"where de Sugar Come From" Plantation Tour
Duration: 4 hours
Tour Code: BDS-7258
Explore picturesque villages and plantations of Barbados during this scenic, half-day tour of the coast and countryside, and a special visit to the St. Nicholas Abbey. Depart the cruise terminal for a leisurely drive along the famous west coast of Barbados. Along the way, you will pass the charming seaside villages of Holetown and Speightstown.
Turning inland, your drive will continue through the Barbadian countryside and past sugar cane fields en route to St. Nicholas Abbey. Upon arrival, you will tour the elegant Jacobean mansion. Built in 1650, this home is one of only three of its kind in the Western Hemisphere and one of the Seven Wonders of Barbados. The plantation and its buildings have hardly changed in the 350 years of existence, thus preserving a wealth of history and traditions. After your tour of the house, you will be served a complimentary rum or fruit punch in the cozy courtyard.
Next, you will proceed for a visit to the Sugar and Rum Bond Museum. Here, you will find fancy brown sugar and molasses, and sample their famous Pepper Rum. You will also see a display of Bajan products, and the hand-bottling of a special blend of 2006 St. Nicholas Abbey in the old stables. During your visit, you may purchase a beautifully-engraved bottle of their Limited Edition Rum, which will be bottled right before your eyes. Afterward, you will view a brief old film depicting life on the plantation and in Bridgetown. Finally, you will take a tour of the Boiling House, where you will see a refurbished 19th-century steam-driven mill and an original mule cart.
Your tour will then continue on to the outskirts of St. Nicholas for a brief photo stop at Cherry Tree Hill. Located 850 feet above sea level, this viewpoint offers panoramic vistas over the Scotland District, which covers the parish of St. Andrew and was named after the Patron Saint of Scotland. You will then proceed with a scenic drive along the east coast to view the Atlantic Ocean's pounding surf, unusual rock formations from ancient coral reefs and a pristine 9-mile stretch of beach with whirlpools of foaming surf before turning inland again to cross the Island and return to the Harbour.