Travel Eye on Antigua (Antigua & Barbuda, Caribbean)

Write a review or view peoples experiences in Antigua.	Hotels in Antigua.	Flights to Caribbean.	Car Hire/Rental	Tickets & Attractions in Antigua

Want to contribute to the writings of this travel guide? If so, Click here

Overview:

Best known for its 365 sparkling powder beaches (one for each day of the year), but there is so much more to do in Antigua. An almost unbroken wall of coral reef provides a fantastic underwater world of marine life to discover. The constant trade winds and wealth of hidden bays and inlets make this island a sailing paradise and a visit to the tiny neighbouring island of Barbuda with its pristine, undeveloped beaches and unique bird life is imperative. Unlike some lusher neighbouring islands, the inland scenery is undramatic and quite flat, with only the SW being hilly. The island owes its relatively sparse greenery to deforestation during the sugar boom of the 18th century; in fact, over 100 stone mills from that wealthy period still dot the landscape. The capital St John's is a small town built on a grid system beside a harbour, and contains an impressive cathedral and a famous cricket ground. Cruise ships regularly dock here, dwarfing the capital and transforming the ordinarily quiet quayside into a colourful, vibrant market. English Harbour on the S coast contains the historic Nelson's Dockyard, a quaint little naval centre with inns and nautical buildings, many of which date from the 18th century when this was an important base for the British navy. Neighbouring Falmouth Harbour is a small, relaxed village of informal restaurants and shops. Shirley Heights has the remains of substantial fortifications and provides a lookout point with fine views over the S coast. The tourist complex at Jolly Harbour in the W is a modern, self-contained village with shops, restaurants, villas and a golf course, all set around a marina filled with expensive yachts.

Locality:

Situated in the east Caribbean, at the E edge of the Leeward Islands, of which it is the largest. Almost completely surrounded by reef. Antigua is 25 mls S of its sister island Barbuda. 55 mls E of St Kitts. International airport is 4 mls E of the capital, St John's.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Generally Antigua is suited to more affluent families and well-off Americans; popular wedding destination. The accommodation here is amongst the most expensive of Caribbean destinations, with even basic accommodation pricey. Antigua is not for those seeking stunning scenery, culture or anything more than a good tan and organised entertainment, although the beaches are Antigua's main selling point, with mls of white, sometimes gritty, sand. With few exceptions, all hotels have beachside locations although, in terms of quality, some are better than others. Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay on the NW coast are the island's busiest, with Dickenson offering a wide range of water sports. The most convenient beaches for St John's are Fort James and Deep Bay; surfers go for Galley Bay and there's a naturist beach at Hawksbill. Beaches on the SW coast are generally less developed, although the Caribbean Sea on this side of the island is gentler and more suitable for water sports than the rougher Atlantic coast to the E. There are good family beaches on the E coast (Half Moon Bay and Long Bay), which is protected by reefs.

Popular entertainment and attractions are generally centred around abundant water sports including windsurfing, water-skiing, parasailing, jet-skis, pedalloes, catamarans and small sailboats; snorkelling and scuba-diving (several schools on the island). Other attractions involve golf; cricket; horse riding; kayaking; yacht charter; hiking to the island's many hilltop fortifications, including Lookout Trail up to Shirley Heights; bird-watching; swimming with dolphins at Marina Bay. Free concerts (often with steel bands) on Sun afternoon and evening at Shirley Heights. In April/May Antigua Sailing Week draws racing yachts from all over world to English Harbour. Vibrant, colourful summer carnival (late July) around St John's.