Discover the Island Vibes: Top 14 Fun Facts About Barbados You Never Knew!

1. George Washington's Barbados Secret Weapon

Little did George know, a trip to Barbados would become his secret weapon: In 1751, a smallpox-stricken Washington was bedridden on the island for nearly a month, ultimately gaining immunity that protected him from the disease as it tore through troops in the Continental Army during the War.
Source => caribjournal.com

2. Barbados: Beaches, Rum, and Rihanna

You might say Barbados is a "shore" bet for good times, with sandy beaches that'll have you flipping over more than just Rihanna tunes: This sun-soaked island paradise boasts the idyllic Crane Beach and Bathsheba Beach, mouthwatering flying fish and cou-cou cuisine, a rum connoisseur's dream at Mount Gay Rum Distillery, and a vibrant display of its African, European, and indigenous Caribbean heritage during the annual Crop Over Festival.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

Did you know the world-famous Angostura bitters, used in cocktails and cooking, originated in Trinidad and Tobago during the 1800s? Discover the secret recipe's history and its 20-acre production complex! 🍹🌿

=> Fun Facts about Trinidad-And-Tobago

3. WiFi in Paradise

Fear not thy YouTube binges and Instagram selfies whilst vacationing in paradise: Barbados boasts widespread WiFi availability, even extending its high-speed embrace to the sandy shores of the Fairmont Royal Pavilion hotel.
Source => bethanylooi.com

4. St. Nicholas Abbey's Timeless Rum

When life gives you sugarcane, make rum: St. Nicholas Abbey, a historic plantation house in Barbados, has been tickling taste buds and fueling shindigs since the 18th century with its award-winning rum, which happens to be one of the oldest continuously produced rums globally.
Source => whc.unesco.org

5. Blue, Gold, and Trident: The Barbados Flag

Feeling blue? Just add a touch of gold and liberate yourself with a trident: Barbados' flag features ultramarine stripes for the sky and ocean, and a gold stripe for its sandy beaches, with a trident symbolizing their break from colonial rule and the three principles of democracy.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

6. Artistic Treasure Trove in Barbados

If you think Bajan beach parties are the only thing that rocks in Barbados, you'd be missing a whole other artful world that'll make your artistic senses dance like they're doing the electric boogie: Barbados boasts a thriving arts scene, complete with literature dating back to the 1940s, local crafts like mahogany items and pottery, and musical genres like calypso, reggae, and jazz that color the island in a cacophony of creative bliss.
Source => worldatlas.com

7. Mount Gay Rum: A Pirate's Choice

If a pirate, a priest, and a sugarcane farmer walked into a bar in Barbados, chances are they'd all agree on their poison of choice: a glass of the good ol' Mount Gay Rum, me hearties! Avast ye, landlubbers: Barbados boasts the world's oldest rum distillery, Mount Gay Rum, which has been churning out this liquid treasure since 1703. Distilled in ye olde copper pot stills from molasses so fine, it's known to make many a rum aficionado sing its praises. And if ye be in the island's fair waters, why not pay a visit to the distillery to learn its history and toast to the spirits of the past?
Source => eckes-granini.com

8. Honking Etiquette in Barbados

In the land of Barbados, car horns join the symphony of life as chatty little greeters and gracious ambassadors: honking is frequently used to say "Hello" to a friend or express gratitude for giving way, making the roads a melodious exchange of courteous Morse code.
Source => sixt.com

9. Dastardly Pirate Tricks in Barbados

Ahoy, mateys! Ever wonder why Davy Jones had such a bounty of shipwrecks in the Caribbean depths? A curious ruse on Barbados might just be the answer: Sam Lord, a notorious pirate, would hang lanterns in coconut trees to lure ships to their doom, while Stede Bonnet, a former British army major, bought the "Revenge" and dipped his toes in piracy before joining forces with Blackbeard. Today, the island's lively history can be explored through its intriguing shipwrecks, pirate-themed attractions, and, of course, a swig of rum at the Pirates Tavern.
Source => barbados.org

10. Flying Fish: Barbados' Aquatic Aviators

In the world of aquatic aviation, where fishy pilots dream of conquering the skies, Barbados reigns supreme with their national dish starring the daredevil Flying Fish: This scrumptious meal, Fried Flying Fish and Cou Cou, features breaded fillets of the gliding fish doused in a creole sauce, accompanied by cou cou made from cornmeal and okra. In reality though, these finned aviators aren't really soaring through the heavens, but rather, they skim across the water's surface with their fins, occasionally taking breathtaking leaps before plunging back into the depths.
Source => hispanicfoodnetwork.com

11. Shipwreck Capital of the Caribbean

Ahoy, me hearties! If ye be seekin' hidden treasures and long lost shipwrecks, look no further, for Davy Jones himself seems to favor the waters of a certain Caribbean island: Barbados boasts the title of "shipwreck capital of the Caribbean," inviting underwater explorers to delve deep into historic wrecks like the SS Stavronikita and the Eillon, where they'll be immersed in a world of vibrant marine life and submerged relics.
Source => caribbeanwarehouse.co.uk

12. The Origins of Mount Gay Rum

What's the rum deal here? Is it really all that Gay? Well, spoiler alert: it is! Mount Gay Rum, famous among rum aficionados and pirates alike, has a rather bittersweet history to reveal: Originally birthed at a quaint distillery on Mount Gilboa in Barbados, this fine spirit took on its proud name following the visionary influence of Sir John Gay Alleyne – a fourth-generation Barbadian who so impressed the Sober family that they revamped their distillery in his honor, thus gifting the world with the renowned Mount Gay Rum we "so-rumbly" cherish today.
Source => mountgayrum.com

13. Limestone Wonders of Harrison's Cave

When life hands you limestones, make an island: Barbados is composed of about 80% coral limestone, setting it apart from its volcanic Caribbean neighbors, and gifting tourists with the breathtaking underground limestone wonderland known as Harrison's Cave, where crystallized formations and hidden streams abound.
Source => sandals.com

14. Green Monkeys: Unexpected Passengers

Ever thought about boating from West Africa to the Caribbean in the 17th century with a monkey wearing a life vest? Green monkeys sure did: They hitched a ride on slave trade ships and now call the picturesque islands of St. Kitts, Nevis, St. Martin, and Barbados their home.
Source => animalia.bio