Barbados, the most easterly of all the Caribbean islands, is situated north of South America, at 13° north and 59° west. The country has an average daily temperature of between 80 and 88 degrees Fahrenheit, or 29 to 31 degrees Celsius.
The Atlantic Ocean surrounds this beautiful island, whose capital city is Bridgetown. Barbados, one of the few coral capped limestone islands in the region, is 21 miles long (34 kilometers) by 14 miles wide (23 kilometers), with a land area of 166.4 square miles (431 km²). The island is relatively flat in comparison with its neighbouring Caribbean Islands. The highest point rises to 1,115 feet about sea level – that is “Mount Hillaby” in the parish of St. Andrew, the most easterly of the eleven (11) parishes.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Driving in Barbados is on the left side of the road. The island has a road network of 1,475 km of paved roads, which includes a highway linking the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) in the south to St. Lucy in the north.
Health care is readily available at two modern hospitals, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Bay View Hospital, as well as other well-equipped clinics. The FMH Medical Clinic, Coverley Medical Centre and Sandy Crest Medical Centre are private accident and emergency facilities that are also available.
Barbados is proud to have a modern telecommunications network, with the latest in digital and fibre optics. The international direct dialing code for Barbados is (1-246) followed by a seven (7) digit number.
The island‘s currency is tied to the US dollar at a fixed rate of US $ 1.00 : BDS $ 1.98. The US dollar and most major credit cards are readily accepted by businesses and department stores.
DID YOU KNOW?
Barbados’ national flower is the ‘Pride of Barbados’ or (Caesalpinia pulcherrima).
His Excellency Sir Garfield St. Auburn Sobers is the country’s only living national hero. Sir Gary, as he is affectionately called, was born in 1936 and although retiring from the game many years ago, he is still considered to be the greatest all round cricketer of all time.
PLACES OF INTEREST
- Welchman Hall Gully
- The Animal Flower Cave
- Morgan Lewis Mill
- St. Andrew’s Pottery (clay)
- St. Nicholas Abbey & Rum Refinery
- Harrison’s Cave
- Flower Forest
- Cherry Tree Hill
- Mount Gay Rum Refinery
Welcome to Barbados! Do enjoy our culture and cuisine, including our national dish cou-cou and flying fish.