BEACH and BEYOND
Seeking sun-soaked adventure, Hattie Parish flew to the Caribbean for an alternative island escape
Turtly brilliant: the view while snorkelling
Think Barbados, think white sand, sun-bleached palms and jewel-toned rum cocktails.
But while the island does have these in spades, that’s only half the story. Step back through a verdant wilderness and you’ll discover a land that’s bursting with excitement, adventure and some pretty intense workouts.
On arrival, however, I’m wholly unaware of this. We’re greeted at Sugar Cane Club, a hotel and spa in the north west of the island, with strong rum punch and hugs all round – the friendliness of its people is something Barbados prides itself on. The hotel has the feeling of a retreat – green monkeys swarm the grounds in the early morning half-light, helping themselves to overripe mangoes, while the vast landscape is a playground for guided nature walks which culminate in satisfyingly noisy slurps from fresh coconuts, thanks to our guide and his trusty machete.