Where is Barbados located? This is a question I get whenever I mention my travels to this eastern Caribbean island. Despite being the birthplace of rum and Rihanna, many don’t know where Barbados is.
After spending a week there, I decided to create a guide about the location of Barbados, and tips on how to get there. Find them below.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN BARBADOS:
• Meridian Inn (I stayed here)
• Southern Palms Beach Club (top location on Dover Beach)
• South Gap Hotel (on the beach and close to Gap)
• Sugar Bay Barbados (great location and close to Carlisle Bay)
• OceanBlue Resort (I stayed here)
TOP EXPERIENCES and TOURS IN BARBADOS:
• Turtle and shipwreck snorkeling (my favorite)
• Catamaran cruise with lunch and snorkeling (top-selling tour)
• Harrison Cave tour (I did this)
• Barbados food tour (incredible food tour)
• St. Nicholas Abbey Heritage Railway (I did this)
Barbados is one of the safest Caribbean islands and a former British colony.
It is the easternmost island in the Lesser Antilles and the Caribbean region. It is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, east of the Windward Islands of the West Indies.
Still unsure about the Barbados location on the map?
Keep reading to discover where this perfect honeymoon paradise is, where to find it on a map, and additional details you might find helpful about the location of this tropical island.
FRIENDLY REMINDER
Never leave for a trip without travel insurance. Unexpected issues can arise so I suggest using insurance that covers people from all over the world, while outside their home country. You can buy this travel insurance even if you are already abroad.
Where is Barbados
KEY TAKEAWAYS
● Barbados is the Easternmost Caribbean island in the Atlantic Ocean.
● When searching for Barbados on a map, the closest islands to Barbados are St. Lucia and St. Vincent and Grenadines.
● Barbados is located right outside the hurricane belt, making it an ideal Caribbean destination to visit throughout the year.
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Where is Barbados located
You must first find the USA and Mexico when locating Barbados on a map.
From there, find the Caribbean in the Gulf of Mexico, and search for Venezuela in South America. Look for an island arch above Venezuela and the Atlantic Ocean on the East.
Barbados is the easternmost island. It is located in the western part of the North Atlantic,160 kilometers (100 mi) east of the Caribbean Sea.
Barbados map and geographical details
It is located 13° North of the Equator, and 59° West of the Prime Meridian. It is 4 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT -4) and there is no daylight saving time.
East Caribbean island Barbados covers 430 km² (166 mi²) of predominantly coral limestone karst landscape, with sandy shores, rugged cliffs, and lush tropical forests.
Barbados is one of the Caribbean islands outside the hurricane belt. This makes Barbados an ideal tropical holiday destination to visit throughout the year.
Barbados is a part of the Lesser Antilles in the West Indies.
Lesser Antilles is an island archipelago between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. They form an arc from Puerto Rico to Venezuela in South America.
The closest island to Barbados is probably Saint Lucia with a close tie to the island chain of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
In relative proximity to Barbados are also Martinique to the northwest, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, and Venezuela to the southwest, and Guyana to the southeast.
Barbados island has a lively atmosphere with a population of almost 300.000 people, reflecting a blend of African, British, and Caribbean influences in its culture and cuisine.
General facts about Barbados
where is Barbados located
POPULATION
281.000 (2021)
GOVERNMENT TYPE
Republic
CURRENCY
Barbadian dollar (BBD)
LANGUAGE
Bajan, English
CAPITAL
Bridgetown
MAIN RELIGION
Christianity (75%)
COUNTRY CODE
+1 246
TIME ZONE
GMT -4
Now that you know where is Barbados …
Barbados is a tropical island between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. It is the Easternmost Caribbean island and part of the Lesser Antilles.
So, the next time someone asks you where Barbados is, you’ll know exactly where to point!
Despite its small size and remote location, Barbados attracts tourists from all around the world.
Its location outside of the hurricane belt makes Barbados an ideal destination with great weather throughout the year. Here you will also find delicious food, lively festivals and stunning beaches.
If you’re curious about how to get to here, or are looking for a perfect Barbados itinerary, check out my other Barbados guides.
There I share more trips when traveling to Barbados, best beaches, things to do (besides swimming with turtles), fun facts, packing lists, best souvenirs to bring home, how Barbados compares to Seychelles and Zanzibar and other info you might need when planning your Caribbean holiday.
➤ Read more Barbados travel guides
• How to spend 7 days in Barbados itinerary
• How to get to Barbados from US, UK, Europe and beyond (+ MAP)
• Is Barbados safe to visit? Everything you need to know
• 101+ Beautiful Barbados Captions For Instagram
• Barbados vs. Zanzibar: Where to go on a holiday?