Christ Church Beaches and Water Sports

(Christ Church, Barbados)

The major attractions of Christ Church are without question its beaches, with the entire South Coast boasting excellent beaches, great for snorkelling, windsurfing and sunbathing. Particularly dry and sunny, beachgoers enjoy reliable year-round weather and good facilities.

Dover Beach in St. Lawrence Gap is one of the busiest in the Christ Church area and is lined with stalls selling snacks and beach gear. With a wide and spacious beachfront, Dover comes with an array of water sports, with popular choices including windsurfing, body boarding and sailing. Lifeguards are usually on hand to ensure water safety at all times.

General Information

Rockley Beach, on the coast of Christ Church, is another favourite spot with holiday makers and is often known as Accra Beach. Visitors to Rockley can expect palm trees, sun loungers, a good choice of kiosks and some notable snorkelling opportunities.

Enterprise Beach, frequently referred to as Miami, is another notable sandy spot in Christ Church and is very much favoured with the locals. Enjoying a sheltered setting and crystal clear waters, Enterprise Beach rarely has anything more than small waves.

If you are a keen windsurfer staying in Christ Church, then be sure to pay a visit to Silver Sands. This is widely considered to be the best place to windsurf on Barbados and windsurfing equipment is readily available for hire at the beachfront shop. Close to the coast, the reef often provides a pleasant break for windsurfers.

Protected by tall coral cliffs and fairly isolated, Bottom Bay has a definite tropical island feel, with this sandy beach being lined with mature coconut palms and featuring superb views of the south shore. However, bathing and swimming here is not recommended, since the waves can be strong.

Close to Christ Church and located within the parish of St. Philip, Crane Beach is an especially beautiful place and ranks amongst the world's most noteworthy beaches. Fronted by a historic cliff-top hotel, which dates back to 1867, Crane Beach earned its name since a large crane was once located here, being used to load and unload ships. The waves here are often ideal for body boarding, while there is also a small sheltered cove suitable for swimming.

Holiday makers should note that there are no actual nudist beaches in Barbados, and even topless sunbathing is considered to be illegal. All beaches in Barbados are open to the general public, even those located alongside hotels.