The islands of the Caribbean are beautiful exotic destinations. Tens of millions of people visit the Caribbean every year. One of the most popular, wealthy, and densely populated islands of the Caribbean to visit is Barbados. Now some people may think that the only way to find things to do in Barbados is through an expensive tour organized by the cruise line or local tour company, but those aren’t your only options. Visiting the Caribbean doesn’t mean going broke in the process. If you are explorers on a budget like us, we hope you find these ideas fun to try. Here are some things we found you can do in Barbados without spending a fortune.
First off, whether visiting on a cruise or arriving at a resort or hotel, there will always be an endless wave of pamphlets, brochures, marketing displays and tour operators looking to offer you things to do. Politely accept any flyer or jot down ideas on things that might interest you. Having the information as a reference later can be extremely helpful in planning your adventures. Anything that looks interesting will always be less expensive once you step outside the hotel grounds or off the cruise ship.
Travel Tip 1 from RoarLoud – Always talk to locals. We will usually try to get a few opinions to get a few ideas and options. No one will have more ideas of things to do and see than the people who live there. They will also usually be very forthright about the information you have gathered in those pamphlets you collected and let you know if they are worth the money…or better yet tell you where to find the best deals.
Visit the Markets
Absolutely visit the markets. No not the city of stores lined up on the docks that they have at every port in the Caribbean. Go outside that area and discover the wonderful markets where you can find authentic goods and food that aren’t just tourist traps. The more you venture into the real Barbados, you will find wonderfully warm people who are true artists at their craft and cuisine. You will also be spending your money to help the real local economy. Many times shops located near resorts or cruise line ports are owned by the resort or cruise line. Step outside the tourist trap to have a much better experience buying real local craft and save lots of money on your purchases.
Travel Tip 2 from RoarLoud – Always leave time in your schedule to just explore. Don’t burden yourself with the endless list of “have-to-dos”. Just take a breath and wander. Some of our most memorable experiences weren’t planned. They were discovered while just taking a walk
Snorkel From the Beach
Browns Beach
Just visiting a beach in the Caribbean is a great way to enjoy the day, but add snorkeling to make it unforgettable! Barbados has some fantastic snorkeling, but don’t be fooled that you need to spend a fortune on a resort or cruise sponsored snorkeling trip. Barbados has many locations where can literally swim from shore a short distance and see amazing sights. Colorful fish, ornate coral configurations and more are mere yards away from the edge of the beach.
Heeding our own advice about talking to the locals, we asked about the best places to snorkel. The locals we talked to recommended going to Browns Beach that day because the visibility was really good and sea turtles were common visitors.
Local snorkel tour
Snorkeling in Barbados
We took a short cheap cab ride to Browns Beach and it did not disappoint. This unassuming beach had a treasure trove of sights just offshore. For $20 USD we got a ride from a local boat offering to take people out to a shipwreck, provided snorkel gear and then took us to another spot where sea turtles were coming within feet of people snorkeling. If you have snorkel gear and not on a time schedule that we were on, you can do it all for just the cost of the cab ride.
See Some Unique Street Art
Beautiful Tile Street Art
More Tile Street Art
One of Cathy’s passions is street art. Ever since we discovered the fantastic street art of the Azores, Cathy has been obsessed with finding street art wherever we travel. When we asking locals about things to do and see, of course, Cathy asked if there were any street art to see. We were told about some truly unique street art located on the East coast of Barbados. 
Mural at Flower Alley
Taking again a very cheap cab ride along the coast, we were treated to some beautiful and vibrant art. The most amazing art is found in Parris Hill, St. Joseph. Created by artist Christopher R. L. Chandler
We might not have found this amazing art without taxi driver Peter Cherubim who we lucked out meeting in our port. He is great at showcasing Barbados for quick or longer trips. Give him a call at 248-8619 or email pcherubim@yahoo.com, tell him we said hello!
Parris Hill Mural
List of animals to be found
There you will see a mural that took over 2 years to complete and incorporates the natural rock with cement and plaster to transform this area into a 3D art exhibit. Painted in vibrant colors of the animals represented, it is definitely worth the trip.
Visit Gun Hill Signal Station
Gun Hill Signal Station
Located in St. George, the Gun Hill Signal Station affords you spectacular panoramic views of the island. Go past the single stone carving of the guardian lion and climb the path to the signal station. At the top, you can visit the signal house to see historical artifacts or simply enjoy the view. The Gun Hill Signal Station also boasts landscaped gardens, tropical flowers and quiet benches to sit. You can stop into the small restaurant to grab a quick bite or bring along some food from the local markets and have a fabulous picnic.
Lion Statue at Gun Hill Signal Station
Honorable Mentions
This is by no means the only inexpensive things to do in Barbados. There are many more sites to see and things to do.
- Try visiting one of the many gardens or parks
- Hike Barbados – The tour takes you through cane fields and tropical forests. The hikes are free but donations are welcomed to support the Barbados National Trust, which maintains the trails
Now we tried to highlight some of the things you can do for little to no money, but by no means are these the only things to do. We found it is absolutely possible to have an amazing time in Barbados and find things to do without spending a fortune. If you find your own things to try in Barbados on a shoe-string budget share the wealth (or savings!). We would love to hear from you!
Are you looking for more tips about the Caribbean?
About
Frank is the creator of the RoarLoud website, go to guy for gear reviews and Cathy’s IT guy. I know that stands for information technology but Cathy calls him her “IT” guy because he is everything! A lover of nature and a curious soul he tries new adventures eagerly. Fortunately he is also the voice of reason to level out Cathy’s wildcat side.
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