Beaches of Barbados in Photos: Heywoods Beach

Heywoods Beach

Generally, I’m a “save the best for last” type of person, but there’s still a lot of Barbados I have yet to explore. And while I haven’t been to every beach on the east and south coasts yet, it’s going to be hard for anything to top Heywoods Beach for me.

I have found that the further away from the airport you get, the quieter the beaches are. Since Heywoods Beach is about a 45 minute drive from Barbados’ only airport, it makes sense for it to be one of the quietest.

Just a few minutes walk north of Speightstown, you can find the long and picturesque stretch of sand. Entering from the south end, you’ll pass by what remains of the formerly well-known Almond Beach Resort. Luckily, there are plenty of trees and foliage hiding most of the abandoned site. But even if there weren’t, Heywoods Beach covers over half a mile of Barbados’ shoreline. The further north you walk, you’ll pass plenty of little coves. And with so much beach, it won’t be hard to find a spot to have all to yourself!

Swimming, Snorkeling & Watersports

Breakwater rocks enclose some of the sandy coves, sheltering them from waves. The calm waters and shallow reefs make Heywoods perfect for swimming and snorkeling.

There is nowhere to rent any sort of watersport equipment, so this won’t be the beach to find kayaks or paddleboards (unless you’re lucky enough to be staying in Port St. Charles). If you’re more in the mood to just relax on the beach, you can do so without worry of being hassled by any vendors.

Nearby Food & Drink

Situated at the north end of the Heywoods Beach is the exclusive Port St. Charles Resort, where you can find Pier One Restaurant. The restaurant is set on a man made island, overlooking the picturesque west coast of Barbados. There is a pool with a swim-up bar and they have a sun deck with lounge chairs that restaurant patrons can use at no additional charge. Or, you can dive in the ocean right from the deck or catch some rays and spot some sea turtles. It’s a perfect place to spend the day with a casual yet upscale (and still fairly affordable!) dining experience.

There are also a number of restaurants not too far away on the south end of the beach, back down the main strip of Speightstown.

Amenities

You’ll need to bring your own towel, snacks and any other amenities, as there are no public facilities along Heywoods Beach. There are two public parking areas and beach access points, one on the south side and one on the north, before the gated entry to Port St. Charles.

Other Highlights

Coming in from the south side, there is a pier that looks recently built. It has been roped off the entire time I’ve been here, but it’s not uncommon to see people hop over the rope and hang out at the end of it. It’s worth a quick stroll down to see a different perspective of Heywoods.

If I haven’t sold you yet, let the photos do the talking for this perfect, tropical paradise!

Thanks for stopping by!

If you enjoy my photos, please check out my shop for fine art photo prints from Barbados.

Planning a visit to Barbados?

Check out more of my photos and information about the beautiful Caribbean Island!

Would you visit Heywoods Beach?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!