Speightstown, Barbados, is the commercial hub of St. Peter Parish. It was originally known as "Little Bristol." Old wooden buildings with overhanging galleries give this west-coast fishing village a dilapidated charm. Fruit vendors line the sidewalks, and there are shops, restaurants, art galleries and a boardwalk.
Speightstown's beaches have few amenities but offer good swimming. One spot is directly behind the main street, one near a coconut grove a short walk to the south, and two more are to the north of the town. The first of these northward beaches is a 10-minute walk from the town center. It is populated by hotel guests, then empties for a long, shadeless stretch. The other is favored by locals and takes about 20 minutes to get to on foot, but rewards you with excellent snorkeling around the man-made island at Port St. Charles.
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