The closest island neighbours to Barbados are Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the west, Grenada to the south-west, and Trinidad and Tobago to the south which Barbados now shares a fixed official maritime boundary with.

Barbados has one of the highest standards of living and literacy rates in the developing world. Despite its small geographical size, Barbados constantly ranks in the top 30 countries in the Human Development Index (HDI) rankings. It is currently ranked third in the Americas. The island is also a major tourist destination.

Barbados' total land-area is about 430 square kilometres, (166 square miles), and is primarily low-lying, with some higher regions in the island's interior. The organic composition of Barbados is thought to be of non-volcanic origin and is predominantly composed of limestone coral. The island's atmosphere is tropical with constant trade winds off the Atlantic Ocean serving to keep temperatures mild. Some more undeveloped areas of the country contain woodland and scrubland. Other parts of the island's interior which contribute to the agriculture industry, are dotted with large sugarcane estates and wide gently sloping pastures with many good views down to the sea coast.

Barbados is a relatively flat island with an abundant supply of large gradually sloping beaches fringing the land.

In some areas, notably the North, coral and sandstone cliffs rise straight out of the sea reaching several hundred feet in height. In the South West, cliffs of 50 to 100 feet rise and fall along the coast, separated by small sandy beaches and bays.

On the flatter South West and West coasts, you may walk for miles along unbroken white sand beaches, sometimes stopping at a cluster of coral rocks jutting out to sea. All along the shore large and small beaches are broken by coral formations, the soft coral rocks weathered by the ocean surf, forming abstract sculptures to an artist's eye.

Barbados beaches are truly some of the most beautiful in the Caribbean, in fact the beach at The Crane was rated "one of the ten best beaches in the world" by Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

It's an all day beach bash at The Boatyard! Relax on a beach chair under the umbrellas or indulge in some of the many watersports available including snorkeling, scuba diving, beach volleyball, kayaks, pedal boats and ocean trampolines!