Visiting Carlisle Bay in Barbados: A Complete Guide to The Boatyard Beach Club
If you’ve been dreaming of never ending white sand beaches and the clearest turquoise waters, look no further than Carlisle Bay, nestled along the west coast of Barbados. Carlisle Bay is famous for its sun, sea, sand, snorkeling and shipwrecks.
There are multiple designated beach areas located within the Bay. We spent the day at Boatyard Beach specifically and also visited Brownes Beach.
This was just one stop of my 3-day trip to Barbados. Check out my full itinerary here and take a peak at all of the stops mapped below.
Brownes Beach
Brownes Beach is one of the largest beaches in Barbados. Stretching from the Boatyard in the north to Needham’s Point in the south. The waters here are very calm making it ideal for swimming and sea bathing. A lifeguard is on duty at the beach.
It felt a lot like Store Bay in Tobago – bright, busy, full of energy and lined with local vendors. The first vendor that approached me was offering a glass bottom boat tour with free rum punch. That’s one way to convince a rum lover (although I did decline).
We visited this beach briefly in the morning but opted to head over to the Boatyard for the day – keep reading to find out more!
While leaving the Boatyard at the end of the day, we hit brutal traffic and decided to pull back into Brownes Beach to take in the last bit of sunset. We hoped traffic would ease up in the meantime (it did only a bit). One thing I was really not prepared for in Barbados was the amount of time we would spend in traffic.
The Boatyard
A day at The Boatyard is a must-do on your Barbados vacation!
The Boatyard Packages
They offer different beach packages catering to locals, on island non-residents (aka us), cruise ship passengers and crew members.
We paid $40 US each for entry which included the use of all onsite amenities as well as $20 US per person Bar & Restaurant credits. Amenities include: a 45 minute shipwreck and snorkel tour (subject to sea conditions), chairs and umbrellas, ocean trampoline, dive platform, iceberg, free fall Xtreme, rope swing, beach volleyball, fresh water showers, restrooms and changing facilities, sports TVs and free Wi-Fi. Basically, you are getting your moneys worth!
Note: photo ID is required upon entry. Patrons must be 18 years old or must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
The Gap: On Site Restaurant and Bar
We arrived during happy hour (2-for-1 drinks) and ordered rum punch—only to laugh at how much stronger rum punch is in Tobago compared to Barbados.
The bartenders are very quick to serve you. You can then take your drinks to the sea-side deck area (partially covered) or enjoy from your beach chair on the white sandy beach.
How Food Works at The Boatyard
Their restaurant system is organized and efficient. They will provide instructions on this over the loud speaker at least once per hour. But here is how it works:
- You place your order at the bar.
- They warn you the wait is about 45 minutes so place your order BEFORE hunger hits.
- You return to your lounger or wherever you were sitting.
- When your food is ready, they call your name over the loudspeaker to go and collect it from the bar.
No hovering. No crowding the bar. No checking every five minutes. The system worked well. I thought this is something that Anchor Bar here in Tobago should implement.
Lunch at The Gap
We ordered a Bajan classic for lunch: fish cakes. You can’t leave Barbados without trying these.
We also got an order of chicken fingers and fries. Our restaurant credits covered the cost of lunch which was fantastic.
Keep an eye on your food and don’t leave it unattended. There are lots of birds patrolling the beach area and I witnessed a pack of them eating a family’s lunch who left it alone. Don’t be those people…
Dinner at The Gap
After a relaxing beach day, we decided to order dinner as well instead of going out somewhere else. It kept things simple and was cheaper than a dine-in restaurant!
For dinner we ordered chicken wings, fried fish, mac pie and coleslaw. Macaroni pie is another Bajan classic. As a mac pie lover, it was a happy surprise to learn that it is found on most restaurant menus. I find Barbados mac pie to be on the sweeter side and must admit I do favour Trini mac pie.
Get Your Seat!
Seating here is first come first serve. I noticed that most of the first row of loungers had been “reserved” by people leaving a towel on it. We were in the second row and still had an incredible time. You are on a Barbados beach after all… so no “bad” spot exists.
Important note: bring your own towels!
Snorkel and Shipwreck Tours
Upon arriving at The Boatyard you are required to reserve your tour time (which is already included in the price of admission). The Boatyard makes an announcement over the loud speaker each time a new group is boarding and calls out each name. If you miss your tour, there is no guarantee that they will have space to fit you on a later tour.
They pack each boat pretty tight. You are required to wear a life jacket at all times and you can’t bring any belongings on the boat.
The shipwreck and snorkel tours last 45 minutes. They operate on a first come, first serve basis. So make sure you reserve a spot early in the day if Barbados is busy and you really want to do this.
The weather conditions worsened on the day we visited and all tours were cancelled. I wasn’t too disappointed as I think a private boat tour is more my style.
Swimming & Water Conditions
Swimming at Carlisle Bay was incredible. The water is calm, shallow, and crystal clear, with plenty of space to spread out. We brought our own snorkel gear and saw a variety of fish near the shoreline. It’s an easy beach for swimming, floating, and relaxing.
There are multiple water activities you can enjoy for a bit more action – such as going down the inflatable slide or jumping on the trampoline (pictured below to the far right).
Who Should Visit The Boatyard
If you are visiting Barbados and staying somewhere inland, a day at the Boatyard can give you a similar experience to a resort. Easy access to all of the amenities you need during a beach day on an amazing waterfront.
Or if you are looking for a lively beach day full of loud music, fun, high energy, kids, and so on, then again this checks the box. It is very family friendly and majority of the groups when we visited included children.
Who Should Not Visit The Boatyard
If you are seeking…
- A high end, luxuruious beach club experience,
- A quiet, peaceful and relaxing day at the beach, or
- An adults only environment.
…then this isn’t the spot for you.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Open 365 days a year (9am to 6pm; last order at 5:30pm).
- They do sell out; especially on cruise ship days — arrive early.
- Parking nearby is limited. We managed to get the last available parking space.
- It is a very busy atmosphere — constant loudspeaker calls, loud music, lots of people, etc.
- Bring reef-safe sunscreen.
- You can easily walk from here to other parts of Carlisle Bay if you want to explore.
- Family-friendly but it does lean lively by the late afternoon.
- The sunsets are beautiful.
A Day Well Spent
Carlisle Bay is beautiful – rain or shine. Overall, I had a great experience at The Boatyard and felt the price was fair given the value I received. I was able to relax on a lounger all day long, take the occasional dip to cool down and then go back to reading on my lounger. All of the amenities were easy to access and the limited restaurant menu made it easy to decide what to eat.
The next time I visit Barbados, I plan to explore more of the beaches located in Carlisle Bay such as Pebbles Beach (where you can see the horses early in the morning, it sounds very similar to Healing with Horses here in Buccoo, Tobago).
