Exploring the Caribbean
Delving into Some of the Natural Wonders of Barbados
A local’s perspective
It’s easy to take amazing things for granted when you’ve grown up with them all your life. That’s been a challenge of mine having been born and raised in Barbados or “paradise” as others were quick to tell me on my travels.
Tourism is the main industry on the island. We welcomed several thousand visitors flocking to our shores each year (pre-pandemic) to enjoy the warm weather and a taste of island life.
When I lived in the UK, I would usually have people telling me how lucky I was to have grown up on this small island in the Caribbean. As it’s been what I’ve known my whole life, it took some time to truly appreciate the island and see it from other perspectives.
Besides world-famous beaches, there are other scenic natural wonders on this 166 -square-mile island which add to the island’s beauty and uniqueness. Here are three of my favorite natural attractions in Barbados.
Animal Flower Cave
Located at the northern tip of the island, the Animal Flower Cave is one of my personal favorites. It’s fantastic for a day out with spectacular scenery, delicious food, and amazing photo opportunities.
The natural cave here has unique rock formations and features which you can learn more about on the cave tours. The openings in the cliff face allow you to immortalize your cave experience by taking beautiful silhouette photos overlooking the ocean.
The Animal Flowers (sea anemones) for which the cave is named unfortunately are low in numbers. These marine predatory animals are closely related to jellyfish and coral. It is fun to watch them quickly close in the rock pools when you try to touch them.
A cave highlight is the chamber with a large rock pool. The pool is 8ft at its lowest point making it perfect for swimming and creating a memorable experience.
Above ground, there’s plenty to explore on-site with shops, a restaurant, a children’s playground, and more. Dine with a view indulging in Barbadian cuisine especially the popular breadfruit tacos. Enjoy the sea breezes while watching the powerful waves crash into the headlands. Nature lovers will also enjoy walking along the cliffs and exploring the rugged coastline.
Harrison’s Cave
Moving from the north of the island to the centre, we find another cave on the island: Harrison’s Cave in St Thomas which is quite different from the Animal Flower Cave.
Harrison’s Cave was named after Mr. Thomas Harrison who was a prominent landowner in the area during the early 1700s. Although there were many attempts to explore this cave, it proved quite challenging due to difficulty in accessing the natural entrances to the cave.
It was in 1974 that Harrison’s Cave was re-discovered and mapped. The government began the process of development and excavation of the cave to make the cave accessible and an island attraction. Before this development, locals would actually enter the cave via an entrance in Welchman Hall Gully. This gully is another of Barbados’ attractions and is still geologically connected to Harrison’s Cave
The massive stream cave system is at least 2.3 kilometers long and it stays on average a toasty 27C year-round. The stalactites and stalagmites that adorn the cave are very much alive. They grow at an incredibly slow rate (less than the thickness of a piece of paper each year). Seeing the stalactites and stalagmites glisten in the light and hearing the sound of the water flowing through the cave was certainly a highlight for me on my visit.
The Scotland District
This unique area in Barbados is located on the eastern side of the island and makes up 20 percent of the entire island. The rocks here are about 30 million to 50 million years old. They comprise clay stones, sandstones, chalk, volcanic ash layers, and siltstones which have created interesting rock formations and geological features.
Bathsheba and the Soup Bowl (a renowned spot for surfing) are some popular spots located in the Scotland District. Mount Hillaby, the highest point on the island is also located here. One of the best lookout spots overlooking the scenic Scotland District is Cherry Tree Hill in St Peter.
The name Scotland District is due to the area’s resemblance to the craggy hills of the Scottish highlands. It was amazing for me to see this area again when I returned to the island after living in the Scottish Highlands. With that Scottish perspective, it was like seeing the Scotland District for the first time. I could very easily see the resemblance to the Scottish highland landscape.
On an island that is well known for its beautiful beaches with turquoise waters and powder white sand, it can be hard to tear yourself away from the many lovely beaches on the island. However, I hope you are encouraged to explore more of the island and not miss out on some of the one-of-a-kind natural wonders in Barbados.
Sign up for our newsletter to stay informed with up-to-date curations from our editors.
We now offer exclusive writing services for our members. Discover how you can take advantage of our editing services and more.
