Barbados, the famed island home of superstar Rihanna, stood out as one of my favorite destinations during our week in the Caribbean. Although our time there was limited, we were able to experience one of its most renowned attractions – swimming with the turtles in the crystal-clear, blue waters. While the turtles weren’t as abundant as we had hoped, we were fortunate enough to spot some!
Our destination was Bridgetown, Barbados’s capital and largest city – a bustling metropolis with a population of around 110,000. Established in 1628, Barbados was devoid of inhabitants until the arrival of British settlers. However, there were a few remnants of pre-existing indigenous presence, such as a primitive bridge constructed over the swampy Careenage area, from which Bridgetown derived its name. Interestingly, Bridgetown, Barbados is the only city/country outside of present-day United States that President George Washington ever visited. One can only imagine how long it took him to get there. 🙃
We knew from the start that snorkeling with sea turtles was a must-do activity. We chose Tiami Catamaran Cruises, which was absolutely delightful and I highly recommend them. They provided seamless travel arrangements, starting with a prompt 8am pickup from the cruise dock and transportation to their port. Operating hours are daily from 7am to 5pm, with our tickets purchased directly from the ship costing $104 per person. While somewhat pricey, private bookings via Viator typically cost $105 (so clearly not much difference). Offering complimentary hotel or Airbnb pickup and drop-off, they also supply the snorkeling gear. Their small-group tours ensure a personalized experience. While the advertised tour on Viator includes a Bajan buffet lunch, open bar, and snacks, our experience differed slightly. Despite enjoying an open bar, we did not receive the buffet lunch or snacks. This may have been due to our shortened tour duration of approximately 3 hours. Most of their other tours run for around 5 hours.
Once aboard the small catamaran at the dock, the journey takes you on a brief 30-minute boat ride to Carlisle Bay, where the adventure of fun snorkeling with sea turtles begins. Despite the possibility of choppy waves due to wind, it still remains enjoyable. I’d still heavily recommend taking Dramamine if you’re prone to sea sickness, like me, and it’s important to note that sightings of sea turtles are not guaranteed. Fortunately, we were blessed to encounter at least two turtles (sadly, I was not able to get pictures due to not having an underwater camera). According to Tiami’s website, you may also have the chance to see Southern Stingrays and Hawksbill turtles during the excursion.
As an honorable mention, following our sea turtle adventure, we ventured over to Paynes Bay, which stood out as one of the most beautiful bays I’ve ever seen. Unlike Carlisle Bay, the water here was much calmer, with a striking light turquoise hue. We took a nice swim for approximately an hour before beginning our return journey. Along the way, we were treated to a remarkable and memorable sight – an army of flying fish flying through the air. One particular wayward fish even made contact with a man sitting at the front of the boat, smacking him square in the face. He took it in stride and laughed it off (talk about a memory!).
Overall, I realize that this blog post only barely scratches the surface of what Bridgetown and Barbados has to offer. Nonetheless, I wanted to give the island and Tiami Catamaran Cruises the recognition both deserve. Barbados stood out as my favorite of all the islands we visited during our Caribbean getaway, second only to Puerto Rico. While the people we encountered at the port were lovely, it was the crew of our catamaran who truly made the experience. They not only ensured our safety but also kept the atmosphere light-hearted and thoroughly entertaining. While I’m not the biggest fan of the Caribbean due to the humidity, heat, and sand, I would gladly return to Barbados for another opportunity to swim with the sea turtles! 🐢
