Updated in October 2026, this Barbados Wildlife Reserve guide covers ticket prices, opening hours, parking or transport, accessibility and what to see.
The Barbados Wildlife Reserve is a walk-through reserve in a mahogany wood at Farley Hill in the northern parish of St Peter. A single ticket also covers the adjoining Grenade Hall Forest and Signal Station, and the green monkeys are fed twice a day. This guide was last updated in October 2026 and confirms the current opening hours, the feeding times and the admission prices.
Quick facts: the Barbados Wildlife Reserve
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | 10am to 5pm daily. Last entrance at 4pm. |
| Ticket prices | Adult US$15 ($30 BBD). Child US$7.50 ($15 BBD). Includes Grenade Hall Forest and Signal Station. |
| Address | Farley Hill, St Peter, Barbados |
| Nearest transport or parking | Free car park between the Reserve and Grenade Hall Forest. Best reached by car or tour. |
| Typical time needed | About 1 to 2 hours |
Barbados Wildlife Reserve opening hours
The Reserve is open every day from 10am to 5pm. The last entrance is at 4pm. The hours are the same all year, and there are no seasonal changes.
The monkeys are fed twice a day, at 11am and 2pm. The 2pm feeding is at the Reserve and the 11am feeding is at Grenade Hall Forest. A bar and café is on site.
Phone the Reserve on +1 (246) 422-8826 to check the hours before you travel.
Barbados Wildlife Reserve ticket prices
An adult ticket to the Barbados Wildlife Reserve costs US$15, which is about $30 BBD. Barbados dollars are fixed at two to one against the US dollar. Pay by cash or card.
- Adult: US$15, or $30 BBD.
- Child: US$7.50, or $15 BBD.
- Grenade Hall Forest and Signal Station: included in the same ticket.
- Booking: tickets are bought on arrival, and advance booking is usually not needed unless you join a large group tour.
The entrance fee helps to pay for the upkeep of the animals. Opening hours and ticket prices were checked on the official website and last updated in October 2026.
5 great Barbados experiences to book
- 🏝️ See all the island highlights including Bathsheba Beach and Bottom Bay on the full day, round-island tour.
- 🐢 Snorkel with turtles on a catamaran cruise including lunch and open bar.
- 🌿 Take a half day adventure including Harrison’s Cave, Hunte’s Gardens and Bathsheba Beach.
- 🏛️ Pack in Barbados’ key heritage sites on a Bridgetown walking tour.
- 🐒 Enjoy a small-group monkey-feeding experience at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve.
How to get to the Barbados Wildlife Reserve
The Reserve is at Farley Hill in St Peter, across the road from Farley Hill National Park. From the south coast, allow about 45 to 50 minutes’ drive.
- By car: follow the signs to the Barbados Wildlife Reserve. From Speightstown, drive for about five minutes towards Benny Hall.
- By tour: many island tours include a stop at the Reserve, and some combine it with Welchman Hall Gully or Farley Hill National Park.
- By bus or taxi: public transport to Farley Hill is limited. A taxi from Speightstown or Holetown is a practical option.
Parking at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve
Free parking is available in the car park between the Wildlife Reserve and Grenade Hall Forest. It serves both attractions.
Visitors who want to see the monkeys at both feeding times can leave the car in the same place. The two sites are linked, and one ticket covers both.
How long to spend at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve
Plan about 1 to 2 hours for the Reserve at a relaxed pace. The Reserve covers about 1.6 hectares (four acres), and the walk is self-guided.
Add time for Grenade Hall Forest and Signal Station, which has more than two kilometres of trails. Plan around the feeding times. Monkeys that leave the Reserve in the morning usually return by the afternoon feeding, so the best time to see many of them is between 2pm and 3pm, when dozens come through the trees to the feeding area.
Accessibility at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve
The Reserve is a self-guided walk on red brick paths through a shady wood. Visitors walk freely among the animals, and some animals, such as tortoises, can be on the path. Watch your step.
Wear comfortable shoes with a good grip. Phone the Reserve on +1 (246) 422-8826 if you need help with access, because the site is a forest with slopes.
The monkeys are free to roam. They are generally not aggressive, but take care during feeding times.
What to see at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve
The Reserve is a 1.6-hectare (four-acre) walk-through reserve carved out of a mahogany forest. Few animals are in cages, and visitors watch them eat, play and interact.
The Barbados green monkeys are the main attraction. The troop at the Reserve is free to leave, and many monkeys roam during the day and return for the afternoon feeding. At feeding time, staff put out fruit and grains. Some monkeys eat while standing on the backs of giant tortoises.
The walk-through aviary has parrots, macaws and love birds. Ducks, geese and peacocks roam the paths, and flamingos and pelicans are also kept.
Reptile lovers can see snakes, iguanas, turtles and tortoises. The snakes are in cages, and they like to sleep under the banana leaves, so look carefully.
Non-native animals include brocket deer, agouti, caiman, armadillos and rabbits. Most animals move quietly, so it is easy to miss the deer and peacocks if you are not paying attention.
Barbados green monkeys came from West Africa more than 300 years ago and live all over the island. The Reserve’s troop numbers about 45. The Barbados Primate Research Centre, set up by Jean Baulu, was founded at a time when farmers saw green monkeys as crop pests.
Grenade Hall Forest and Signal Station is next door and included in the same ticket. It has more than two kilometres of trails through tropical forest, where monkeys swing through the trees. The restored signal station gives views across the island, and displays of historical artefacts show Barbados’s heritage.
Practical visitor tips
| Topic | Tip |
|---|---|
| Timing | Arrive for the 2pm feeding, when many monkeys return. Last entrance is at 4pm. |
| Crowds | Arrive early in peak season for quieter paths and active animals. |
| Layout | The Reserve and Grenade Hall Forest and Signal Station are next to each other and share a car park. |
| Entry process | Pay on arrival by cash or card. One ticket covers both sites. |
| On-site logistics | Wear comfortable shoes. Do not feed the wild monkeys outside the feeding areas. A bar and café is on site. |
Frequently asked questions about the Barbados Wildlife Reserve
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is the Barbados Wildlife Reserve suitable for children? | Yes. Children pay US$7.50, and the Reserve has monkeys, tortoises, peacocks and a walk-through aviary. |
| Do you need to book tickets in advance for the Barbados Wildlife Reserve? | No. Buy tickets on arrival. Large groups should book ahead. |
| Is the Barbados Wildlife Reserve open on Sundays? | Yes. It is open every day from 10am to 5pm. Last entrance is at 4pm. |
| What time are the monkeys fed at the Barbados Wildlife Reserve? | 11am and 2pm each day. The 2pm feeding is at the Reserve. |
| Does the ticket include Grenade Hall Forest and Signal Station? | Yes. One ticket covers both the Reserve and the adjoining Grenade Hall site. |
Things to do near the Barbados Wildlife Reserve
- Animal Flower Cave: a sea cave at North Point in St Lucy, at the northern tip of Barbados, about 25 minutes’ drive from the Reserve through Speightstown.
- Hunte’s Gardens: a tropical garden in a sinkhole at Castle Grant in St Joseph, in the central hills, about 30 minutes’ drive from the Reserve.
- Welchman Hall Gully: a collapsed cave planted with tropical forest in St Thomas, where wild green monkeys live, about 30 minutes’ drive from the Reserve.
- Flower Forest Botanical Gardens: a 20-hectare hillside garden in the central hills, about 30 minutes’ drive from the Reserve.
- Bathsheba Beach: a rocky Atlantic beach on the east coast, about 35 minutes’ drive from the Reserve and known for its large rock formations and strong surf.
Alternative attractions
- Farley Hill National Park: a green park of mature trees across the road from the Reserve.
- Grenade Hall Forest and Signal Station: the adjoining forest with over two kilometres of trails and a restored signal station with views.
- St Nicholas Abbey: a historic plantation house in the north of the island.
- Cherry Tree Hill: a lookout over the east coast in the north of the island.
- Morgan Lewis Sugar Mill: a restored sugar mill in the north of the island.
More Barbados travel
Other Barbados travel guides on Planet Whitley include:
- Plan a visit to the Andromeda Botanic Gardens in Barbados.
- How to get to the Gun Hill Signal Station in Barbados.
- Guide to the Barbados Museum in Bridgetown.
- See where the first US president stayed at George Washington House in Bridgetown.
- Taste top Caribbean rums at the Mount Gay Rum Visitor Centre.
