southeast side of the island
Crane Beach is located in front of a Hilton beach resort but it can be accessed by parking on a nearby public road. The road is quite narrow for parking and was packed when we visited. If you access the beach from the road, paved stairs lead down to the beach. The beach is wide and deep and offers beach chairs and umbrellas to rent. There is also a beach bar with facilities available. The sand is quite soft and the sea is rough. Despite the waves there were many people still in the water when we visited.
Tip: For a more secluded experience walk toward the cliff on the other side of the beach. Visitors tend to crowd around the area with chairs and umbrellas. We have also read that some individuals climb up to a rock platform and jump off here.
Foul Bay Beach:
Location: Southeast side of the island
Foul Bay Beach didn’t sound like a picturesque beach from the name but we were pleasantly surprised when we arrived. Chickens greeted us as we walked from our car to the water. This beach had a deserted feel to it and was absolutely gorgeous! The sand was soft and the water a turquoise blue. It was quite surprising to find such a long beach with no buildings or vendors.
It was very windy and wavy when we visited. At times it is not advisable to swim at this beach due to the intense waves, but from our research there are times when it is calmer as well. We did visit during surf season so it was not surprising that many of the beaches were rough. We did briefly get in the water at this beach. After getting knocked over by waves a few times we decided it was best just to relax. The waves literally pulled all of the sand from under our feet!
While this beach didn’t have any rentals there were some areas for shade. We even found two palm trees to set up our travel hammock.
Tip: This beach does not have any facilities so plan accordingly.
Miami Beach/Enterprise Beach:
Location: South side of the island, near the Bridgetown cruise port
As we made our way to the southside of the island we stopped by to check out Miami Beach, also known as Enterprise Beach. This beach area is more touristy like Crane Beach but has a lot to offer. This beach is easy to access and there are lounger and umbrella rentals. There is also a lot of shade at this beach as well. There is a calm cove perfect for swimming and a larger beach area that tends to have some waves. From our research there used to be a food truck at this beach but during our visit we only saw a few small vendors.
Tip: This beach has facilities including outdoor showers.
Brown’s Beach/Carlislie Bay:
Location: Southwest side of the island, near the Bridgetown cruise port
Our last stop of the day was at Brownes Beach, which is on the south end of Carlisle Bay. The sand here was very soft and the water was perfect for swimming and snorkeling. The entirity of Carlisle Bay is beautiful and a good spot for swimming but Brownes Beach tends to be less busy then the Boatyard. Here we layed out our beach blanket, floated in the water and snorkeled.
Tip: Make sure to bring your snorkel gear. This area is known for snorkeling with sea turtles, and we were lucky enough to find a few during our visit.
Overall Beach Experience
In order to explore all of these beaches we did rent a car from Voyager in Bridgetown. For tourists a driver’s permit must also be purchased. We were able to purchase the permit at Voyager for around $5 USD. The day rental for a truck cost around $150 UDS including the permit price.
After exploring eight different beaches we have decided that the east coast is full of surfing spots and rugged beauty, the south side offers several secluded beach experiences and the west side is home to the best beaches for swimming and snorkeling.
Ultimately though, when one is planning a beach day on Barbados we would recommend considering the time of year you are visiting, how you would like to spend your time at the beach and the swimming abilities of those who will be visiting. Many of the beaches on the east and south sides of the island can be unsafe to swim in, especially during surf season.
We did capture video footage of our time at each beach, check out the video below to help your perfect beach day on Barbados!
If you have visited Barbados, what is your favorite beach and why?
To hear more about visiting Barbados listen to Jamie & Skylar’s podcast interview on “Between the Mountains” below: