A visit to Andromeda Botanical Gardens

There are several botanical gardens on the island that are often recommended as must-sees if you have the time. We mentioned Codrington College in a previous article. Today we take you on a tour of Andromeda Garden, known locally as Andromeda Botanic Garden.

We knew there were several gardens to visit. Of the top three, this is number two, and it wasn’t too far from where we were staying. When we arrived on the island, this was the first garden we explored.

Of course, it often depends on what you’ve already seen, where you live and so on. As residents of the island of Guadeloupe, we have two magnificent botanical gardens spread over several acres. Obviously, Barbados doesn’t really compete. But it’s definitely one of the must-sees during your stay if you’re just passing through and have decided to spend some time relaxing with the family.

Let’s have a look at this garden in the meantime!

Meanwhile, check out our article on things to do in Barbados.

We arrived when it opened at 10am, which, let’s be honest, is quite late for the islands. Although we weren’t expecting anything out of the ordinary compared to what we already knew, the feedback on the garden was quite positive. The garden covers an area of 3.2 hectares. It was created in 1954 by Iris Bannochie, a well-known figure on the island.

The reception on our arrival was excellent and we were the first ones in. The person who greeted us explained to us how to use an application that was dedicated to the garden. It allowed us to scan barcodes during our visit. We could also find out more about the wildlife in the garden.

In the early hours of the morning, after crossing a small bridge, we entered the garden. The children are eager to go for a walk, so it’s off to the races! I must say that Mélanie and I were pleasantly surprised because it’s really well laid out, it’s not bad! There are some impressive trees in the first part of the garden. It’s also full of flowers. You can learn a lot by reading the application you follow along the way.

In the end, we discovered quite a few trees that we didn’t even know existed in the gardens here in Guadeloupe. So it’s really interesting. You don’t have to worry about walking in the park as the whole area is very well paved.

There are some really nice little passages. One of them is where you go under huge vines! The kids love it! Again, it’s up to you. But for those of us who love photography, it’s a bit of paradise. There are flowers all over the place, from Bellevue to pineapples and water lilies.

Finally, through many different areas of the garden winds the paved path. Sometimes you’ll see trees, sometimes flowers or fruit trees. All in all, it’s a very varied place!

It’s not as flat as you might think. We spent two hours there as a family and, frankly, we had a great time.

At the end of our visit we had a delicious fresh juice in the garden. It was perfect. We then had lunch at the beautiful Bathsheba beach. The beach was very nice, even though the sargassum was there during our stay on the east coast…

All in all, it’s a very nice garden. It is well worth a visit.

If you’re thinking of visiting, here’s some practical information to bear in mind…

Our entrance fee was $30 per adult and there was no charge for children. The garden was open from 9.30am to 4.30pm on the day we visited. There is no need to book. It’s not a tourist attraction, haha!

It depends on where you start, of course. We’re in the county of Saint Joseph, in the southeast of the island. From the capital, Bridgetown, it takes about 30 minutes and 20 km. See the itinerary here.

We’ve had some very positive comments. Here are three options if you want to stay close to the garden:

• Rest Haven Beach Cottages: small, well-appointed cottages by the sea, on the edge of the famous Bathsheba Beach.
• The Atlantis Historic Inn: a landmark in the area, a little more upscale but with an established reputation.
• Santosha Barbados: a little further out, in St Andrew. We came away from this hotel with a beautiful room, great views and an excellent swimming pool.

If you’re in the area, here are a few ideas:

• Swim at Cattlewash or Bathsheba beach.
• In the far north, Animal Flower Cave!
• Visit Codrington College.
• Explore St John’s Church.
• Explore another local garden, Hunte’s Garden.

See you soon.

Written by Sylvain PONS

I had the opportunity to go on a 2-week family holiday to discover the island of Barbados, which is just a stone's throw away from Guadeloupe, where we live. Here are a few stories about the time we spent there!

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