• Language: English
• Currency: Barbados dollar
• Temperature: Average 75-85°F year-round
• Square Miles: 166 Approx.
• Population: 265,000

ABOUT. The coral island of Barbados is situated east of the other Lesser Antilles islands. The island is completely surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. When first settled by the British in 1625, was found to be almost totally covered in dense jungle, with a very large population of wild pigs.  Barbados’ varied terrain covers an area of 166 square miles ranging from dramatic cliffs in the north, windswept Atlantic beaches in the east, and flat pastureland in the south to white sand beaches on the west coast. The central part of the island has tropical vegetation, cane fields, and villages.

Barbados has a rich colonial past. It was once a British colony, with an economy based on sugar cane. The name ‘Barbados’ is derived from the Bearded Fig Trees once found in abundance on the island. It has always flown only the British Flag, until achieving its independence in 1966 and has never been successfully invaded by a Foreign power.

Barbadian traditions range from afternoon tea and cricket (the national sport). Natural attractions in Barbados include the Welchman Hall Gully, Harrison’s Cave, Grenade Hall Forest, and the Barbados Wildlife Preserve, where you’ll find Barbados green monkeys, red-footed Barbados tortoises, toucans, and parrots. The Flower Forest has tropical plants and flowers. Casuarina trees and palms edge the sand beaches of the west coast Caribbean Sea. Sea Anemones grow in pools on the floor of the Animal Flower Cave at the north of the island.