Discover Barbados | New Experiences in 2025
As Latin Americans search for their next vacation destination, Barbados unveils a wave of exciting attractions, events, and new openings for 2025, inviting travelers to experience the island’s vibrant culture, pristine landscapes, and world-class hospitality. With new wellness offerings, greater air connectivity, luxury accommodations, and unique cultural experiences, Barbados is ready to deliver unforgettable getaways for those eager to discover this Caribbean treasure.
Text and Photos by: Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.
Center of the English-speaking Caribbean
Latin America continues to grow as a key market for Barbados, with increasing demand from Venezuela, Brazil, Panama, Colombia, and Mexico. Recognizing the diversity of traveler profiles in the region, from high-net-worth individuals to an expanding middle class, Barbados is strategically positioning itself as the leading travel hub of the English-speaking Caribbean, offering easy access to the region and an unmatched combination of natural beauty, rich culture, and modern infrastructure.
Since 2018, Barbados has expanded its air connectivity to create a seamless travel experience for Latin American visitors. In the past year, the island recorded an increase of more than 30 percent in arrivals from Central and South America, underscoring its growing appeal.
Copa Airlines remains a key player, offering four weekly flights through its hub in Panama, making the island accessible from Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and other emerging LATAM markets. American Airlines also offers daily flights via Miami, ensuring multiple convenient routes to reach the island.
Visa-free entry for most Latin American countries makes the travel experience even simpler.
New Hotels and Resorts in 2025
Barbados is expanding its hotel offerings with several notable additions:
- The Blue Monkey Hotel and Beach Club: inaugurated in May 2025 in Paynes Bay, this boutique hotel offers one- and two-bedroom suites, some with private pools, for a luxurious yet intimate stay.
- Hotel Indigo Barbados: scheduled to open in 2026, it will feature 132 stylish rooms, a rooftop bar, a restaurant, and a gym, blending contemporary design with island charm.
- Royalton Barbados: an adults-only all-inclusive resort, set to open in late 2026, offering elevated luxury and personalized service.
- Pendry Barbados: also scheduled to open in late 2026, it will feature oceanfront suites, butler service, and first-class amenities.
In addition, Marriott is renovating several of its properties: The House will reopen in 2025 as an all-inclusive boutique retreat; Treasure Beach will relaunch in December 2025 after major renovations; and Waves Hotel & Spa has upgraded its facilities, including a new oceanfront restaurant concept.
Featured Experiences: From Wellness to Adventure
A Wellness Paradise
The serene beaches of Barbados, its gentle breeze, and golden sunsets make it the ideal wellness destination. The growing offerings include beach yoga, paddleboard yoga, spa retreats, meditation centers, and boutique resorts specializing in wellness.
The Run Barbados Marathon & Wellness Weekend (December 5–7, 2025) combines the island’s oldest and largest marathon with rejuvenating experiences, from sunrise yoga to nutrition workshops, creating a festival of health, exercise, and Caribbean fun.
Thrilling Adventures
Outdoor enthusiasts can explore Barbados by enjoying:
- Snorkeling and diving in crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life.
- Surfing world-class waves such as the Soup Bowl in Bathsheba.
- Off-road safaris through rugged landscapes.
- Geological exploration in wonders such as Harrison’s Cave and Animal Flower Cave.
With warm seas and abundant natural beauty, Barbados is perfect both for adrenaline seekers and for those who simply want to enjoy the scenery.
Cultural and Natural Treasures
- We Gatherin’ 2025: a year-long cultural gathering in which each parish hosts themed events, culminating in a grand celebration from November 30 to December 31.
- Crop Over Festival (July 1 to August 4): Barbados’ biggest cultural celebration, with music, costumes, and parades full of joy.
- Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary: a restored sanctuary that invites visitors to discover the island’s diverse wildlife and lush tropical vegetation.
- Reopening of the Nature Sanctuary: a renewed refuge that offers travelers the opportunity to experience Barbados’ wildlife and tropical landscapes in a peaceful and sustainable setting.
- Holetown Festival: a commemoration of the arrival of the first settlers, featuring cultural performances, parades, and local crafts.
A Night at the Top of the Country
A Culinary Destination of Global Flavors
Barbados proudly holds the title of Culinary Capital of the Caribbean, with a gastronomic offering that ranges from beachfront grills serving fresh catch to gourmet restaurants with international flavors. Local dishes include flying fish, cou-cou, plantain, Caribbean curries, and breadfruit, a staple of the island.
As the birthplace of rum, Barbados invites visitors to explore historic distilleries such as Mount Gay, which has been producing the world’s oldest rum since 1703.
New Culinary Offerings:
- Bali Barbados: a beachfront restaurant on Pebbles Beach that fuses Indonesian cuisine with a Caribbean twist.
- Sawubona: a 100% gluten-free restaurant in St. Thomas, ideal for travelers seeking healthy options.
- Madison Bistro: a fusion of Bajan flavors with Southern U.S. cuisine, bringing an innovative twist to Caribbean gastronomy.
More About Barbados
The island of Barbados is a Caribbean gem rich in cultural, heritage, sports, culinary, and ecological experiences. It is surrounded by idyllic white-sand beaches and is the only coral island in the Caribbean. With more than four hundred restaurants, Barbados is the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean. It is also recognized as the birthplace of rum, producing and bottling since the 18th century. Its historic rums can be enjoyed at the Barbados Food and Rum Festival.
The island hosts the Crop Over Festival, where celebrities like Rihanna often appear, and the Run Barbados Marathon, the largest marathon in the Caribbean. It is also the epicenter of motorsports in the region, with the leading racetrack in the English-speaking Caribbean. Recognized as a sustainable destination, it was named one of the Top Nature Destinations in 2022 by the Traveler’s Choice Awards and won the Green Destinations Story Award in 2023.
Accommodation options range from private villas and boutique hotels to international luxury chains and five-diamond resorts. Getting there is easy thanks to Grantley Adams International Airport, which offers flights from multiple Caribbean and Latin American cities. Barbados is also a prominent port of call for cruises and luxury yachts.
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