Barbados

The coral island of Barbados is situated east of the other Lesser Antilles islands.  From dramatic cliffs in the north, windswept Atlantic beaches in the east, and flat pastureland in the south to white sand beaches on the west coast, Barbados' varied terrain covers an area of 166 square miles.  The central part of the island has tropical vegetation, cane fields, and villages. Natural attractions in Barbados include the Welchman Hall Gully, Grenade Hall Forest, and the Barbados Wildlife Preserve, where you'll find Barbados green monkeys, red-footed Barbados tortoises, toucans, and parrots.  

For those who enjoy botany, the Flower Forest has tropical plants and flowers.  Casuarina trees and palms edge the sand beaches of the west coast Caribbean Sea. Barbados beaches are all public, drawing people from the large hotels and elsewhere.  The west coast white coral sand beaches are called the Platinum Coast, and landscaped hotels line this beach area.  Other beaches, such as Bathsheba, are treacherous for swimming, but are appreciated by experienced surfers.  Scuba divers can enjoy reefs and shipwrecks around the island.