Official Language:
English
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Currency:
Eastern Caribbean Dollar & US Dollar
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Population:
Approximately 68,000 people call Antigua home.
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Weather:
Climate and current weather information for Antigua: Temperatures are warm in Antigua. Daytime temperatures range bewteen 75°F-80°F/21°C-27°C degrees and nights are approximately 10 degrees cooler. It's often sunny with a pleasant breeze. This is the dryest island in the eastern Caribbean, with an average annual rainfall of about 45 inches.
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Antigua, the largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands and is considered to be the "Gateway to the Caribbean" about 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, encompassing 108 square miles. Its highest point is Boggy Peak (1319 ft.), located in the southwestern corner of the island. Barbuda, a flat coral island with an area of only 68 square miles, lies approximately 30 miles due north. The nation also includes the tiny (0.6 square mile) uninhabited island of Redonda, now a nature preserve. The current population for the nation is approximately 68,000 and its capital is St. John's on Antigua.
This somewhat tranquil island is rich in culture and pure in history. Antigua was inhabited by the Siboney as far back as 2400 BC. The Arawaks lived on this island between AD 35-1100. Christopher Colombus landed on Antigua in 1493. He then named this island Santa Maria de le Antigua. Antigua has two dependencies, Barbuda and the uninhabited Redonda. In 1674 Sir Christopher Codrington established the first large sugar estate. Forests were cleared for sugarcane production and African slaves were brought in. The slaves were then emancipated in 1834 however economic opportunities were limited. In 1943 Vere Bird formed the Antigua Labour Party and won the first of a series of long electorial votes. Antigua was administered as part of the Leeward islands in 1959, and attained associated status with full internal self-government. In 1967 Antigua became a member of the West Indian Association of States and gained control of internal affairs. In November 1981 Antigua and Barbuda, as one territory, became independent.
There are two docks, ships dock at the new Heritage Quay or Deepwater Harbour in Antigua, both in St. John's, the island's capital city. Deepwater Harbour requires a three-minute taxi ride into St. John's. Car rentals are offered by Avis, National and Budget. Heritage Quay is right in town located adjacent to the main shopping district. Larger ships may require docking at the older cruise ship pier which is just a short 5 minute taxi ride.
Don't Miss Duty free shopping at Heritage Quay and Redcliffe Quay. Landmarks in St. John's, including the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (structure dates back to mid-19th century), and, on Saturdays check out the public marketplace at the junction of Market Street, Valley Road and All Saints Road. Nelson's Dockyard at English Harbour, the island's famous hub for sailors, has the Admiral's House Museum, shops and restaurants.
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Attractions |
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St John's is Antigua's capital and commercial centre, home to over a third of the country's population. It's also the island's tourist centre, but most of the city remains unaffected by international influence, remaining solidly West Indian in flavour. St John's tourist activity is confined to the harbourfront complexes of Heritage Quay, a favourite with cruise ship passengers, and the more rustic Redcliffe Quay, where shops, restaurants and galleries inhabit restored stone buildings and wooden huts.
English Harbour:
Once a naval base and now Antigua's most popular tourist attraction, English Harbour has the richest collection of historic sites on the island. You could easily spend the better part of a day roaming around the sites, which include restored buildings, hilltop forts and museums. The harbour's main attraction is Nelson's Dockyard, an 18th-century British naval base named after the English captain Horatio Nelson. Today it's still attracting sailors as the island's most popular yacht haven. Don your gaiters and garden gloves for the 10-minute walk among cacti that brings you to Fort Berkeley, overlooking the harbour's western entrance. Other attractions include the governor's Georgian-style rural residence and Sandy Heights, which has scattered 18th-century fort ruins and excellent views. Buses run between St John's and Nelson's Dockyard.
Fort James:
The small Fort James was first built in 1675, but most of the present structure dates from 1739. It still has a few of its original 36 cannons, a powder magazine and a fair portion of its walls intact.
Museum of Antigua & Barbuda:
This community-run museum in St John's has an eclectic collection of displays on island history. There's a touchable section with stone pestles and conch-shell tools, a reconstructed Arawak house, and modest displays on natural history, the colonial era and the struggle for emancipation.
St John's Anglican Cathedral:
This twin-spired cathedral, the town's dominant landmark, dates from 1847 and was built after the original 1681 church was devastated by an earthquake. The unusual interior is encased in pitch pine to buffer the building from damage by natural disasters.
Deep Bay:
Deep Bay, west of St John's, is a pleasant little bay with a sandy beach and protected waters. The Royal Antiguan Hotel sits above the beach. There's a fair amount of resort activity, but it's a good-sized strand and a nice swimming spot. The coral-encrusted wreck of the Andes lies in the middle of Deep Bay, its mast poking up above the water. Nearly 100 years have passed since this barque caught fire and went down, complete with a load of pitch from Trinidad. The waters are shallow enough around the wreck to be snorkelled but divers tend to bypass it because ooze still kicks up pretty easily from the bottom.The remains of Fort Barrington, which once protected the southern entrance of St John's Harbour, is atop the promontory that juts out at the northern end of the bay. Originally constructed in the mid-17th century, most of the present fortifications date to 1779. To hike up to the fort, simply begin walking north along the beach at Deep Bay; the trail takes about 10 minutes. A salt pond separates Deep Bay from the smaller Hog John Bay, where there's another sandy beach and a couple of hotels.
Dickenson Bay :
Dickenson Bay, Antigua's main moderate-range resort area, is fronted by a long, lovely white-sand beach with turquoise waters and good swimming conditions. All of Dickenson Bay's action is centreed on the beach, where there are water sports booths, open-air restaurants and half a dozen hotels and condominiums. While it's more touristy than Runaway Bay, it's not over-touristed and can be a fun scene with reggae music, vendors selling T-shirts and jewellry, and women braiding hair.
Falmouth Harbour:
Falmouth Harbour is a large, protected, horseshoe-shaped bay. There are two main centres of activity: the north side of the harbor, where the small village of Falmouth is located, and the more visitor-oriented east side of the harbour, which has most of the restaurants. The east side of Falmouth Harbour is within easy walking distance of Nelson's Dockyard.St Paul's Anglican Church, on the main road in Falmouth's centre, was Antigua's first church. As one of the island's oldest buildings, dating to 1676, the church once doubled as Antigua's courthouse. You can get a sense of its history by poking around the overgrown churchyard, which has some interesting and quite readable colonial-era gravestones. Charles Pitt, the brother of the English prime minister, was buried here in 1780, and beside his site is the excessively loquacious memorial to Brigadier General Andrew Dunlop, who died of yellow fever.
Runaway Bay:
Runaway Bay is a quiet area with an attractive white-sand beach, calm waters and a handful of small, reasonably priced hotels. Note, however, that the north end of the beach has lost virtually all of its sand since Hurricane Luis, and the process of regeneration has been slow. But from Runaway Beach Club south, there still is a gorgeous sandy strand and precious few beachgoers to share it with. Although the area can seem quite sleepy, those staying here who want more action can simply wander over to the adjacent Dickenson Bay. A channel dug a few years back for a marina project (which was halted after hitting rock) cuts off shoreline access between Runaway and Dickenson bays, but it's just a short walk along the road between the two areas.Pelicans dive for food in the inlet created by the new channel and also along Corbinson Point, the rocky outcropping at the north end of the bay. The point is the site of an old fort, but there's little left to see there. A large salt pond stretches along the inland side of Runaway Bay, and in the evening egrets come to roost at the pond's southern end.
Beaches :
Most of Antigua's many beaches, with their white or light golden sands, are protected by coral reefs, and all are officially public. There are 365 beaches on Antigua, one for each day of the year.Best beach for a half-day visit: Dickenson Bay, just 5 - 10 minutes from the cruise ship dock. Ft. James is also within that distance. The great majority rest inside the calm, protected waters of the island's Caribbean side. Prime spots include the adjacent Dickenson and Runaway beaches on the eastern coast, Deep Bay and Hawksbill Beach to the west of St John's, and Darkwood Beach to the south of Jolly Harbour. On the eastern coast, Half Moon Bay is a top contender. In the English Harbour area, Galleon Beach and secluded Pigeon Beach are good sites. The far ends of some public beaches, including the northern end of Dickenson, are favored by topless bathers; nude bathing is also practiced along a section of Hawksbill Beach. Best beach for active types: Dickenson Bay is an option -- watersports rentals and eateries abound. Good snorkeling is found on Half Moon Bay and Long Bay.
Quiet Beaches: Leper Colony Beach (requires you to rent a 4 wheel drive vehicle to get there). Long Bay, about a half-hour from the dock, is a more convenient option; taxis service that destination.
East Coast:On the southeast corner of the island is Half Moon Bay, now a National Park and a good choice for a family outing. Long Bay, on the easternmost point of the island, is another good choice for families, as it is completely protected by its reef.
Northwest Coast:Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay, located along the island's developed northwestern coast, are the place to go for those who want the fully-loaded resort beach experience. The beaches most convenient to St. John's are Fort James, a locally-popular public beach, and Deep Bay. Galley Bay attracts surfers during the winter months and a joggers during the evening. The series of four crescent beaches at Hawksbill are also highly regarded, one of which is nudist.
Southwest and South Coast:The beaches of the hilly southwest corner of Antigua are generally less developed than those around St. John's further north. On the road that winds along this coast are Fryes Bay, Darkwood Beach, and the beaches around Johnsons Point. Rendezvous Bay and especially Doigs Beach, both located on the central southern coast at Rendezvous Bay, are especially quiet beaches worth the rough travel necessary to reach them. Pigeon Point, near English Harbour Town, is a convenient balm after a day at Nelson's Dockyard.
Antigua has some excellent diving, with coral canyons, wall drops and sea caves. Marine life includes turtles, sharks, barracuda and reef fish. Antigua's sheltered western coast is good for inexperienced windsurfers , while the exposed eastern coast has onshore winds good for slalom and wave-slalom sailing. The other major watersport is game fishing - there are plenty of marlin, tuna and wahoo.The historical society, which operates the Museum of Antigua & Barbuda, sponsors a monthly cultural or environmental theme hike. Walks average about 90 minutes in duration and typically include visits to old estates or interesting landscapes.Small, low-key Barbuda is a good place for travelers craving quiet, uncrowded spaces. There's excellent bird watching at Codrington Lagoon, home to a large colony of frigate birds. The island also offers places to snorkel, relax and bake in the sun.
Antigua Seafaris (around the Island eco tour):
Discover the Eco-system of Antigua. Come be adventurous and experience the off-shore deserted islands, hidden caves and the amazing scenery of Nelson’s Dockyard, not too mention the wild life encounters and perhaps a chance of seeing a dolphin or whale. Snorkel on colorful reefs or just relax on the beach with our locally made fruit juices or rum punch.
Phone: (268) 464 3571
Website:http://www.antiguaseafaris.com
email: info@antiguaseafaris.com
Antigua Helicopter Tour:
Antigua's coastline from deserted offshore islands to the downtown cruise-ship port and from busy Dickenson Bay to pristine and rugged Half-moon Bay. Visit Monserrat and get closer to an active volcano than is possible any other way, then see the charred remains of its now deserted capital city. They also offer some custom tour options for you. Whatever you choose, you wont forget your tour with them!. http://www.caribbeanhelicopters.net/
Swim with the Dolphins:
One of Antigua's most exciting and thrilling activities is to Swim with the Dolphins at Dolphin Discovery. This once in a lifetime adventure gives you the opportunity to experience up close and personal playtime with dolphins, while gaining an understanding of these fascinating mammals. Housed in a 5.5 million gallon lagoon at Marina Bay, these precious animals are sure to make your vacation unforgettable. For more info visit their website http://www.dolphindiscovery.com
Marina Bay, Antigua
Tel: 268-562-SWIM (7946)
Fax: 268-562-3646
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More Information |
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Useful Links About Antigua:
Antigua Island Travel Information
www.interknowledge.com/antigua-barbuda
Antigua and Barbuda Department of Tourism
Phone: 809 462-2483
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