Cool Down At Carlisle Bay
Centrally located in St. Michael on the south coast of the island, Carlisle Bay is a pretty crescent-shaped bay, popular with locals and visitors. The island’s capital city, Bridgetown, is situated on this bay and is a popular spot on the island for scuba diving, snorkeling with the ability to see an underwater shipwreck. Many relics, like anchors and cannonballs, from ships, can be found on the ocean floor in Carlisle Bay.
As with most of the south coast beaches, it’s an excellent place for swimming and has a long stretch of calm water for shallow dipping as well as deeper swimming.
Carlisle Bay is home to one of Barbados historic lighthouses, the Needham’s Point Lighthouse.
Beach Time In The Bay
With such a long stretch of sandy beach, Carlisle Bay is a popular workout spot for many Bajans in the early morning and sunset. In fact, the length of the beach at Carlisle Bay also spans both Brownes and Pebbles beaches.
It’s a great beach for a scenic walk (or run) along the sand, followed by a dip in the beautiful calm waters of the bay.
Carlisle Bay is also a perfect spot for a picnic, and you’ll find that many locals head to this beach on a Sunday for some family fun in the sun.
Carlisle Bay has a lot of action; however, you never feel overcrowded because of the beach’s length. Various beach vendors will gladly rent you a beach chair and umbrella for a reasonable price per day. In the evening, the beach gets a little fuller as locals head down to play beach tennis, participate in fitness and swimming groups, and kayak on the calmer waters here.
You can also go scuba diving or snorkeling at Carlisle Bay as human-made shipwrecks have been sunk to encourage marine life, making this an excellent diving spot.
And, there are plenty of water sports on offers like jet skis and boat rides to keep you entertained all day long.
Places of Interest
If you’re are looking to have some serious beach time while on your vacation, be sure to stop by Harbour Lights Beach Bar and Grill located right in the heart of Carlisle Bay. Especially as a cruise passenger, it’s is a wonderful picture-perfect way to spend your day in paradise.
“Harbour Lights” boasts a relaxed atmosphere with a fully stocked bar perfectly positioned on the beach deck. Why not stop by and quench your thirst after a hard day at the beach with an exotic cocktail or simple mix of local rum and coke?
You can enjoy a variety of great music while you savor the flavors of the local cuisine served up from the Beach Bar-B-Que Grill.
Beach chairs and umbrellas are also available to rent here for a nominal fee. For your convenience, there are freshwater showers, bathrooms, a pool table, and a Wi-fi internet connection for you to use at your leisure.
Another place at Carlisle Bay that’s worth a visit is the Boatyard. This is a great spot whether you’ve just stepped off a cruise, are here on vacation, or are even a local. Here, you’ll find some great facilities, all on offer at a package price. These include beach chairs and umbrellas, ocean trampoline, rope swing, darts board, beachside restaurant, a bar, and good music to ease you into the island vibes.
Want to know more? Visit www.theboatyard.com.
You’ll also find the beachfront restaurant Lobster Alive at Carlisle Bay. It’s open for both lunch and dinner and is known for being one of the best live jazz venues (on certain nights) on the island. For more information, please visit http://lobsteralive.net/.
If you’re looking for something a little more low key and grassroots, take a trip to Dee’s Bar, a small local bar located right on the beach at Carlisle Bay. Here, you’ll get a real taste of local life, and there’s even karaoke on certain evenings too!
Amenities
— Sun loungers and umbrellas for rent
— Easy access to food and drinks
— Beach bars
— Freshwater toilets, showers, and changing facilities
— Pool Table & Wi-Fi
— Excellent snorkeling and swimming with the turtles available
— Lifeguard
— Parking available
— Picnic tables
— Beach activities
— Water sports
Features
— Great swimming
— Disabled access
— Beach activities
Driving Directions
If you are coming from Bridgetown, head along the south coast road towards Oistins.
Follow this road straight out of town, and you will see Harbour Lights on your right-hand side.
Note: You don’t need to travel far; it should only take about 5 minutes driving.
Just past Harbour Lights, you’ll find ample parking available and the glistening sea just beckoning you to take a dip!
Tip: If driving isn’t an option, we suggest catching the number 11 ZR Van marked ‘to Silver Sands’ from the ‘van stand’ in Bridgetown. This van takes you all the way along the south coast road, and you can ask the driver to put you off at Carlisle Bay or Harbour Lights.
View the location of the beach on our Barbados Interactive Map.
By: Brett Callaghan
Last Modified: November 7th, 2020
Published: July 8th, 2018
Publisher: Totally Barbados
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