A holiday in Antigua: it's all about the beaches; or is it?
Locals will tell you there’s a beach for every day of the year on sunny Antigua. Whether this claim contains a grain of poetic licence or not, you’d certainly need more than a two- or three-week Antigua holiday to try them all.
And there’s far more to the island than idyllic beaches too. Located at the heart of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, it’s steeped in naval history. The picturesque English Harbour, setting of Clarence House and Nelson's Dockyard, was a major Royal Navy station in the Napoleonic Wars and adds an intriguingly familiar appeal to an island of simple but undeniable charm. You can explore the island’s interior too along roads that meander through the rainforest-clad hills. Here you’ll see sugar mills dot the horizon, relics of the island's plantation past.
Like everyone in the Caribbean, Antiguans love to party. At the end of July and early August, the island explodes into colour, as carnival is celebrated with 11 days of festivities. You don't have to wait for carnival to get a taste of calypso either. Just head to Shirley Heights on a Sunday. Aside from incredible views out to sea you’ll find locals and visitors alike dancing to the local steel bands. There’s also tasty local cuisine to try, washed down with the island's Cavalier rum.
However many of Antigua’s beaches you want to visit, our experts will help design your perfect getaway. Thanks to our unrivalled local knowledge, we’ll bring you closer to the people and places that make the island special.