Barbados in July and August: 5 things to see and do
Hello and thanks for stopping by our blog! If you’re travelling to Barbados in July or August, then you’re in the right place. Update: we’ve added a video here of 5 things to see and do in Barbados in July and August.
Let’s jump right in!
#1: Visit an Oistins fish fry
Of course, at the top of the list is something that involves delicious food! For us, food can make or break a trip. If you’re visiting Barbados in July or August, be sure to have a Friday night included in your trip so you can see an Oistins fish fry.
The fishing village of Oistins has a Friday night fish fry every week, however during the months of July and August, they’re kicked up a notch with a DJ, more locals and even more tourists thrown into the mix!
There’s lots of great people watching; literally all you need is a little bench on the sidewalk and you can watch the people walking by. But, why would you want to not answer the call of the delicious aromas coming from the vendors? Try any kind of seafood imaginable, from different varieties of fish, to (super cheap) lobster. All freshly prepared and served with mouth-watering Bajan specialty sides like macaroni pie! We can taste it right now. In case you wanted a vendor recommendation, be sure to go to Chillin’ and Grillin’.
A visit to Oistins is a must see and do!
A visit to an Oistins fish fry is a must!
#2: take a drive around the island to visit the rum shops
Barbados in July and August is the place to be if you’re a rum drinker. The island is known for the number of rum shops – little, casual bars – located everywhere. Grab a driver from your hotel, negotiate a price and have him or her take you around the island, stopping at rum shops along the way. Trust us, a good driver knows where all the good rum shops are!
One of your stops could be the Mount Gay Distilleries, which is one of our fave places to visit! You can do one of their tours, or just visit the on-site bar for one of their mixologist’s created cocktails. Don’t forget to stop at the gift shop on your way out! You can buy several of their rums like Ponche Kuba rum cream (yummy!) or their XO rum blend.
#3: indulge in the many water activities
Even though it’s the rainy season in July and August, any rain is usually short lived so water activities are a must. And there are so many to do on the island! You can go snorkeling with the turtles off the coast of Carlisle Bay, grab a jet ski or you can do 1 of our fave things to do: go on a Bajan boat ride!
In Barbados in July and August, since it’s around the time of Crop Over, which is Barbados’ Carnival, you’ll be sure to find a Bajan boat ride happening when you visit. So, what’s a Bajan boat ride? If you’re not familiar with Caribbean Carnival culture, a boat ride is an immersion in dancing, sweet soca music, delicious food and as much rum punch as you can handle. It’s the most fun you can have on the water in our opinion! One of the boat rides that we highly recommend is Limerz.
If you wanted a boat ride that’s not so *ahem* intense, then you can always go with a chartered boat tour company like Tiami Catamaran Cruises. We’ve taken groups with this tour company and they always do a great job. Get an open bar, freshly prepared lunch and let the gorgeous blue waters soothe your worries away as you sail all day!
Mimosas are served on board! Cheers!
#4: shop at a local market
Take in the friendly and warm Bajan culture by going strolling (and shopping) at a local market. There are several markets on the island, where you can shop for fresh fruits and vegetables plus beautiful hand-made arts and crafts, souvenirs, local snacks and so much more.
One of our fave local markets to visit in Barbados in July and August is in Holetown, which is on the west coast of the island. Known as Chattel Village, this open air market has such a wide variety of vendors, who are all located in pretty little huts, it’s hard to walk through without being tempted to buy something! You’ll find unique jewelry, clothing, sandals and delicious treats to take back to your room.
While you’re in the area, you might want to check out the Limegrove Lifestyle Centre, which is located up the street from Chattel Village. Limegrove is an upscale mall with several unique shops that offer hand made skin care items and even high end glasses and sunglasses! Limegrove is an open air mall as well, so you can take in the sunshine as you duck in and out of the stores with your shopping bags in hand!
And now for #5 on the list…Crop Over!
#5: take in the Crop Over festival
There’s no way we could write a blog about visiting Barbados in July and August without including Crop Over! Crop Over is Barbados’ amazing Carnival and is easily one of the largest festivals that happen annually on the island.
What do you get when you visit Barbados during Crop Over time? Parties, parties and more parties! You can also see the Kadooment Parade, which is a colourful takeover of the streets with feathered and beaded costumes.
And if you’d like to experience even more freedom, then you have to see the Foreday Morning festival which happens from 11:30 pm to 8 am the following morning! Dance without abandon through the streets, paint and mud all over your body…it’s the ultimate in freedom.
A Foreday Morning experience is one you’ll NEVER forget!
Well, that’s it!
The top 5 things to do in Barbados in July and August – hope you enjoyed that. We’re going to experience Barbados Crop Over! 2 things you need to know:
- This travel experience will be launching very soon and…
- There are very limited rooms in this travel experience as it will be more intimate than our other travel experiences.
For more information about this Ultimate Crop Over Experience, click here.
Thanks as always fuh reading!
Til de next lime,
Team Events by Ashé