The beach is where it’s at on holidays to Antigua and Barbuda. There are 365 of them on Antigua alone – one for every day of the year – all coated in sugar-white sand and lapped by sea so sparkly it puts diamonds to shame. And Barbuda, Antigua’s little sister, basically IS a beach, albeit a slightly pinker one thanks to the crushed coral in the sand there. It’s a place where the wildlife massively outnumbers the people, giving it ultimate get-away-from-it-all status.
With so many coves and inlets to explore, there’s a stretch of sand for everyone on Antigua. Most beaches are protected by an outer reef, making the water invitingly calm for swimmers, and there’s fabulous marine life to discover if you strap on a snorkel. Turtles, sergeant major fish, stingrays and sea sponges are all to be spotted darting among the coral, while boat trips to off-shore reefs, wrecks and islets reveal a whole host of underwater wonders.
Holidays to Antigua and Barbuda don’t have to be all about the beach though, and inland there’s lush rainforest and tropical hillsides to discover, dotted with traditional thatched villages and the ruins of sugar plantations from times past. The brave-hearted can even explore the forest from on high, skimming through the trees on zip wires or climbing through the canopy on interconnected ropes and cables.
Plus, there’s the colourful Antiguan capital of St John’s to enjoy, with its baroque cathedral, vibrant morning market, and plenty of good shopping and dining. You can grab the chance to view famous homeboy Viv Richards’ cricket bat in the museum here, before heading to the very south of the island to explore the heritage sights of English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyards. Thankfully, this particular slice of British history comes with Caribbean, not British, weather!
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