Welcome, Barbados, to the ever-expanding PlanNet! Barbados is an eastern Caribbean island in the Atlantic Ocean, and an independent British Commonwealth nation. Its capital is Bridgetown, in the parish of Saint Michael, a cruise ship port with beautiful colonial buildings. The island was formally settled by the British in 1627. After cotton crops did not survive, sugarcane was introduced from Dutch Brazil in 1640, completely transforming society and the economy. That economy has diversified into the manufacturing and tourism sectors.
The culture of Barbados is a blend of West African, Creole, Indian and British cultures. Citizens are officially called Barbadians. English is the official language. This sophisticated island’s west coast holds numerous deluxe resorts, and it and the interior highlands have several historical sites with picturesque views. You will also find amazing beaches, botanical gardens, the Harrison’s Cave formation, and 17th-century plantation houses like St. Nicholas Abbey. Local traditions include afternoon tea and cricket, the national sport. Welcome to the PlanNet!