Barbados Wildlife and Nature: What to See and Where to Go

Barbados is a small, densely populated island that has managed to preserve a surprising amount of natural habitat. The wildlife here rewards slow, curious travel — the kind of travel that a rental car makes possible.

Sea Turtles

Barbados is a major nesting site for hawksbill and leatherback sea turtles. Nesting season runs from March through October, with hawksbills preferring the calmer west and south coast beaches. The Barbados Sea Turtle Project monitors nesting activity and runs supervised beach walks during peak nesting months. Turtle sightings while snorkelling — particularly on the west coast near Folkestone Marine Park — are common year-round.

Green Monkeys

Barbados has a significant population of green monkeys, descended from animals brought from West Africa in the 17th century. The Barbados Wildlife Reserve in St. Peter is the most reliable place to see them at close range — the reserve is a free-roaming sanctuary rather than a zoo. Green monkeys also appear in the wild, particularly in agricultural areas and fruit trees. Keep your car windows up in monkey territory — they are notoriously bold.

The Barbados Wildlife Reserve

Located in St. Peter, adjacent to Grenade Hall Forest and Signal Station. The reserve is a walk-through mahogany forest where animals move freely. In addition to green monkeys, you will find red-footed tortoises, brocket deer, peacocks, caiman and a large aviary. The daily feeding time in the afternoon brings the monkeys out in numbers.

Birdwatching

Barbados sits on a major migratory route and records over 220 bird species, including many North American warblers and shorebirds during autumn migration. The Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary in Christchurch is the last significant inland wetland on the island — a vital habitat for herons, egrets, kingfishers and migratory waterfowl. It is a short drive from the south coast hotels.

Coral Reefs and Marine Life

The reefs surrounding Barbados are some of the healthiest in the eastern Caribbean. Folkestone Marine Reserve in St. James protects a shallow reef system accessible by snorkel. The west coast offers calm, clear water with regular sightings of parrotfish, sergeant majors, angel fish and the occasional nurse shark resting on the bottom. Several operators run snorkelling and glass-bottom boat tours from Holetown.

Flying Fish

Barbados’s national symbol is the flying fish. You will see them on the national coat of arms, on souvenirs, and on every restaurant menu. If you are lucky — and on the right ferry or fishing boat — you will see them in the water, skimming above the surface with their wing-like pectoral fins. They are genuinely remarkable animals.

Exploring the Natural Side of Barbados

The wildlife reserve, Graeme Hall, the east coast geology and the marine parks are spread across the island. A rental car is the only practical way to reach all of them in a single trip. Book at apparentcar.com and give yourself the freedom to follow whatever catches your eye.