Self-Catering Wildlife Watching Holidays in Barbados

Looking to do some wildlife watching on a self-catering holiday in Barbados?  Wildlife watching can be a truly special experience.  Many people head to the Caribbean island of Barbados for sunshine, beaches and beautiful seas.  The island can offer all of this and is a great destination for a self-catering villa holiday or apartment stay.  You may opt though to also spend some on your holiday wildlife watching and Barbados offers plenty of opportunities for this.  Whether you enjoy bird-watching, snorkelling or general wildlife watching there is plenty of wildlife to see on this unique island both on shore and in the sea, you just have to get out and about to discover it.

Driving Around the Island & the Best Places for Wildlife Watching on a Self-Catering Break

One of the best ways to see wildlife is to explore the island by car.  Hire a car on your self-catering break and drive to attractions and along the East Coast in particular to discover the road less travelled.  When driving around the East Coast you may be lucky enough to see monkeys darting in to the bushes.  Equally though Barbados’ green monkeys (pictured left) are known to be found around the St Lawrence Gap area which is considerably built up. 

If you want the chance to discover monkeys in their more natural habitat, why not visit the Sunbury House Plantation House where there are extensive grounds which you can wander around whilst looking out for the green monkeys that are sometimes found here.  For practically guaranteed monkey sightings head to the Barbados Wildlife Park, directly opposite from the Farley Hill National Park.

Sea turtles nest in Barbados but only at certain times of year and after dark so you’re not very likely to see nesting turtles.  They tend to nest on the soft sands of the West Coast and the South West Coast of Barbados.  Walking on the beach at night is generally not advisable as there have been machete attacks at night on Barbados’ beaches and the character can change after dark with shady characters appearing looking to sell people drugs.  Unfortunately baby turtles hatching from the sands also tend to hatch at night so you’re not likely to see these either.  However, you never know, some of them are late starters and whilst sunning yourself on one of the beautiful sandy beaches you may be lucky enough to spot a stray turtle or two, in season, making its way to the shores.

Whilst on the beaches on your self-catering holiday, you are far more likely to see crabs which appear to be abundant along the South and West Coast of the island.  These can be found in a variety of different colours and can be great fun to watch.  Don’t be put off going on the beaches by the crabs, as soon as they sense people walking along they dart straight in to their crab holes so you have to be quiet and careful to see them. 

Birdwatching in Barbados

Barbados has a number of typical birds similar to those seen in the UK such as pigeons which look similar to those we are used to seeing at home. 

Bananaquits are beautiful, small yellow birds which are also commonly seen on the island.  Hummingbirds can also be spotted on the island but are a good deal less common and harder to spot.  Hummingbirds are invariably found near to bushes with blossom and can even be found in busy areas like St Lawrence Gap if you look in the right places but you need to be eagle eyed.  When exploring some of the quieter attractions on the island on your self-catering break such as some of the Barbados’ National Trust sites you may be lucky enough to come across hummingbirds but if you want a photo opportunity you have to be quick because as soon as they appear, they quickly flit away.

Butterflies in Barbados

You can commonly see large beautiful yellow and orange butterflies in Barbados, particularly when discovering the unspoilt East Coast and central part of the island.  The Flower Forest can also be a good place for spotting butterflies.

Taking a Boat Trip for Watching Sea-life on a Self-Catering Break

When it comes to discovering some of Barbados’ best wildlife a boat trip is highly recommended.  For good quality boats look up Tiami Catamaran Cruises who offer turtle watching cruises, snorkelling trips and a combination of the two.  Check if you need to bring your own snorkel before booking.  Most trips leave from Bridgetown, check with Tiami if you would have to make your own way to Bridgetown or whether they could pick you up from your villa or apartment.

Their trips can be a great way to discover friendly sea turtles and the crew have considerable experience with these creatures.

When it comes to snorkelling, the trips take you to waters which are not exactly shallow but offer a good opportunity to see beautiful fish.  If you prefer to stay nearer to shore you may prefer snorkelling along the West Coast of Barbados, particularly at the Barbados Marine Park or Alleynes Bay where there are reefs relatively close to the shore.

All in all, Barbados is a great place for a self-catering wildlife watching holiday with a wealth of wildlife to discover.