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The north of Barbados is the most rugged and least visited
part of the island, but nonetheless offers an excellent variety of
places to explore. The most popular target is the Barbados
Wildlife Reserve , home to hundreds of green monkeys and a host
of other animals; nearby, there's an old signal station and a nature
trail through the forest at Grenade Hall , while the lovely
park and desolate ruins at Farley Hill make a good place to
stop for a picnic. Just north of here there is a working sugar
mill at Morgan Lewis and a superb Jacobean Great House, St
Nicholas Abbey .
Getting There
Buses
run through the northern parishes from both Speightstown and
Bridgetown, though services are less regular than along the south
and west coasts. If you're planning on visiting more than one of the
main attractions - and you could comfortably see all of them in a
day - renting a car will make getting around a lot less hassle.
Green monkeys are the chief attraction at the Barbados
Wildlife Reserve (daily 10am-5pm; B$23, including access to
Grenade Hall), just off Highway 1 in the parish of St Peter and
directly accessible by bus from Speightstown or Bridgetown.
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The non-profit reserve was first established as the island's leading
centre for conservation of the monkeys, and - more controversially -
to look at the possibility of exporting them for medical research,
particularly the production and testing of vaccines. As the idea of
making it into a tourist attraction developed, other creatures were
gradually introduced, including brocket deer, otters, armadillos,
raccoons and caiman alligators, as well as plenty of caged parrots,
macaws and other fabulously colored tropical birds.
Paths meander through the lush mahogany woods and, in a
thirty-minute stroll, you'll see pretty much everything on offer,
including the aviary, fishponds and birdcages. Monkeys swarm freely
around the reserve in playful mood. The information centre ,
at the reserve's northeast corner, has excellent displays on the
monkeys.
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Caribbean guide
Barbados Travel Guide
Barbados guide
Barbados
Where to go
When to go
Getting there
Money and costs
Getting around
Food and drink
Phones, post
Brief history
Best of Barbados
Information, maps
Festivals, holidays
Sports, outdoor activities
Tours
Explore Barbados
-
Bridgetown
Eating, nightlife
Listings
Central Bridgetown
National Heroes Square
Old City
Central
Barbados
Explore Central Barbados
Flower Forest
Francia
Gun Hill
Harrison's Cave
Welchman Hall
Gully
East Coast
Explore East Coast
Andromeda Botanical Gardens
Bathsheba
Codrington College
St. John's Parish
Garrison
Hackletons Cliff & Scotland
Barbados Museum and
Gallery of Art
Savannah, Garrison area |
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