Surf, Kite, Foil, Repeat: South Coast Playground
Slightly Wilder on the Adventure Coast
When your plans depend on the wind and swell, it helps to stay close. Hotel Manyana puts Freights Bay within easy reach for surfing, and Silver Rock for kitesurfing, wing foiling and windsurfing.
Surfing at Freights Bay and South Point
Freights Bay is about 1.5 km along the coast from Hotel Manyana. It is known for its long left hand waves, which peel to the surfer’s left when riding towards shore. On smaller swells, the gentler faces give learners time to find their feet and longboarders room to settle into a ride. That changes with the swell. A bigger day brings more powerful waves, and the tide affects the depth over the uneven seabed. A spot that suited your first lesson yesterday may ask considerably more of you today.
It is also worth looking beyond your board occasionally. Turtles regularly surface in the bay.
If you are learning, Wave Rider offers group and private surf lessons, usually at Freights Bay, as well as surfboard hire. Ask the school which session will suit your ability and the day’s conditions; they take care of the rest, including hotel pick-up.
Barbados’ position in the Atlantic exposes it to swell from different directions. Experienced surfers will want to explore South Point near the lightho0use or make a trip to Soup Bowl at Bathsheba on the East Coast. South Point is a reef break near the lighthouse; Soup Bowl is a powerful right hand reef break known for its barrels. These call for more experience than a beginner session at Freights.
Kitesurfing at Silver Rock
Silver Rock Beach is a short walk from Hotel Manyana and one of Barbados’ main kitesurfing spots. Trade winds, and the reef break make this stretch of the South Coast a draw for riders who come back season after season for the wave riding.
Barbados Water Sports is based at Silver Rock and offers lessons and equipment hire. Some local schools also teach at nearby Long Beach, so check your meeting point when you book.
For beginners, an instructor should choose the right spot for your level and the conditions. Silver Rock and Long Beach can have shorebreak, chop and currents, which makes local advice particularly useful.
Wing foiling around Silver Sands and Welches
Silver Rock and the surrounding coastline are also part of Barbados’ wing foiling scene. Bow Bells offers rolling swell perfect for wingfoiling and parawinging.
For lessons, Wing Foil Barbados is based at Welches Beach, a short drive along the South Coast. The school offers tuition from beginner through to advanced level, making it an option whether you are starting from scratch or working on your turns.
Tell your instructor where you are up to before booking. Learning to handle a wing, getting onto the foil and riding waves call for different sessions and equipment.
When to plan your trip
The trade wind season at Silver Rock generally runs from November to June, making these the usual months to consider for a kitesurfing or wing foiling holiday. The off-season also offers good wind conditions, just not as consistently.
For surfing, Freights Bay often has good learning conditions during the winter surf season, broadly November to April. Surf lessons can run at other times of year too, with schools choosing their location around the swell.
Give yourself a few days and some flexibility with lesson times. The forecast gets a say in the itinerary.
Getting yourself and your gear around
Freights Bay and Silver Rock are both walkable from Hotel Manyana. With a board, kite bags or a foil to carry, a hire car becomes more appealing, particularly in the midday heat. A hire car is also useful if you want to explore other breaks during your stay. Our guide to hiring a car in Barbados covers the practicalities.
Grantley Adams International Airport is around 10 to 15 minutes from the hotel. If you are bringing your own equipment, tell your transfer provider what you are travelling with so there is enough room for it.
Somewhere to come back to
All suites have kitchenettes for an early coffee or a meal. Surfers Bay Beach Bar & Restaurant is right here for food and drinks, with live music several nights a week. After a day in the water, there is something to be said for cold ber and dinner being a short stroll from your room.
For days off, there is our oceanfront pool and Miami Beach, about 2.5 km away, which generally offers calmer swimming.
Take a look at Hotel Manyana’s rooms, or email hello@hotelmanyana.com if you would like help planning your stay.
Tomorrow can wait.