SHORE EXCURSIONS

Experience a unique, exciting underwater adventure aboard a real submarine. Seated in spacious, air-conditioned comfort you'll see beautiful coral reefs and abundant marine life, including coral formations, sponge, and colorful fish through large view-ports to depths of 130 feet.

The Historic UNESCO City of Bridgetown, of nearly 400 years of history is famous for its historic buildings and the best cityscape in the Caribbean. Your selfie experience will start at the Gothic style Parliament Building, the third oldest in the Americas and the most striking historic building. You will take amazing selfies at the Promenade and Waterfront.

After leaving Bridgetown, you will proceed to the east coast, a very popular tourist destination, where the rich and famous live and vacation. The tour continues with an external visit to the Animal Flower Cave and Witness the stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean and take advantage of the waves beating on the rock for spectacular photo taking.

The next place to take a great selfie is Cherry Tree Hill, one of the most fascinating places in Barbados; it is 850 feet above sea level, with a phenomenal view of what Barbadians refer to as the Scotland district and learn the mysterious circumstances that locals and visitors have experience on cherry tree hill. Your knowledgeable guide will tell you the mystery!

Your Selfie Experience will end at Bathsheba. It is breathtakingly stunning; white sand beaches extend along a spectacular coastline of remarkable rock formations broken away from ancient coral reef!

Take unique and memorable selfies while you learn about the history of beautiful Barbados and sightsee the best landmarks across the island.

Selfie Spots:
• Bridgetown Parliament Building
• Promenade and Waterfront
• Animal Flower Cave
• Cherry Tree Hill
• Bathsheba Beach

Step aboard your air-conditioned coach for a scenic drive through the countryside to Gun Hill Signal Station. Built in 1818, the signal station was restored and landscaped by the Barbados National Trust and now houses a collection of military memorabilia. An officer at the signal station carved the statue of the lion, out of a single piece of rock in 1868. Enjoy a fantastic view of the island from here. Continue on to Tropical Garden, which sits on 6 acres of land in the parish of St. George. A path winds its way between beautiful coral, rock gardens, shady gullies and ponds. The home of a few locally grown orchids and other tropical plants. You’ll be fascinated by the spectacular views and well landscape grounds of Tropical Garden and then enjoying a refreshing fruit punch or rum punch which is locally made. Next stop would be the renovated Sunbury Plantation for a refreshment stop and take in the beautiful, landscaped grounds and the mature mahogany grove.

OVERVIEW

Become immersed in the intriguing history of St. Nicholas Abbey, its distillery and heritage railway, which you will ride through the countryside. Built in 1658, the Great House is one of just three Jacobean-style mansions in the Western Hemisphere. As you will see while touring the ground floor, the residence is furnished with period pieces. A short film in the museum will present more details about St. Nicholas Abbey, its past owners – one of them an alleged murderer – and plantation life through the centuries. You will also browse the restored distillery, the only one on Barbados that produces rum with sugar cane syrup rather than molasses. Chances are, you will spot some of the resident macaws, monkeys and guinea hens on the way to the property’s railway. During the relaxing and wonderfully scenic train ride to the Cherry Hill Station lookout, the locomotive engineer will regale you with stories.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour the rare 17th-century Jacobean-style mansion known as St. Nicholas Abbey.
• See how the property’s distillery makes rum from sugar cane rather than molasses.
• Watch a short film that depicts centuries of plantation life at St. Nicholas Abbey.
• Ride a restored vintage train to an elevated lookout that offers panoramic views.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Ride through the countryside surrounding St. Nicholas Abbey on a meticulously restored vintage train and spend hours relaxing on the beach that rims Carlisle Bay. The immensely scenic drive to the property will set the tone for the train ride, which follows a circuitous route past the plantation Great House, through a mahogany forest and on to Cherry Tree Hill. Although the train has only been operating in Barbados since 2018, it was built more than a century ago and used in Java. Before boarding, you will learn about the extraordinary history of how the train was brought to the island and how the railway was constructed. At the halfway point, you may volunteer to help turn the locomotive around on the railway turntable for the return ride. Later, you will enjoy free time on the beach just south of Bridgetown. It is a gorgeous stretch of sand with abundant amenities close at hand.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride a restored vintage train through the lush grounds of a former plantation.
• Admire the natural beauty of northern Barbados during the train ride.
• Spend free time enjoying the serenity and amenities of Carlisle Bay Beach.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Walk through a forested gully with a naturalist guide that will describe the exotic flora and fauna, an experience complemented by relaxing at the beach. First developed in the 17th century, Welchman Hall Gully is a natural wonderland where hundreds of species flourish. The grapefruit – a hybrid of the shaddock and sweet orange – originated in the gully, and you may spot grapefruit peels discarded by the green monkeys that feast on the citrus. The monkeys are named for their thick greenish-golden fur, which looks particularly striking against their dark blue faces. After the gully, you will be free to relax on a beautiful stretch of sand however you wish. You might bask in the sun, stroll along the shore and take a refreshing swim in the turquoise waters. How you spend the time is completely up to you.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Follow a naturalist guide through the woods that blanket Welchman Hall Gully.
• Learn about the species that thrive in the gully such as green monkeys.
• Relax on the beach at a naturally beautiful area not far from Bridgetown.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Take a journey through time as you travel in the Tjepper No. 5 steam locomotive along the St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway, learning about Barbados’ farming heritage and relishing island-wide views atop Cherry Tree Hill. Your four-hour outing begins at the doorstep of St. Nicholas Abbey, a Jacobean-style great house built in 1658 and its surrounding sugar plantation hold a colorful history spread among several local families. Trace 300 years back, from early planters to today’s owners, the Warren family, who are still distilling St. Nicholas Abbey rum. You’ll even get the chance to hop aboard Tjepper No. 5, a historic Mallet steam locomotive built in 1914 and recently restored for modern-day use. Enjoy a narrated train ride on a narrow-gauge railway that crosses the plantation’s sugar cane fields and winds through mahogany forests that intersect tropical gullies full of cabbage palm trees. You’ll make a stop at Cherry Tree Hill to admire sweeping views of Barbados’ east coast, as rolling hillsides and the Caribbean Sea unfold before you. Be sure to pick up sweet Barbadian molasses, fruit preserves and handcrafted rum at the gift shop before heading back to the pier.

Discover the real Barbados above and below, really! Board a specially designed 4x4 vehicle for a scenic drive as your driver guide takes you to some of the more beautiful places around the island and shares his knowledge of the island with you. Your first stop is Harrison Cave, one of the island's most popular attractions. Board an electric tram for an exciting one mile journey through underground caverns of stalactites, stalagmites and fast flowing streams.

After, re-board your 4x4 vehicle to venture off-road through Joe's River Forest and its towering trees and descend onto the East Coast in Bathsheba for refreshments and breathtaking scenery of the unusual rock formations created by the pounding Atlantic Surf. The experience continues cross country some 1000 feet above sea level before you descend on the west coast home to the famous, Sandy Lane Hotel, before you return to the port. There is a scenic 30-minute bus transfer included either at the start or the end of the tour.

Step aboard your air-conditioned coach for a scenic drive through the rolling hills of the countryside to Tropical Garden, which sits on 6 acres of land in the central parish of St. George. A meandering path winds its way between beautiful outcrops of coral, rock gardens, cool shady gullies and ponds. Hummingbirds and the soothing sound of running water add to the natural beauty of the natural terrain.

The orchids themselves are spectacular - thousands are grown in shaded houses and outside on freestanding palisades. Wonderful photo opportunities abound for the professional and amateur photographer.

You’ll continue to Farley Hill National Park, the imposing ruins of a once magnificent plantation house are surrounded by gardens, lawns and towering royal palms. Your drive then continues along the scenic west coast, home to many wealthy residents.

Relax however you please on three of the most magnificent beaches along the southern coast of Barbados, an experience that will showcase the island’s boundless beauty. The drive to the first beach will immensely fun and present an authentic look at local life as you will ride in a jitney, a colorful bus that is a popular form of public transportation. Before leaving Bridgetown, you will pass the 19th-century Parliament buildings, several notable neighborhoods and one leafy plaza after another. The exact beaches will be chosen the day of the excursion based on water conditions and the expected number of beachgoers. You will be free to enjoy the tropical settings as you like. You might stretch out on a towel and bask in the sun, stroll along the coast without a care in the world and take a refreshing swim in the sea. Shopping and dining on your own will also be options.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Ride a colorful jitney bus through Barbados with the locals.
• Enjoy free time on three different beaches, each with its own personality.
• Swim, bask in the sun, beachcomb and do most anything else you please at the beaches.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Become immersed in the natural wonders at Harrison’s Cave before settling in for an inspiring tasting at the Mount Gay rum museum. After an introductory film that showcases the beauty of Barbados, you will explore the island’s most celebrated underground attraction. You won’t have to do much but sit back and enjoy the sights as an electric tram carries you through the subterranean world of Harrison’s Cave. You will pass colorfully illuminated stalactites and stalagmites that look like petrified waterfalls, many of them named for their shapes such as the Chapel and the Altar. The area above ground is equally captivating as you will discover by walking a nature trail to an aviary. Barbados is also known for its extraordinary rum, which has been distilled on the island since 1703. You will sample several blends of Mount Gay rum and learn about the company’s illustrious heritage at the on-site museum.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride through the underground wonder Harrison’s Cave in an electric tram.
• Behold bizarrely shaped, beautifully illuminated stalactites and stalagmites.
• Follow a winding trail through a natural setting to an aviary.
• Sample a selection of Mount Gay rums made with water from a centuries-old artisan well.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Meander through two wonderfully serene botanical gardens with curators that will describe the exotic flora in captivating detail. As you walk along the winding paths of Hunte’s Garden, you will see a seemingly endless array of tropical plants, some quite rare and many of them in bloom. Anthony Hunte, the visionary horticulturalist that created this wonderland in the 1950s, describes it as “the most enchanting place on earth,” and there is no doubt that his namesake garden is magical. As a special treat, Hunte may be available to talk about the beginnings of the garden and how it has grown. Andromeda Gardens is equally delightful and has the distinction of being the oldest and largest such tropical paradise on Barbados. Its ethnobotanical garden is especially alluring as it features plants that Barbadians have traditionally used for food, medicine and clothing. Butterflies are abundant there, including buckeyes and bright-orange Gulf fritillaries.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Stroll through two visually stunning botanical gardens, each created in the 1950s.
• Revel in the serenity of Hunte’s Garden and perhaps meet founder Anthony Hunte.
• Follow a curator through Andromeda Gardens, the island’s oldest botanical wonderland.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.