Barbados’ rugged and sparsely populated East Coast possesses some of the island’s most dramatic scenery. Crashing Atlantic waves pound deserted beaches, and lush vegetation clings to the precipitous side of Hackleton’s Cliff, the impressive limestone escarpment that slices through the parishes of St Joseph and St John.

Indeed, St John’s Parish Church, perched on the clifftop, provides great views down to the coast, and the iconic giant boulders on the beach at Bathsheba.

This sprawling fishing village has several good restaurants, which makes it a popular lunch stop for day-trippers from the other side of the island. Spreading across the hillside high above the village are the Andromeda Gardens – one of the Caribbean’s finest tropical botanical gardens.

A couple of miles further south lies the fishing village of Martin’s Bay, renowned for its Thursday afternoon lime.

Further south still lies attractive Bath Beach, the only bathing beach on the East Coast. From here, it’s a short hop to Codrington College, an old Anglican theological college set in lovely landscaped grounds.

Note that there are no banking facilities, supermarkets or petrol stations along the East Coast

The East Coast can easily be explored with our East Coast In-a-Day itinerary.