If you fancy a trip to the Caribbean, Antigua should be right at the top of your list of places to visit. Here are the five very good reasons.
- Beaches
With a different beach for every day of the year, Antigua has some of the best beaches found in the Caribbean, you are truly spoilt for choice! As you are unlikely to have time to visit all 365 beaches, we’ve shortlisted our top sunbathing spots.
- Dickenson Bay, located North of St John’s offers pristine white sand and shallow water which is perfect for families. Head over to Sneaky Pete’s beach bar where you can hire sun loungers with snacks and drinks on offer.
- Jolly Beach, located on the West coast offers a mile long stretch of sand on the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Great selection of restaurants, water sports and amenities close by. Have a bite to eat at Castaways, a laid back beach bar in a rustic setting.
- Half Moon Bay, located on the East coast in a secluded spot. A reef protects it from the full force of the Atlantic. Take your own mask, snorkel, picnic and enjoy!
- Activities
Fancy sailing around the island in a day or whizzing over the rainforest canopy on a zip-line tour? The selection of water and land-based activities in the Carribean is endless.
You can enjoy a family adventure, paddleboard in paradise on a remote Lagoon or choose to Scuba or Snorkel taking in the sights of the well-preserved coral reefs, and shipwrecks. One of Antigua’s best-known offshore sites, Cades Reef, is now partly contained in a designated underwater park.
Visit Antigua’s landmarks on a self-guided cycling tour or join Trek Tours to view the most scenic and rewarding parts of Antigua.
If you are an adrenalin junky, hire a buggy and go for a drive along the off road trails.
- History
Legend has it that when Columbus was near Redonda on November 11th 1493, he sighted the island and named it ‘Santa Maria de la Antigua’, supposedly after a chapel dedicated to a famous miracle-working virgin in Seville Cathedral, Spain. Antigua means ‘ancient’ in Spanish.
Nelsons Dockyard in the South dates from 1743 and is a good place to soak up the history of the Island. Within the English Harbour Area, it was preserved and restored to a National Park in 1985.
The yachts moored here are a sight to see especially during sailing week at the end of April.
- Cuisine
Antigua offers a wide variety or culinary options, from authentic Caribbean and specifically Antiguan dishes to those with a European influence. Fish and shell fish are in abundance and you are likely to be served, Red Snapper, King Fish, Grouper, Swordfish, Lobster and Mahi Mahi.
Visitors to Antigua will find a varied and interesting choice of dining spots on the island from first-class, gourmet, to colourful waterfront cafés, beach bars and fast-food outlets.
Shirley Heights is the most southerly point on Antigua and the café and restaurant is famous for its Sunday night BBQ.
The choices are endless!
- Weather
Antigua offers a warm climate all year round experiencing highs of over 30°C. It is one of the driest of the Caribbean islands, with December to April being the dry season.
Get your sun cream ready your suitcase packed!
Find out more about our villas in Antigua here.