Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda Overview

When British Admiral Horatio Nelson searched the Caribbean high and low for the perfect place to hide his fleet, he found all the critical elements neatly combined in Antigua. The largest of the British Leeward Islands has warm, steady winds, a complex coastline of safe harbors, and a protective, nearly unbroken wall of coral reef.

Little did the legendary Nelson know that over 300 years later those same special characteristics would transform Antigua into one of the Caribbean's premier tourist destinations. The trade winds that once blew British a man-of-war safely into English Harbour now fuel one of the world's foremost maritime events, Sailing Week. The expansive, winding coastline that made Antigua difficult for marauders to navigate is where today's trekkers encounter a tremendous wealth of secluded, powdery soft beaches. The coral reefs, once the bane of enemy ships, are now a boon to scuba divers and snorkelers.

Its little sister island of Barbuda - once a scavenger's paradise because so many ships wrecked on its reefs - is now home to one of the region's most significant bird sanctuaries. Most natives live in the capital of St John's, a bustling port city and cruise ship destination, while the rest of the island is sparsely populated and perfect for mind-clearing ambles. Locals boast that they have 365 beaches, one for every day of the year. This claim may take some creative license but, whatever the actual number, the beauty of the beaches needs no exaggeration! .

Reasons to visit Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua's "year's worth of beaches," guarantees that the surf-n-sand is the focus of most visits, but there are also many other enticing diversions for scuba divers and snorkelers, history buffs, water sports devotees, tennis players, hikers, bird watchers, and avid duty-free shoppers. The island culture itself attracts travelers with its appealing mix of breezy non-chalance and classy British poise.