Your Ultimate Guide To Barbados

Hastings

Hastings is a small village located on the South West Coast of Barbados in the parish of Christ Church, nestled between Brandons Beach, the Garrison Savannah, Bridgetown and Needham's Point Lighthouse to the west, and Worthing, St. Lawrence Gap and Oistins to the east.

The picturesque Hastings beach in Barbados has white sun streaked sandy beaches, swaying palms and an abundance of tropical fauna. One of Barbados' first tourist resorts during the eighteenth (18th) century, the Hastings area still maintains a sense of the past whilst embracing the twenty first (21st) century, the historic St. Anne's Fort standing comfortably in the company of the modern day surfers who come to Hastings to 'ride the waves'.

At one mile long, the recently built Brazilian hardwood South Coast Boardwalk traverses the seafront from Rockley to Hastings Rocks, and is the perfect place for an energetic jog, early morning walk, or after dinner stroll. The project included a renovation of Hastings Beach, the rocks there almost completely eroded by wind and waves, and swimming practically impossible. Since the development of the new beach, created from sand dredged during construction work at Bridgetown Port, and the introduction of several headlands and an offshore breakwater, visitors can now enjoy the beautiful expanse of beach and swim in the crystalline clear and luxuriously warm sea.

The sea at Hastings Beach is still very rocky though and with medium waves and considerable undertow caution is advised when swimming. There are no loungers or chairs for renting and no food or drink retail outlets on the beach. However, the nearby promenade possesses a number of facilities such as toilets, showers and a bandstand, the children's playground, a fast food outlet such as Kentucky Fried Chicken is located across the road and picnic benches and tables. Hastings Beach is indeed a lovely place to spend some time at.

One 'must-do' trip for tourists at Hastings is taking a one-day catamaran cruise, when you can snorkel, swim amongst and observe the diversity of underwater marine life, swim with the turtles, look at the intricately patterned coral reefs, and see shipwrecks that were integral in promoting the creation of artificial reefs. Alternatively, you could just enjoy the sumptuous Bajan lunch provided on the catamaran, then sit back, relax, take a nap, enjoy the feel of the warm sun caressing your skin, and listen to the gentle sea breezes and lapping of the waves.

Hastings Beach has several tidal pools, one being a natural formation of coral around a shallow opening which, over many years, residents wanting to create a better swimming spot cleared entirely by hand. The inshore reef and tidal pools at Hastings Beach also provide fishing grounds for Barbados' fishermen who catch fish for their families.

Another popular activity for all ages is collecting some of the many exquisite shells and pieces of coral that wash ashore at Hastings Beach in Barbados.

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