Enlightened Travelers

3 months ago

My wife and I had an amazing hiking experience with Enlightened Traveller in Barbados. Our guide Jabar, was very professional, pleasant and knowledgeable sharing his experience and great insights about the geology, plants and animals of the area. His pace matched our own and we never felt rushed or unsafe. We climbed Chalky mountain that exposed beautiful views of the eastern coast of the island. We also climbed other peaks to the Memorial cross and picture hole. This tour is a must for anyone with a sense of adventure! Thank you Jabar, you helped create memories that will last a lifetime!

a month ago

Looking for something to do on New Year’s Day, my dad and I reached out to Jabar in the morning and quickly had a full day itinerary put together for us. Immediately upon arrival we could tell Jabar was knowledgeable, friendly and had our safety and abilities in mind. We enjoyed incredible views of the east coast of the island and saw Scotland district in a new way as we ascended Chalky Mount and its adjacent peaks. Having been to the island many times, we easily say that our day with Jabar ranked among the best of things we have done and we will undoubtedly be coming back for more adventures with him. For hikers who want to see a rarely seen area of Barbados we highly recommend Janae’s services. Thank you so much!

3 weeks ago

My husband and I (physically fit & in our 70's) are regular visitors to Barbados (usually twice a year). We have travelled the island extensively by car /walking to visit various beaches, gardens, the east coast and cultural / historic sites. Each trip we like to re visit favourite spots and also try something new. I had recently seen Enlightened_Travelers reviews and started to follow Jabar on Instagram to gain a better understanding of his hikes and tours. Whenever we visited Cattlewash beach on past trips, we would look up at Chalky Mount and wonder if it was possible to find a trail and climb up to the peak. We had seen photos of the well-known "keyhole" view on tourist postings but thought we would need a guide. When we first contacted Jabar before arriving in Barbados he had suggestions for our hike and we messaged back and forth in terms of dates, times and payment method. His tours are completely tailored to his client's abilities and interests. He was very flexible regarding our preferences. He also checked in a few times using WhatsApp in advance of our hike as a reminder and to keep in touch. Excellent communication. When our rental car was late in being delivered on the day of our tour, we let Jabar know we would be a little late. He was flexible and most understanding. As we started our hike, we happened to meet a 3rd generation potter Jabar knew. Seph, the potter, spent time chatting with us and explaining the process of making pottery with the materials found on Chalky Mount. The encounter was completely unplanned but added something special to our adventure, due to Jabar's knowledge of this area of Barbados where he grew up and continues to live with his family. We learned so much about the geology and history of the area as we made our way up Chalky Mount to the peak. Jabar took time to show us some of the varied rock specimens unique to the area (limestone, sandstone, coral, iron, shale, white sand). We really enjoyed our conversations as Jabar guided us up Chalky Mount, always checking to make sure we were OK. In certain areas there were ropes to help us on the steeper parts of the trail. The views were spectacular and the breezes like natural air conditioning in spite of us being there at the hottest time of the day. We brought water and snacks with us. When it was time to make our descent, Jabar asked if we would like to take a different route back that would involve a bit of a greenery "tunnel" effect. We decided we would try it and were glad of a different experience on our way down. Jabar described our hike as a "stop and stare" with places to rest and meditate and take photos. We admire the way he encourages people on his adventures to "be in the moment". There is no sense of "rushing" to finish or check off items on a list. Jabar also took photos and videos for us and kindly sent us a reel later to share with family and friends. The hike was a highlight of our trip to Barbados and I think it will be a regular outing with different hikes and tours in subsequent trips. We admire Jabar's ability to customize tours for individuals or groups and especially his passion for sharing his knowledge and love of his country with both tourists and fellow Bajans. We were so happy to support a small business like Enlightened_Travellers and encourage others to contact him and plan their own unique adventure.

4 months ago

Hiking Chalky Mount was one of the highlights of my Barbados trip — raw, scenic, and full of local flavor. The terrain is rugged and earthy, with panoramic views over the island’s stunning east coast. Definitely not your average ‘beach vacation’ experience — and that’s what makes it so special. Massive shoutout to our guide, Jabar, who made the hike even more memorable. Super knowledgeable, passionate about the land, and clearly connected to the culture and history of the area. He didn’t just lead me — he brought the whole place to life. 10/10 would recommend booking a tour with him if you want the real Barbados, beyond the resorts

a month ago

We were soooo happy to have spent the morning on a beautiful hike with Jabar. A true highlight during our visit. He was an absolute pleasure to work with from the point of first contact all the way to his encouragement and guidance through the trail. Jabar is very knowledgeable on all things Barbados. We highly recommend booking a hike/tour with him and know we will on a next visit!!