Barbados Port Handbook 2017-18

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Harrison’s Cave

Experience the natural beauty of Barbados Some of the most beautiful and spectacular geological features of Barbados can be seen at Harrison’s Cave, a huge underground cave system open to the public and one of the island’s most popular tourist attractions. Located in the inland parish of St Thomas, Harrison’s Cave is a ‘must see’ for visitors to Barbados. In fact, the caves are regarded by many as one of the wonders of the world. It is the only ‘drive-in’ cave in the

Caribbean region and one of only three in the world to offer this kind of experience. Originally opened as a visitor site in 1981, Harrison’s Cave was further enhanced in 2010 through a significant investment by the Government of Barbados. The caves were provided with enhanced facilities that included improved parking, a souvenir shop, a restaurant and dining area and a visitor centre.

Cave tours Visitors can tour this underground network with its beautiful crystallised limestone caverns, flowing streams and natural stalactite and stalagmite formations that adorn the interior. Since the caves were reopened, visitors have been able to choose from a variety of daily one-hour tours that include the Eco-Adventure Tour, the Walk-In Cave Tour and the Scenic Gully Tour, where visitors are guided along nature trails, giving them an opportunity to view the tropical flora and native wildlife and, of course, to explore the intricate cave formations.

Boardwalks

A walk beside the coast One of the island’s most popular locations is the South Coast Boardwalk. This 1.2 km stretch of fully accessible walkway goes from Hastings to Rockley and provides an opportunity for both local and visiting pedestrians to stroll along the coast, exercise, take pictures, dine, meet friends or simply relax and watch the world go by. Construction of the South Coast Boardwalk was carefully managed by the Barbados Coastal Zone Management Unit to minimise its impact on the natural environment. Completed in 2009, it was officially renamed in 2012 in honour of Sir Richard Haynes, a distinguished Barbadian politician and businessman, who died in 2013.

Part of the Coastal Zone Management Unit’s Holetown project, this boardwalk has also served to minimise the extent of environmental impacts on the shoreline and to protect this stretch of beach for future generations to come.

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Barbados Port Handbook 2017-18

Philip Willcocks / Shutterstock.com

Following the success of the Richard Haynes Boardwalk, another boardwalk was constructed in 2009 along the west coast, making this section of the island more publicly accessible than ever before.


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