The Best Hikes in Barbados - 2025
/If you’re looking for the best hikes in Barbados, you’re in the right place. This blog covers the best hikes in Barbados from East Coast to West Coast, North to South. We have lived in Barbados for 2.5 years and we’ve explored most of the island. Let me help you plan what to do in Barbados for your next trip!
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the rolling hills of barbados east coast - picture hole is located along this ridgeline
Barbados is often thought of as a tropical paradise with sun-kissed beaches, but the island also offers a treasure trove of natural beauty for those willing to venture beyond the coastline. From navigating the rainforests to unexpected clifftop vistas to underground caves, these hikes showcase the island's rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes.
In this post, I’ll highlight four of the best hikes on the island: Coles Cave Descent, Hackleton’s Giants, Picture Hole, Joe’s River, and more! Each trail offers a unique experience and a glimpse into the diverse ecosystems and stunning vistas that make Barbados so unique.
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Here are the best hikes in Barbados!
Table of Contents
Click any Hike Below to Jump to it’s description and see images!
Map of the Best Hikes in Barbados
the views from hackletons cliff are incredible.
Hackleton's Cliffs
Hackleton’s Cliff
For hikers who love panoramic views, Hackleton’s Cliff is a must-do hike in Barbados. This hike rewards you with some of the most breathtaking views of the West Coast. Hackleton’s Cliff is one of the highest points on the island standing at a whopping 1,000 feet above sea level.
Along the trail, you'll find yourself surrounded by towering old-growth trees and exotic plants, with occasional glimpses of Barbados’ eastern coastline peeking through the foliage. As you reach the summit, the reward is a wide-open view of the island, from the rolling hills to the sparkling sea.
There are two main hikes to choose from if you decide to go alone and both are moderate in difficulty, with a few steep sections that will get your heart racing. However, the views are worth every step.
This is a kid-friendly hiking trail in Barbados. We hiked with an 8 and 9 year old. Be prepared with recommended hiking gear for kids.
If you DO NOT want to hike, you can head to Hackleton’s Cliff Community Park and walk out to the overlook.
Don’t want to Hike Alone?
Wild Barbados offers an expert-guided hike called Hackleton’s Giant which starts at the dramatic cliffs and takes you down into the rainforest through coral gullys. Zack will provide information about the island’s unique plant species, the history of the area, and how the island’s topography was shaped over millennia. We joined him on this hike in November 2024.
Tips for Hiking Hackleton’s Giants:
Wear comfortable hiking boots with good support, as the terrain can be uneven.
Bring plenty of water to stay hydrated—this hike can get warm even in the shade.
Be prepared for the possibility of rain, especially during the wet season, as Barbados’ forests can get quite soggy.
**ALWAYS wear bug spray to prevent mosquito born illnesses
hackleton’s cliff is a stunning spot in barbados
Cole's Cave
If you're looking for one of the most unique things to do in Barbados, you’’ want to experience descending into one of Barbados' limestone caves - Coles Cave. This hike takes 2-3 hours.
it is a steep decent into the entrance of the cave
Cole’s Cave is a moderate to hard hike in Barbados. It involves navigating steep terrain with ropes to reach the cave entrance, then crawling, swimming, and navigating the dark. Inside Cole’s Cave, you'll see stalactites and stalagmites within Pleistocene-aged reef. The cave is home to massive chambers and crystal pools.
cole’s cave is a challenging adventure in barbados - headlamps are a MUST
While Coles Cave might not be suitable for those with claustrophobia, it is a perfect challenge for adventurous hikers. The cave's cool, humid atmosphere contrasts with the heat of the island’s surface, making for an exciting and refreshing change of pace. I absolutely loved this hike.
be prepared to swim in areas of the cave! If you go with wild barbados and you can’t swim, they will help you navigate the water
Do NOT Hike Cole’s Cave Alone
Wild Barbados offers an expert-guided hike into Cole’s Cave. Zack will will share stories of the island’s history, the cave's role in local culture, and the wildlife that inhabits the area. I highly encourage you to NOT do this hike alone - it is NOT a developed cave.
Tips for Hiking Coles Cave:
Wear sturdy shoes with good grip for the slippery cave floors. Your shoes WILL get wet.
Wear clothes you don’t mind getting wet as you will be submerged in water and completely soaked.
A good water bottle.
Bring a strong headlamp; the cave has no light at all. The weaker your headlamp, the harder it is to navigate the cave.
Bring good gloves (Zak can provide gloves)
Keep your camera ready—there are plenty of photo ops inside and outside the cave.
Our group hiking through cole’s cave complex
READ NEXT: The Best FREE Things to do in Barbados
The Maw - The Mouth of Joe's River
The Maw is a hike specifically led by Wild Barbados. It is approximately 2.5 hours and a moderate hike. This hike starts along the beach at Bathsheba then heads up the mouth of Joe’s Rivere where it progressively harder.
Click HERE for a 30-Second video recap of this trail showcasing train conditions and what to expect.
Hikers will scramble up river along slippery river bank rocks and dense vegetation. The end of the hike is a deep basin where hikers can rope swing or jump from rocks into the cool water pool.
this hike has some amazing views and offers a challenging hike along a lesser known river in barbados
After cooling off in the water, its a short climb out of the gully back to the road to ward Bathsheba. If you have time, stay to play in the iconic East Coast tidepools!
This is a kid-friendly hiking trail in Barbados. We hiked with an 8 and 9 year old. Be prepared with recommended hiking gear for kids.
Tips for Hiking The Maw:
Wear sturdy shoes with good grip for the slippery river bank rocks
Wear clothes you do not mind getting wet!
Dry Clothes and Towels to Leave in the Car
Keep your camera ready—there are plenty of photo ops.
This is such a fun hike with drastically different terrain
Chalky Mount and Picture Hole
For a couple of years I kept seeing people post about Picture Hole, but was nervous to find it myself. However, I eventually got the courage to save the trail map from AllTrails and find this spot! This is one of the most Instagramable spots in Barbados!
picture hole is an amzing spot that overlook sthe east coast
Before you get started, it’s worth noting that there are two routes for this hike. One route starts down near Barclay’s Park along the coast and climbs up to Picture Hole. The second route starts in a neighborhood and takes you through someone’s side yard. The second route is much shorter and less climbing. This is the route we took.
the views from picture hole and shots from the trail
If you are starting down by Barclay’s Park then you will climb up towards Sleeping Giant’s summit. This trail is 3.7 miles and difficult. Expect it to take 2 hours.
If you are starting in the neighborhood (Chalky Mount Village), then you will start along the ridgeline moving North. This trail is only about 1 mile and easy to moderate. Expect the entire thing (even with a stop at Picture Hole for a while) to take 1 hour.
Both trails converge at O.B.E. Keith Laurie’s Memorial before moving down to picture hole.
the trails converge at the sign with arrows.
Tips for Hiking Chalky Mount (Picture Hole):
Wear sturdy shoes with good grip. The ridgeline can be slippery.
Wear Sunscreen! A lot of the trail has no shade.
If starting at Chalky Mount Village, do not block the road with your car - park in the grassy driveway by the trashcans!
Keep your camera ready—there are plenty of photo ops!
Harp Gun
The Harp Gun, also known as the Barbados Supergun, is a massive, abandoned artillery piece tucked into the rugged cliffs of Barbados' east coast. It is one of the island’s most unique historical sites.
There are several guns at the harp gun site - take your time exploring all of these abandoned relics
The hike itself is is an easy to moderate hike. This is a kid friendly hike as we did it with 3 kids in tow. The start of the trail will vary with who is hiking. This route is the easiest trail to follow and is about 1.2-1.5 miles round trip. For this route, park along the road and hike down. The trail is unmarked, so check your map often.
However, we actually drove our car down to the red X on the map below and walked down to the Harp Gun. It was a very very easy - even with all of our walking around at the site, we only hiked 0.8 miles. The “hike” was actually along an established road right to the gun site.
If you see a flag flying, do not walk up to the gun. It backs up to a live fireing range. No flag was flying when we went. The trail down to the guns were super easy to walk and the ocean views were incredible.
While the Harp Gun itself is a fascinating relic of Cold War-era weapons development, the surrounding views of the Atlantic Ocean crashing into the cliffs make this hike just as much about the journey as the destination. This isn’t a heavily trafficked tourist trail, so you’ll often have the path — and the gun — all to yourself.
We hiked this with a two year old and our 8 and 9 year olds. I’ve got lots of recommendations if you’re looking for what to do in Barbados with Toddlers.
READ NEXT: Things to do in Barbados with Kids
Tips for Hiking to HARP Gun:
Wear sturdy shoes with good grip.
Wear Sunscreen! There is absolutely no shade.
Wear pants if you can, the grass is super tall and aggravating.
DO NOT enter the area if the “Live Fire” flag is flying.
Keep your camera ready—there are plenty of photo ops!
As a local expat who has lived here for almost 3 years, these are my favorite hikes in Barbados. Whether you’re an experienced trekker or simply someone who loves exploring the outdoors, Barbados offers an variety of hikes that showcase the island’s natural beauty, rich history, and rugged charm.
With the guidance of local experts like Wild Barbados, you can safely venture off the beaten path, uncovering hidden gems that most visitors never see. So lace up your hiking boots, pack plenty of water, and get ready to experience a whole different side of Barbados — one that goes far beyond the beaches and into the heart of the island’s untamed beauty.
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What to do in Barbados and Where to Eat in Barbados
Have you ever been to Barbados? What is your favorite place to visit on the island? Leave me a comment and let me know!
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