Overview

Located in the heart of the Leeward Islands, Antigua & Barbuda is popularly known as paradise to the beach lovers for its coral & pink sand beaches. Antigua proudly boasts 365 beaches, one for each day of the year! From sunbathing and swimming, to sailing, scuba and snorkeling, these beaches are enjoyed year round by the adventure seeker, water nymph and bookworm alike… while romance seekers come to enjoy the many breathtaking sunsets made even more spectacular by the legendary green flash that accompanies that last dip of the sun.

St. John’s, Antigua’s capital is known for – cruise trippers, shopping, and an energetic nightlife! Visitors can enjoy entertainment by steel bands, calypsonians, jazz groups, limbo dancing and moonlit cruises. Arrangements & guides are available at most hotels. The island features several night clubs and 3 major casinos.

Popular amongst sailors, Antigua has near perfect conditions for the island’s famous sailing week held annually during April. Not only is it one the Caribbean’s largest yachting events, but also the world – famous for its wild parties and races!

Life on Antigua is colorful.  Locally worn fabrics are brilliant, red ginger and tropical orchids burst, and the blue sea and sky all meld together to form a very rich palette.  Amid all this color, creativity seems to slip into Antiguan life unobtrusively.  Dinner plates are hand painted, the headboards of beds are hand-carved from rich mahogany, and shell and bead jewelry are strung with expertise. A variety of souvenirs are available throughout the island.

A variety of land and sea activities await the adventure seeker. Water sports abound from sailing, boat cruising, water skiing, deep sea and reef fishing to scuba diving and snorkeling in the midst of thriving coral reefs surround the island. For land lovers, two 18-hole golf courses and professional tennis and squash courts are available and open to the public. In addition, the island offers other popular recreational activities such as horseback riding, helicopter tours, hiking and eco-tours. The island also harbors a fierce devotion to the sport of Cricket, with the season running from January thru July.

On the contrary, Antigua’s sister island Barbuda is well known for a more tranquil and quaint vacation. Enjoy the undiscovered ambiance – this unspoiled Caribbean island offers visitors miles of spectacular beaches and the most photographic, crystal clear turquoise waters.  A sparse resident population, limited visitors, simple infrastructure and rich tropical wildlife allow this island to remain one of the few untouched Caribbean destinations perfect for those seeking an “unplugged” getaway.

Barbuda is a quick 15-minute flight from Antigua or, a more leisurely 90-minute ferry boat crossing.  This 62-square-mile oasis — where diving, snorkeling, fishing, bird watching, caving and sunbathing are most often the activities of choice — is surrounded by coral reefs, and is home to a remarkable variety of marine life and several centuries’ worth of shipwrecks.

The charm of these two islands is further embodied by the friendliness and welcoming ways of the locals.