Tour Options in Barbados

A sightseeing tour is a good way to get your bearings and to experience the rich Bajan culture. Taxi drivers will give you a personalized tour of Barbados for about $25 per hour for up to three people. Or you can choose a fascinating helicopter ride, an overland horseback or mountain bike journey, a 4x4 safari expedition, or a full-day bus excursion. The prices vary according to the mode of travel and the number and kind of attractions included. Ask your hotel to help you make arrangements.

Bajan Helicopters offers an eagle's-eye view of the island. The air-conditioned jet helicopters accommodate up to five people for a 20-minute, 30-mi (50-km) Discover Barbados Tour ($142.50 per person) or a 30-minute, 50-mi (80-km) Island Tour ($182.50 per person). Highland Adventure Centre offers horseback or mountain bike tours for $50 per person, including transportation, guides, and refreshments. Whether it's your first time on a horse or you're an experienced rider, the chance to view plantation houses, three coastlines, and quaint villages astride a thoroughbred is a thrilling opportunity—don't forget your camera! The mountain bike tour is an exhilarating 7.5-mi (12-km) ride (15% uphill) through the picturesque heart of northern Barbados, ending up at Barclays Park on the east coast. Island Safari will take you to all the popular spots via a 4x4 Land Rover—including some gullies, forests, and remote areas that are inaccessible by conventional cars and buses. The cost for half-day or full-day tours ranges from $50 to $80 per person, including snacks or lunch. L. E. Williams Tour Co. will pick you up at your hotel for a seven-hour narrated bus tour—an 80-mi (130-km) circuit of the best of Barbados. The $70 per-person price includes a Bajan buffet lunch and beverages at a restaurant on the rugged east coast.

Information

Bajan Helicopters (Bridgetown Heliport, Bridgetown, St. Michael. 246/431-0069. www.bajanhelicopters.com). Highland Adventure Centre (Cane Field, St. Thomas. 246/438-8069 or 246/438-8928). Island Safari (Main Rd., Bush Hall, St. Michael. 246/429-5337. www.islandsafari.bb). L. E. Williams Tour Co. (Hastings, Christ Church. 246/427-1043).