Looking for a quick, concise round-up of the best boat trips in Barbados? Consider this your cheat sheet to sailing on the beautiful Caribbean sea, with Barbados boat trips for every type of traveller.
I’ve spent New Year’s Eve in Barbados for the past three years in a row, so I’ve enjoyed my fair share of catamaran trips on this beautiful island.
In this guide, I’ll list the top 10 Barbados boat trips, with info on how much they cost, who they might suit best, and a quick overview of what to expect.
Best Barbados Boat Trips at a Glance
Best Time to Go: The best time to go on a boat trip in Barbados is the dry season between December and April. You’ll want to avoid July to October (hurricane season) as the waters can be rough.
Best Barbados Boat Trip: In my opinion, the best Barbados boat trip is the sunset catamaran cruise, which gets you to all the famous spots with fewer crowds, plus a bonus front-row seat to the sunset.
Where to Stay: Budget-conscious travellers should stay in the family-friendly south (St. Lawrence Gap). For exquisite beaches and show-stopping restaurants, stay on the west coast (Mullins or Holetown).
What’s the Weather Like: You can enjoy tropical temperatures all year round, with average highs of 29°C. The dry season is from December to April – but you should still expect occasional short bursts of rain.
Top Tip: If you don’t have a car, choose a boat trip that includes round-trip transport to make for a smoother sailing day out.
10 of the Best Boat Trips in Barbados
1. First-Timers Barbados Catamaran Tour with Snorkelling and Lunch
Best for: Your First Visit to the Island
Price: Approx £90 per person
If it’s your first time in Barbados, this boat trip gives you a great flavour of the island and hits all the highlights.
You’ll get to snorkel over the famous shipwrecks in Carlisle Bay, swim with sea turtles, and sail along the scenic west coast on a stylish catamaran. With convenient pick up and drop off from your accommodation, this tour also includes a delicious Caribbean lunch on board with free-flowing drinks.
Starting at 10:00am, you’ll spend about five hours on board the boat, which makes it a good full-day excursion, without being too tiring.
We’ve done this trip about three or four times now because it’s such great fun! We particularly love jumping off the boat after lunch when anchored near one of the west coast beaches and swimming to and from the shore.
This particular tour is offered on a mid-size catamaran so you don’t feel too crowded with other travellers.
2. Sunset Barbados Catamaran Cruise
Best for: Sunset seekers
Price: £150pp
There’s something extra special about Barbados catamaran trips – especially at sunset when the clouds on the horizon turn into cotton candy.
If you love to watch a spectacular sunset on your vacations, then this is the boat trip for you. Including round-trip transportation from your accommodation, the tour sets sail from Bridgetown at around 3pm in the afternoon.
After fuelling up on appetizers and authentic Bajan banana bread, you’ll hit some of the famous snorkelling spots a little later in the day, when there are fewer crowds and more space to snorkel at your own pace.
After meeting the local sea turtles, you can settle into your front-row seat to watch the sunset, along with all-you-can-drink beverages.
The tour lasts approximately 3.5 hours and offers some of the most stunning views on the whole island, in my opinion!
3. Submarine Nightime Tour from Bridgetown
Best for: Marine Life Enthusiasts
Price: £100 per adult, £49 per child.
A submarine tour is one of the more unusual boat trips Barbados has to offer and makes for an exciting nighttime excursion.
Suitable for kids over three, this is definitely one the little ones will be talking about long after you’ve returned home.
Setting off from Shallow Draught Harbour in Bridgetown, you’ll take a short boat ride to arrive at the submarine, during which there is a short safety briefing.
Once aboard the Thunderbirds-style vessel, the hatches are secured and the submarine descends to the coral reef, where you’ll get to see an array of tropical fish as the light fades.
As darkness falls, the exterior lights are switched on to offer an alternative view of the underwater world at night.
The tour lasts for approximately two hours and departs from the meeting point at 05:00 pm.
4. Drone Clear Kayak Photoshoot
Best for: Insta-Worthy Photos
Price: £192 per person
If you’re searching for boat trips in Barbados to give your feed that tropical blue aesthetic, this is the tour for you.
Enjoy the crystal waters of the Caribbean as you float around Carlisle Bay, with a professional drone photographer to help you capture the magic of the moment.
This private tour can be booked multiple times throughout the day and includes a 30-minute photoshoot, with a meeting point at Pebbles Beach. During the shoot, the professional photographer will offer posing tips for flawless creative direction.
Afterwards, you’ll receive at least 10 colour-corrected and retouched photos, along with some behind-the-scenes video content.
5. Wildlife Reserve and Carlisle Bay Cruise
Best for: Animal lovers
Price: £114 per adult £80 per child
Another great one for those with kids, this is one of the best boat trips in Barbados that combines a glass bottom cruise with a trip to the Barbados Wildlife Reserve.
Setting off at about 10:30 with collection from your hotel, the full-day tour starts with a chance to meet the island monkeys at the reserve. On the rugged east coast of the island, this spot is a sanctuary for many different species, including the green monkeys that can often be spotted in the more rural parts of Barbados.
You’ll have a chance to participate in their feeding routine before watching them swing away through the trees (this is not a zoo, and the monkeys are free to come and go as they please).
The tour includes a traditional Bajan lunch before you are taken to the famous Carlisle Bay, where you’ll board a glass-bottom boat.
The 90-minute cruise offers a chance to snorkel with the turtles and see the famous shipwrecks. Meanwhile, those who prefer to stay dry can observe some of the marine life from the comfort of the glass-bottom boat.
6. Learn to Sail and Snorkel on a 32ft Yacht
Best for: Learning the ways of the wind
Price: £775.39 per group (up to 6)
If you’re searching for Barbados boat trips where you can chart your own course, then this is the tour for you.
Reserved for private groups of up to six guests, you’re free to choose how you spend your six hours at sea, whether you want to learn a little sailing yourself or simply sit back and enjoy the wind in your hair.
If desired, the tour can include stops to swim with turtles and other intriguing sea life, and lunch on board can also be arranged at an additional cost.
No previous sailing experience is required and your boat comes with a qualified captain and sailing instructor, as well as snorkelling equipment, snacks, and soft drinks.
7. Small Group Mini Barbados Catamaran Snorkel Cruise (10 People Max)
Best for: Groups of 10
Price: £87pp
For those that prefer a small-group tour, this trip is very similar to the first one on this list in terms of itinerary but takes place on a much smaller boat with a maximum capacity of 10 guests.
We booked all 10 spots one year which meant we had the boat to ourselves – a very cost-effective way to organise a ‘private’ charter for groups of 10!
It’s a small, bijou catamaran, but that doesn’t spoil your enjoyment of the beautiful Bajan waters and all they have to offer, including sea turtles, shipwrecks, and the golden sands of the West Coast.
The tour includes a delicious BBQ lunch onboard, pick-up and drop-off from your hotel, five hours of sailing, and a choice of soft and alcoholic drinks.
8. Barbados Private Charter Fishing Trip
Best for: Avid anglers
Price: From £562 per group (up to 6)
Barbados is a vibrant Caribbean island, rich in marine life, which is what makes this private charter fishing trip so popular.
Both novice anglers and professionals alike can enjoy the chance to catch large and exotic species such as the Mahi Mahi, yellowfin tuna, and Wahoo.
After meeting your boat and crew at the Shallow Draught Harbour in Bridgetown, you’ll head out to open water for approximately four hours, with all fishing equipment provided. Snacks and beverages are also provided throughout.
Since this is a private tour for groups of up to six, you can customise your adventure to start in the morning or afternoon and add snorkelling stops to the itinerary. Full-day tours are also available.
9. Barbados Boat Trip with Slide & Open Bar
Best for: Party Animals
Price: £100pp
Step aboard a super-fun double-decker boat with a slide and swing chair for four hours of Bajan fun at sea.
This is one of the best Barabdos boat trips to do if you’re up for a bit of a party or travelling in a larger group, with unlimited drinks on board – from fruity rum punch to beers and premium mixed drinks.
The boat only takes 15 guests so you can book the whole thing if your group is large enough, or just enjoy the intimate atmosphere with a few other travellers if not.
If you had your heart set on a catamaran cruise, this is probably not for you, but if you’re happy with any style of boat and just looking for a good time, this is definitely the cruise for you.
Setting sail from Carneege Harbour in Bridgetown at 10:00am, the trip includes lunch onboard, an open bar, multiple snorkelling stops, and Bajan tunes to keep the party going.
10. Carlisle Bay Turtle and Shipwreck Boat Cruise
Best for: Those on a budget
Price: From £29pp
If you’re on a very tight budget but don’t want to miss out on a Barbados boat trip, you don’t have to! Short and sweet, this whistlestop trip takes you to the shipwrecks of Carlisle Bay from the shore.
You’ll join the boat at Brownes beach, and then cruise out to where the shipwrecks are located and sea turtles can often be spotted.
With snorkelling gear and a guide included, you can take a peek at what lies beneath with a swimming stop before heading back to dry land.
The tour is just 90 minutes in total and juice is provided on board.
Best Boat Trips Barbados: FAQs
Are there any boat trips from Barbados to other islands?
As Caribbean islands go, Barbados is fairly isolated. That means there aren’t any boat trips from Barbados to other islands.
The closest islands are located in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which is around 10 hours away by boat. The only option to visit other islands from Barbados by boat would be to charter a private, liveaboard yacht for several days.
Where to stay in Barbados for the best boat trips?
If you’re planning on taking a lot of boat trips in Barbados, you may want to consider staying in or near Bridgtown, since that’s where many of the group boat tours depart from.
However, if you’re just doing one or two, Bridgetown is only a short drive away from the west coast, where the most beautiful beaches and restaurants can be found.
We’ve previously stayed at Tradewinds Villa and Beacon Hill Apartments, both located in the stunning Mullins Bay. For hotels, I recommend checking out the Sandpiper or Cobbler’s Cove.
You’ll find that many of the boat trips in Barbados include a pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation, whether that’s on the West Coast or the South.
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