Staying in the North of Barbados – The Platinum Coast

This month’s focus remains in the North of the island in the Parish of St. Peter. St. Peter touches both the West and East coasts of the island which makes it unique. We shall look at the West coast where you will find the island’s two marinas – Port St. Charles and Port Ferdinand. Both are spectacular full-service luxury marinas with docking for day boats, coastal cruisers and smaller mega yachts. These facilities are the heart of what we call our Platinum Coast. If you are a yachtie or just enjoy a marina vacation, you will want to make sure that you get a hired car to explore the rest of the island, as the locations are well away from the capital in Bridgetown and many tourist attractions.

The closest town and heart of St. Peter is Speightstown. This town was the first major port and commercial centre of Barbados in the 17th century and beyond. It served as the main port connecting the island to the ‘mother country’, England.  Today, this quiet town is home to most of the daily commerce in the parish and serves the communities in the north of the island with its everyday goods. No longer a functional port, the history of Speightstown is worth the drive up in your rental car. Don’t forget to include a stop at The Arlington House Museum for a great history lesson well curated. Normally quiet, the town comes alive this month as We Gatherin’ Barbados 2020 has turned its attention to this part of Barbados. As a bonus, there are many fine restaurants in the area both for fine dining and for authentic Bajan food.

We suggest that your hired car be pointed in this direction for a part of your holiday on the island, so that you discover the unspoilt beauty of our island and her people. Though Barbados may be small, your vacation can always be made better when you rent a car and discover what the locals already know.