Relax and unwind, Antigua is the ideal destination for chilling out, exploring the many beaches and taking in the wonderful world below sea level. The largest English speaking Island in the Eastern Caribbean, it’s just 108 square miles with an expansive, winding coastline packed with secluded, white sand beaches. Antigua also has the added bonus of neighbouring Barbuda, a 68 square mile, flat, coral, single-village island just 30 miles to the north.
US dollars and/or Eastern Caribbean dollars are legal tender on the island.
GSM service is available on many parts of the island, so please feel free to stay in touch with your GSM tri-band cell phone.
Antigua’s temperatures range from 76 degrees Fahrenheit around January and February to 86 degrees Fahrenheit in August and September. Heaviest rainfall is during the hotter months, but the cool winds and low humidity make the year-round climate comfortable. More info on Antigua Weather.
365 beaches, one for every day of the year, there’s plenty of sun, sea and sand on Antigua. The busy resort beaches are located on the island’s developed north western coast, with Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay falling into this category. Beaches on the south and south west coast are less developed with the quietest Rendezvous Bay and Doigs Beach requiring some rough travel, but worth the effort. Other beaches in the area include Fryes Bay, Darkwood Beach and those around Johnson’s Point. Families should enjoy the south east coast, with Half Moon Bay, now a National Park, and Long Bay, protected by its reef, both providing ideal outings. Beaches on Barbuda are peaceful and breathtaking with long pink and white shimmering sand on the south western shore stretching out unbroken as far as 10 miles. Beaches are rougher along the Atlantic-facing eastern shore, but worth exploring for some interesting finds.
Antigua offers plenty to see and do, with diving being towards the top of the list. The coral reefs that once spelt the end for marauding enemy ships now provide a double bonus for divers with a home for marine life and great shipwrecks to explore! The island’s trade winds have made sailing a central part of Antigua’s culture for many years. Boats of all types can be hired on this island and it’s worth a look round Nelson’s Dockyard, which provides a base for every kind of vessel. There’s the chance to explore with hiking and eco tours, and bird watching is particularly rewarding with the two islands’ multitude of species. The Frigate Bird Sanctuary on Barbuda is the largest of its kind in the Caribbean. Golfing, fishing, windsurfing and swimming with dolphins or rays are just some of the other activities available.
The island has its own packed calendar of events. Highlights include the world famous Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and Antigua Sailing Week, both in April. From the end of July to the beginning of August, the annual carnival takes over the island in a 10-day festival of costumes, competitions, cultural shows and concerts. The celebration brings wonderful sights, sounds and colours, everyone is welcome to join in the fun.
Antigua has a good mix of shops and boutiques to explore, packed with everything from clothing to hand made gifts. The island’s folk pottery dates back to the 18th century, and Sea View Farm Village, the centre of the industry, is worth a look.
There’s plenty to see and do on the island at night time, starting with a large variety of restaurants to choose from, along with plenty of clubs and bars to keep even the most dedicated of partygoers happy and fulfilled until the early hours.
