Situated within the coronary heart of the Caribbean, Antigua beckons with its lovely seashores, blue waters, and wealthy historical past. This enchanting island, found by Christopher Columbus in 1493, has a fascinating mix of colonial appeal and vibrant tradition.
As soon as a bustling hub of sugar cane manufacturing and a strategic naval base, Antigua’s previous is woven into its cobblestone streets and historic landmarks.
Immediately, vacationers can discover its centuries-old forts, get pleasure from water sports activities, or just unwind on its sun-kissed shores, making Antigua a timeless vacation spot for rest and exploration.
Greatest Time to Go to Antigua
December to Might are the best months to visit Antigua. Winter and spring are the drier months on the island, making it an ideal time to go to since you’re much less prone to see rain showers, and it’s nonetheless superbly sunny. The common temperature is 72-74 levels Fahrenheit.
Guests normally select to not go to between Might and November as a result of it’s moist, humid, and stormy. It’s also the Atlantic hurricane season, when there may be roughly a 33% probability of a hurricane occurring – one thing chances are you’ll wish to keep away from experiencing!
Issues to Do in Antigua
Antigua is proudly often called the Caribbean island with 365 seashores, supplying you with a seaside for day-after-day of the yr. But it surely’s additionally much more than that. It’s a lush inexperienced island with zip strains and climbing trails. And a naval historical past nonetheless prevalent in its status as the most effective yacht crusing islands on the planet, culminating in its well-known Antigua Crusing Week every April.
Seashores in Antigua
Antigua has 365 beaches with delicate golden sand and clear blue waters. The enjoyable half is deciding which to go to! To assist whittle it down for you, we’ve chosen three of our favorites to kick-start your exploration:
Galleon Seashore: Near Nelson’s Dockyard, this seaside has an amazing selection on provide, from paddleboard rent to snorkeling and a workshop working a rum masterclass. It has one thing for everybody, plus a really cool restaurant within the center known as Free Cannon.
Coco Seashore: With delicate white sands, clear blue waters, and a really chilled-out vibe, that is the final word in excellent Caribbean seaside. It’s by no means too busy, and there aren’t many services, which is good if you’re on the lookout for quiet.
Dickenson Bay: in the event you’re on the lookout for a buzzing Caribbean seaside with every little thing on faucet. You possibly can combine it up with water sports activities, comparable to scuba diving or paddleboarding, with nice meals and seaside bar vibes.
Naval Historical past at Nelson’s Dockyard
Nelson’s Dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage website, is effectively price visiting because it’s probably the perfect historic vacation spot in Antigua. Throughout his keep on the Antigua Naval Dockyard, a younger Horatio Nelson infamously declared English Harbour an “infernal hellhole.” Immediately, it’s a stunningly restored dockyard showcasing what it might have regarded like at its peak within the 1740s.
Once you arrive, you’ll be able to both take a tour from the entrance desk or simply pay on your entry and wander round at your individual tempo. Inside it’s effectively signposted and has a really well-put-together museum with heaps to curiosity you.
If you happen to get pleasure from climbing, then Fort Berkley on the entrance to English Harbour is nice for picture alternatives of Nelson’s Dockyard. If you happen to’re feeling energetic, you’ll be able to hike the Center Floor Path and swim at Pigeon Seashore.
Stingray Metropolis
Antigua is among the solely locations on the planet the place you’ll be able to head out into the ocean and swim with stingrays – an unbelievable expertise to not be missed!
In the course of the tour, a ship trip takes you to a sandbar in the midst of the ocean, the place you’ll be able to snorkel and swim with the stingrays. What’s outstanding is that there is no such thing as a should be a assured swimmer because the water is barely chest-high, and you’ll see the stingrays swimming by way of the clear water with out the necessity to snorkel.
In addition to snorkeling with the stingrays, you’ll additionally get an opportunity to carry and feed them, all beneath the cautious supervision of their guides.
Zipline Via the Rainforest
If you happen to get pleasure from heights and adrenaline, this exercise is for you! The zipline is midway alongside Fig Tree Drive, which is price driving as it’s the most lovely street in Antigua.
Antigua Rainforest Zipline is a small group tour, so that you’ll zip by way of the rainforest collectively. There are numerous packages to select from relying on the variety of zip strains you attempt. On the finish of the tour, there’s a high-wire assault course which you can additionally do.
At varied factors alongside the course, their skilled photographers can catch you mid-flight, making an exquisite memento to take dwelling!
If you happen to’ve not performed a zipper line earlier than, this is a wonderful alternative to attempt one, because the strains are medium size and peak for freshmen. You’ll have nice adrenaline, and it shouldn’t be too intimidating.
Take a Sundown Boat Tour
Having fun with a ship tour round Antigua is an excellent option to see the island, because it provides you a unique perspective and entry to the extra distant snorkeling websites. One of many widespread spots to go to on a ship tour is Nice Hen Island, which has a few of the finest snorkeling.
Alternatively, in the event you fancy setting off beneath sail, a gorgeous option to end your day is watching the sundown from a crusing yacht. A number of sundown cruises go away from Jolly Harbour.
Watch a Cricket Match
Even in the event you’re not a cricket fan, going to observe a cricket match in Antigua is extremely enjoyable. The ambiance is sort of a mini carnival with folks in costumes, metal drums taking part in, and mini-games of cricket being performed by spectators on the mounds. You may spend extra time wanting round than watching the precise cricket match!!
The very best tickets are those within the mounds, as you’re in the midst of the celebration ambiance. Loads of foods and drinks are served on the stadium on the catering tents that may be discovered alongside the sting of the mounds.
Mix Your Personal Rum
An thrilling and enjoyable option to spend half a day is to hitch the Rum Masterclass workshop primarily based at Galleon Seashore.
This workshop begins with a rum tasting, after which, after you might have determined which rums you want probably the most, you’ll get to the enjoyable a part of mixing your rum. You’re going to get to make use of a pot nonetheless to distill your rum within the conventional West Indian method. By the top of the category, you should have your bespoke rum bottle labeled and completed with a gorgeous wax seal.
Shirley Heights Lookout Occasion
No go to to Antigua could be full with out a go to to Shirley Heights Lookout for his or her celebration night time. The lookout has an unbelievable view over Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour and past to the island of Montserrat.
Each Thursday and Sunday, they host a incredible night combining music, meals, and rum punch whereas watching the sundown.
An exquisite ambiance begins when everybody arrives to observe the sundown, and the native metal band is taking part in. After the sundown, an area band performs widespread cowl songs, and as soon as the rum has kicked in, the dancefloor will get full of life!
Eating places in Antigua
Like most different Caribbean islands, one can find loads of recent fish on the menu in Antigua. You’ll additionally get to style loads of scorching and spicy flavors present in a few of their well-known dishes, comparable to jerk hen and goat curry.
Seashore Bum Cafe at Half Moon Bay: It is a widespread cafe at Half Moon Bay with each guests and locals alike. It has a easy menu with dishes served with a great deal of taste! It has one of many fish burgers on the island. You possibly can calm down, get pleasure from Half Moon Bay seaside within the morning, and e-book lunch on the cafe afterward.
Casa Roots at Runway Seashore: This lovely restaurant on Runway Seashore close to Dickenson Bay serves an exquisite mixture of French and West Indian delicacies.
Trappas in English Harbour: Within the heart of English Harbour, Trappas presents a collection of native meals, comparable to jerk hen and goat curry. Simply preserve just a little area for dessert, as they’re a few of the finest on the island.
Sheer Rocks: In case you are on the lookout for a luxurious eating expertise with incredible sundown views, then that is the place for you. This award-winning restaurant combines native flavors with a Mediterranean inspiration.
Day Journeys From Antigua
Circumnavigate Antigua on a Boat: Seeing Antigua from the ocean provides a incredible perspective of how lovely the island is. It’s additionally an excellent option to discover seashores and reefs. This specific tour features a cease on the gorgeous off-the-beaten-track Rendezvous Seashore, which may solely be reached by boat or 4×4.
Boat Tour to Barbuda: Barbuda is the unique little sister to Antigua, the place royalty and celebrities go to calm down. A tour of the island from Antigua permits you to discover the distinctive pink sand seashores, go to historical Arawak caves, and eat freshly caught lobster.
Off-road Dune Buggy Tour of Antigua: That is an alternate option to discover the island as you’ll trip off-road on dune buggies. You’ll additionally get to hurry by way of the rainforest too!
Vacationing in Antigua
Whether or not you spend your days exploring historic websites, lounging on sandy seashores, or diving into its vibrant underwater world, Antigua guarantees an unforgettable escape that lingers within the reminiscence lengthy after the holiday ends.
Sara Younger is the creator of Massive Adventures With Little Toes, a household journey weblog aiming to encourage dad and mom to journey with their children. She loves exploring the world along with her sons and giving them massive adventures, whether or not climbing, snowboarding, crusing, or browsing. She and her household spend the winters in Antigua within the Caribbean, the place her boyfriend works as a yacht captain. They spend their summers touring the world to seek out adventures.
