Family Surfing Holidays in Barbados

PALM-FRINGED BEACHES, BAREFOOT LIFESTYLE AND SURF FOR ALL LEVELS

Famous for its beautiful beaches, relaxed atmosphere, fresh seafood and rum, Barbados is one of the best and most consistent surfing destinations in the Caribbean. Its beaches offer waves for all levels, from world-class reef breaks for the experts, to mellow beaches and points, and everything in between.

Barbados Holiday Highlights

Barbados Overview

Boasting palm-fringed beaches, consistent surf, an array of watersports and bucketfuls of culture, Barbados is an easy and exciting island to explore. 

The best time for a family surf holiday to Barbados is during the UK winter, which makes it the perfect destination to swap your winter wetsuit for boardshorts and bikinis between October and March. With coral reef stretching around the island, there is always somewhere to surf, no matter which direction the swell is travelling. It’s easy to get around by hire car, so you can choose from mellow beach breaks, rolling points and hollow reefs – or all three in a day. And aside from waves galore, the laidback island culture come with lots of sunshine and balmy seas teeming with turtles and parrotfish.

Days are spent exploring jungle-backed shorelines, surfing and sea-glass hunting. Then seeking out the best spot to fill up on rotis – local pastries filled with the likes of saltfish, meats or tropical fruit. When the setting sun drives you out of the ocean, quench your thirst in beach bars and buy fat fillets of the freshest catch from local fishermen to sizzle up with rice and wash down with a Caribbean rum punch. 

Featured Barbados Surf Trips

QUICK FACTS ABOUT BARBADOS AS A FAMILY SURF DESTINATION

Getting there: Direct flights from the UK to Barbados (Grantley Adams International airport), with a flight time of around 8-9 hours. There’s only four hours time difference, so jet lag is minimal compared to many other tropical destinations.  
Getting around: It’s easy to get a taxi or arrange transfers from the airport to your hotel or apartment, and you can easily get around on the fleet of ZR minibuses at BBD$3.50 a ride. However, the island is small and easy to explore under your own steam, so we’d recommend hiring a car (you can circumnavigate the islands in about 2.5 hours). 
Surf season: The best season for surf is October to March. From June to October (tropical storm season), you can still get some classic surf on the southern tip.
Surfing level: Beginner to expert.
Climate: Temperatures hover around 28-30C all year round, with humidity increasing from June to October, during hurricane season. Water temps remain at a balmy 25-28C year round.
Wetsuit: Bikinis and boardshorts. Reef boots and rash vest are recommended as there is live coral all around the island.
Time zone: GMT -4
Currency: BBD (Bajan Dollar)/ USD$

Family Surf Co says:
Barbados was a much-needed break from the British winter. It’s so full of colour, character and culture, it was like medicine for the senses.

With two teenagers and a one child under ten in tow, we were looking for warmth, waves and quality family time. We lucked out with small, clean surf for the duration of our holiday. Between surf sessions, the kids loved swimming with turtles, the aqua parks, bodysurfing in shore breaks, and gorging on macaroni pie and fresh fish at Oistin’s Fish Market. 

Hayley Lawrence

Read on to discover the best locations to surf, play, eat and stay on your family surfing holiday in Barbados.

SURF: WHERE TO SURF FOR ON YOUR FAMILY SURF HOLIDAY IN BARBADOS

With a coral reef stretching around the island, there is always somewhere to surf in Barbados, no matter which direction the swell is travelling. 

Bathsheba is the place everyone’s heard of on the east coast, where you’ll find the famous Soup Bowl – one of Kelly Slater’s favourite waves. Down south there’s a littering of more mellow beach and reef breaks, while the north is where you can seek out the more remote, jungle-fringed surf spots.

The best season for surf is October to March, when you’ll often get offshores grooming the west coast, and smaller swells on the south and east coasts. June to October is classed as hurricane season and brings with it some hot, wet weather, but serious storms are rare and you can still get some classic surf on the southern tip.

Top Surf Spots in Barbados

Freights (Cotton Bay)

If you’re looking for a family-friendly wave with turtles aplenty in the line-up, this is it. A long, mellow left-hander and a punchier right, Freights is the perfect places to spot turtles and parrotfish between ripples. Ride the Tide surf school are there for all your gear and lessons.

South Point

A short hop from Freights and one of the most popular breaks on the south coast for good reason. South Point is a little more challenging (especially the entry/exit over the reef), but serves up line after line of lovely left-handers for intermediate and advanced surfers. One of our favourites. 

Soup Bowl

Wait your turn in the line-up and commit to the take off, and you can see why this bowly right-hander is one of Slater’s faves. North and East swells light up Soup Bowl, and when it’s on it’s a true aficionado’s wave.

Parlour

Footsteps from Soup Bowl, this is the place to paddle out if you don’t want to fight the crowds on the peak. It’s a more forgiving take off, with long right-handers and plenty of water over the reef at mid tide. 

Sandbank

Just up the road from Soup Bowl, this is more accessible for beginners. It’s a great option on the east coast if you have different levels of surfers in the family who aren’t ready for Soup Bowl and Parler.

Surfer’s Point

This easily accessible left-hander peels off a point in the south east. It’s great for the whole family, although there are a few rocks to negotiate. Zed’s Adventures has got you covered for lessons and kit.  

Brandons/ Drill Hall Beach

Brandons surf break is actually just offshore at Drill Hall Beach, located opposite the Garrison Racetrack, not Brandon’s Beach on the other side of Bridgetown. It’s a consistent spot where you’ll often find a bunch of beginners, but on its day, it’s a fast, fun left-hander.

Batts Rock

This a-frame reef break just north of Bridgetown (head towards La Cabane) is short and powerful when the west coast works. The beach has parking and a picnic area for spectators. 

Maycocks 

Look for monkeys as you descend the jungle trail to this remote paradise beach at the north of the island. A bit more tricky to get to, it fires up with awesome right-handers on a northerly swell. A little shallow. Ideal for intermediates.

Tropicana

A powerful, punchy lefthand reef break on the west coast. One for advanced surfers who don’t mind the shallow reef. 

There are plenty more to seek out, these are just a few recommendations. If you want to surf in the hands of an expert, tap up Bodie’s School of Surf and he’ll take you to the best waves of the day for your ability. 

Featured Barbados Surf Trips

PLAY: THINGS TO DO ON A FAMILY SURFING HOLIDAY IN BARBADOS

The island has lots more to offer than just beautiful beaches and surf. From caving to pirate-themed boat cruises, there are plenty of family adventures with a true Caribbean twist. We love donning a mask and snorkel to witness the turtles, parrotfish and squid in the underwater world, a day at the horse racing at the Garrison Savannah racetrack, and partying the night away to calypso bands at the harbour.

For energetic families you can’t beat a day at a water park – these huge inflatable courses are towed offshore and you can hop and off all day – or watch the kids from your sun lounger with a rum punch in hand. The Boatyard Beach Club on Carlisle Bay offers all-day access with all the perks (get there early to get a space), while Rascals Waterpark at Brandons is a little more laidback (an all-day family pass at the latter costs around £150).

If you’re out sightseeing, it’s an easy island to get around, and some of our favourite spots were wild little bays found off the beaten track. We love the stunning two-mile stretch of Long Beach, Crane Bay and Bottom’s Bay. Other highlights from the exhausting lists of things to do include a visit to the Animal Flower Cave at the north of the island, an early morning trip to see the race horses swimming on Pebbles Beach (free), and the tropical Hunte’s Gardens. 

If you want to try diving or go on an organised snorkelling trip yet, you can arrange this through Barbados Blue, who are experts in both scuba and snorkelling tours. Or, if you fancy trying stand-up paddleboarding, contact Ryan Rodriguez from Surfsup Barbados. 

EAT: FOOD & DRINK FOR ALL THE FAMILY IN BARBADOS

Known as ‘The Land of the Flying Fish’, the national dish in Barbados is Flying fish with Cou-Cou. Cou-Cou is a combination of cornmeal and okra with salt, pepper and Barbados’ very own hot sauce. The Bajan cuisine includes lots of dishes that kids will love, including the traditional Caribbean Chicken with rice and beans.

You’ve no doubt heard that Barbados is an expensive place to eat out, which, if you’ve got hungry kids in tow, isn’t good news. However, you can fill up on rotis (filled pastries) from a street vendor for just a couple of Bajan bucks each (around £1), compared to the same thing in a café for around 20 bucks each. Same with fish cutters – maybe five bucks on the street, and around 40 bucks in a restaurant.

When you want treat yourselves to a meal out, here are some of our favourite foodie spots:

Oistin’s Fish Fry

A trip to Oistins Fish Market is a great way to experience the Bajan culture and food at affordable prices – and dance to some Caribbean tunes, too. It’s open daily, but Friday evening is the most popular time to go. There are lots of vendors to choose from, frying up seafood flipped straight off the fishing boats in a lively atmosphere. We love the ‘Legend Uncle George’ where you can get a smorgasbord of mahi mahi, tuna and swordfish, with all the trimmings (potatoes, rice, mac-cheese and salad), for 40 Bajan dollars. 

Bombas Beach Bar

Bombas Beach Bar is a cracking little beach bar on the edge of Mullins where you can tuck into goat curry, fish cutters and the best rum punches we found on the island. Bang on the beach, you can swim and snorkel between courses. 

Dis Ole House

Traditional Caribbean dishes are served in Dis Ole House‘s tropical garden setting where you might just be serenaded by local music, too. Sustainable, rustic and deliciously Bajan. 

Cafe Luna

Cafe Luna is one for a romantic night out or special occasion – where the Caribbean meets the Med in a candle-lit roof-top dining space decked out in Moroccan style. 

The Orange Street Grocer

Nudging the beach at Speightstown, The Orange Street Grocer is a cool deli-cum-café that is quite the place for Sunday brunch. But will you choose Bajan style, full English, vegan or health kick? 

STAY: FAMILY-FRIENDLY SURF HOTELS AND ACCOMMODATION IN BARBADOS

From all-inclusive luxury resorts to self-catering beach apartments, there is a wide choice of options for family accommodation in Barbados.

The best spot to stay is right beside the beach at Freights (also known as Cotton Bay). This white-sand beach break is perfect for longboarders, learner surfers, swimmers and snorkelling with turtles. If you can bag an apartment here, you can walk in one direction to the reef break of South Point, and in the other to Oistin’s Fish Market. 

If you want something a little cheaper look around Silver Sands – between Surfer’s Point and South Point. This residential area is well situated if you don’t mind hoping in the car for a surf. You can still walk to Silver Sands beach for kitesurfing and swimming, and you can get a bargain apartment here compared to the more touristy areas.

Check out our pick of the best family surfing accommodation in Barbados.

THE WRAP: WHY WE LOVE BARBADOS FOR A FAMILY SURF TRIP

Barbados is an easy, breezy destination for winter waves, tropical vibes and a laidback, family-friendly surfing adventure. There’s plenty to do and explore for all ages of children – from tots to teens, and it’s a cinch to travel around with your family and boards in tow. With direct flights and little jet lag, it’s not too far for a week or ten-day holiday, so makes the perfect destination to pack into a Christmas or half-term break. However, once you slip into Bajan time, you’ll want to stay here for months.

Need more inspiration? Check out this video on a family holiday in this island paradise.

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Surf Trips in Barbados for Your Next Family Surfing Holiday