Snorkel vs. Sightsee

[TMW67]

We will be cruising to Barbados, along with St. Kitts, St. Lucia & St. Maarten & will be in port from 10:00-6:00 that day. We love to snorkel but also want to photograph the beautiful east coastline beaches (Bottom Bay, Harrismith beach, Bathsheba) & Animal Flower Cave northward just for photo opps. Not really worried about swimming with turtles in Barbados because we have an excursion in another port for that, but just hoping to see some great marine life.

 

My question is, would we miss out on some great snorkeling opportunities here compared to our other stops, or would we be ok not snorkeling here & doing the beaches/cave for pictures? Not expecting to do both snorkeling AND pictures of course! :)

 

Also, if we did opt for the picture time, would all those stops be doable in the time we have in Barbados? Will we have a hard time getting someone to take us to all these places? Would it cost a small fortune for a taxi? We would stay just long enough to get some nice pictures.

 

Thanks in advance!

[barbados]

To see (almost) everything on Barbados it takes a good week.

 

I estimate your time allotment to really be six (6) hours rather than eight (8) hours due to delays in departing and traffic returning.

 

Taxis run about US$25/hr. for up to four (4) in the cab, not each! Many times you can get cabs for $15-20/hr. outside of the gated compound where you are funneled through. Walk past these guys out to the roundabout on Spring Garden Hwy and you’ll find the reasonable cabbies. Vet a few and find one you like. Agree on a price for the day and be sure you’re talking US$ and not BD$ (2:1 !).

 

If you have your heart set on Animal Flower Cave then do it first. I know it gets great reviews and it is quite beautiful, but in my humble opinion it doesn’t hold a candle to our East coast plus its way up in St. Lucy.

 

If you eliminate AFC and take the Southern route through Oistins and The Crane (Crane beach voted one on the 10 best beaches in the world by Conde Nast) then North to Bathsheba you’ll see 80% of the most beautiful areas of the island.

 

Head West at Bathsheba to Holetown and snorkel at Folkestone Marine Park if you have time, otherwise continue South to Payne’s Bay where you can get a boat for a few bucks to take you out to the reef where there tons of fish. You’re only 10-15 minutes away from the ship and a US$10 taxi ride back.

This would give you more time to stop for photo opportunities and not feel so rushed.

 

Additionally, it will give you a reason to return and see what you’ve missed.

 

When you return for a second time we say that you’re coming home not coming to visit. :)



Have a wonderful time on the island with whatever you choose!  :):):) 

[macaroni]

Barbados is not for snorkeling...sightsee the east coast and animal flower cave...Barbados will give you great photo ops

[TMW67]

Thanks barbados for the wonderful advice! macroni, I kinda got that feeling also, thanks!