Antigua and Barbuda Travel Guide

English Harbour

English Harbour, Antigua's graceful and evocative historic district, is focused on the 15 square miles (39 sq km) of Nelson's Dockyard National Park. Developed as a base for the British Navy in the great age of sail, the harbor served as the headquarters of the fleet of the Leeward Islands during the turbulent years of the late 18th century. Although the dockyard was greatly expanded at that time by Horatio Nelson, it was gradually abandoned in the 19th century and was closed in 1889. Today Nelson's Dockyard has been completely restored, and it is now the only Georgian dockyard in the world.

Almost all of the park's other sites of interest overlook the harbor. The closest of these is Clarence House, a residence built for the future King William IV (1765-1837) when he served under Nelson as captain of the HMS Pegasus. Further above the harbor, at Shirley Heights, are the partially restored fortifications of the harbor's colonial observation post; the view from Shirley Heights extends out over the harbor and far across the Caribbean to Montserrat and Guadeloupe. On Sunday afternoons the vista is enhanced by a barbeque and live music at the bar. Shirley Heights can be reached via Lookout Trail, a nature walk that rises from the harbor through a forest of trees. Buses run between St John's and Nelson's Dockyard.

The Beaches

Antigua boasts 365 beaches, one for each day of the year, the great majority resting inside the calm, protected waters of the island's Caribbean coast. Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay, located along the island's developed northwestern coast, are the places to go for those who want the fully-loaded resort beach experience, complete with reggae music and busy bars. The beaches most conveniently situated near St John's are Fort James and Deep Bay, both of which offer good swimming and snorkeling. Galley Bay attracts surfers during the winter months and joggers during the evening, and the series of four crescent beaches at Hawksbill, one of which is nudist, are also highly regarded. The beaches of the hilly southwest corner of Antigua are generally less developed than those around St John's; Rendezvous Bay and Doigs Beach are especially quiet and worth the rough travel necessary to reach them. Pigeon Point, near English Harbour, is a convenient spot after a day's sightseeing at Nelson's Dockyard. On the southeastern 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.

Redonda

The tiny rocky outcrop known as Redonda, 35 miles (55km) south west of Antigua in the Caribbean, lays claim to being the world's smallest island kingdom, although the rightful heir to the title is currently in contention. In fact the little island went up for grabs simply because no-one wanted it back in the mid-19th century, when all it seemed good for was a source of guano deposited by its rich bird population. Along came an ambitious Irishman, Matthew Shiell, who laid claim to the 'lump of rock' and declared his son to be its king. The kingdom was acknowledged by Britain, and King Felipe's reign continued until his death, by which time he had gained a reputation as a novelist. Poet John Gawsworth became the new king, and currently the title is disputed by at least four different people. The kingdom's subjects are all feathered or scaly, and the island is a favorite haunt for keen birdwatchers, renowned for having a small population of the rare Burrowing Owl.

St. John's Cathedral

St John's Cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt time and time again since it was erected in 1683 and has seen its fair share of earthquakes and hurricanes. For years the cathedral had negative connotations with the black slaves in Antigua as they viewed it as a giant white strength of the English due to its appearance as and the fact that the English first settled here in 1632. One of the most iconic buildings in St John's, the 70 foot-tall (21 m) white towers of this baroque cathedral overlook the city and port welcoming visitors with their majestic beauty and presence. The current church has remained standing since 1845 and is built out of freestone while the interior is encased in pitch pine, built with the intention of protecting the cathedral from natural disasters.

Antigua Rum Distillery

No drink sums up the spirit and flavor of the Caribbean better than rum and a must see while in the capital of St John's is the Antigua Rum Distillery. Located at the Citadel, the distillery is the only one on the island and produces more than 180,000 bottles of the famous spirit each year. Sample rums such as The Cavalier, English Harbour or Rum Punch rum when you visit the distillery.

English Harbour

English Harbour, Antigua's graceful and evocative historic district, is focused on the 15 square miles (39 sq km) of Nelson's Dockyard National Park. Developed as a base for the British Navy in the great age of sail, the harbor served as the headquarters of the fleet of the Leeward Islands during the turbulent years of the late 18th century. Although the dockyard was greatly expanded at that time by Horatio Nelson, it was gradually abandoned in the 19th century and was closed in 1889. Today Nelson's Dockyard has been completely restored, and it is now the only Georgian dockyard in the world.

Almost all of the park's other sites of interest overlook the harbor. The closest of these is Clarence House, a residence built for the future King William IV (1765-1837) when he served under Nelson as captain of the HMS Pegasus. Further above the harbor, at Shirley Heights, are the partially restored fortifications of the harbor's colonial observation post; the view from Shirley Heights extends out over the harbor and far across the Caribbean to Montserrat and Guadeloupe. On Sunday afternoons the vista is enhanced by a barbeque and live music at the bar. Shirley Heights can be reached via Lookout Trail, a nature walk that rises from the harbor through a forest of trees. Buses run between St John's and Nelson's Dockyard.

The Beaches

Antigua boasts 365 beaches, one for each day of the year, the great majority resting inside the calm, protected waters of the island's Caribbean coast. Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay, located along the island's developed northwestern coast, are the places to go for those who want the fully-loaded resort beach experience, complete with reggae music and busy bars. The beaches most conveniently situated near St John's are Fort James and Deep Bay, both of which offer good swimming and snorkeling. Galley Bay attracts surfers during the winter months and joggers during the evening, and the series of four crescent beaches at Hawksbill, one of which is nudist, are also highly regarded. The beaches of the hilly southwest corner of Antigua are generally less developed than those around St John's; Rendezvous Bay and Doigs Beach are especially quiet and worth the rough travel necessary to reach them. Pigeon Point, near English Harbour, is a convenient spot after a day's sightseeing at Nelson's Dockyard. On the southeastern 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.

Redonda

The tiny rocky outcrop known as Redonda, 35 miles (55km) south west of Antigua in the Caribbean, lays claim to being the world's smallest island kingdom, although the rightful heir to the title is currently in contention. In fact the little island went up for grabs simply because no-one wanted it back in the mid-19th century, when all it seemed good for was a source of guano deposited by its rich bird population. Along came an ambitious Irishman, Matthew Shiell, who laid claim to the 'lump of rock' and declared his son to be its king. The kingdom was acknowledged by Britain, and King Felipe's reign continued until his death, by which time he had gained a reputation as a novelist. Poet John Gawsworth became the new king, and currently the title is disputed by at least four different people. The kingdom's subjects are all feathered or scaly, and the island is a favorite haunt for keen birdwatchers, renowned for having a small population of the rare Burrowing Owl.

St. John's Cathedral

St John's Cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt time and time again since it was erected in 1683 and has seen its fair share of earthquakes and hurricanes. For years the cathedral had negative connotations with the black slaves in Antigua as they viewed it as a giant white strength of the English due to its appearance as and the fact that the English first settled here in 1632. One of the most iconic buildings in St John's, the 70 foot-tall (21 m) white towers of this baroque cathedral overlook the city and port welcoming visitors with their majestic beauty and presence. The current church has remained standing since 1845 and is built out of freestone while the interior is encased in pitch pine, built with the intention of protecting the cathedral from natural disasters.

Antigua Rum Distillery

No drink sums up the spirit and flavor of the Caribbean better than rum and a must see while in the capital of St John's is the Antigua Rum Distillery. Located at the Citadel, the distillery is the only one on the island and produces more than 180,000 bottles of the famous spirit each year. Sample rums such as The Cavalier, English Harbour or Rum Punch rum when you visit the distillery.

English Harbour

English Harbour, Antigua's graceful and evocative historic district, is focused on the 15 square miles (39 sq km) of Nelson's Dockyard National Park. Developed as a base for the British Navy in the great age of sail, the harbor served as the headquarters of the fleet of the Leeward Islands during the turbulent years of the late 18th century. Although the dockyard was greatly expanded at that time by Horatio Nelson, it was gradually abandoned in the 19th century and was closed in 1889. Today Nelson's Dockyard has been completely restored, and it is now the only Georgian dockyard in the world.

Almost all of the park's other sites of interest overlook the harbor. The closest of these is Clarence House, a residence built for the future King William IV (1765-1837) when he served under Nelson as captain of the HMS Pegasus. Further above the harbor, at Shirley Heights, are the partially restored fortifications of the harbor's colonial observation post; the view from Shirley Heights extends out over the harbor and far across the Caribbean to Montserrat and Guadeloupe. On Sunday afternoons the vista is enhanced by a barbeque and live music at the bar. Shirley Heights can be reached via Lookout Trail, a nature walk that rises from the harbor through a forest of trees. Buses run between St John's and Nelson's Dockyard.

The Beaches

Antigua boasts 365 beaches, one for each day of the year, the great majority resting inside the calm, protected waters of the island's Caribbean coast. Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay, located along the island's developed northwestern coast, are the places to go for those who want the fully-loaded resort beach experience, complete with reggae music and busy bars. The beaches most conveniently situated near St John's are Fort James and Deep Bay, both of which offer good swimming and snorkeling. Galley Bay attracts surfers during the winter months and joggers during the evening, and the series of four crescent beaches at Hawksbill, one of which is nudist, are also highly regarded. The beaches of the hilly southwest corner of Antigua are generally less developed than those around St John's; Rendezvous Bay and Doigs Beach are especially quiet and worth the rough travel necessary to reach them. Pigeon Point, near English Harbour, is a convenient spot after a day's sightseeing at Nelson's Dockyard. On the southeastern 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.

Redonda

The tiny rocky outcrop known as Redonda, 35 miles (55km) south west of Antigua in the Caribbean, lays claim to being the world's smallest island kingdom, although the rightful heir to the title is currently in contention. In fact the little island went up for grabs simply because no-one wanted it back in the mid-19th century, when all it seemed good for was a source of guano deposited by its rich bird population. Along came an ambitious Irishman, Matthew Shiell, who laid claim to the 'lump of rock' and declared his son to be its king. The kingdom was acknowledged by Britain, and King Felipe's reign continued until his death, by which time he had gained a reputation as a novelist. Poet John Gawsworth became the new king, and currently the title is disputed by at least four different people. The kingdom's subjects are all feathered or scaly, and the island is a favorite haunt for keen birdwatchers, renowned for having a small population of the rare Burrowing Owl.

St. John's Cathedral

St John's Cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt time and time again since it was erected in 1683 and has seen its fair share of earthquakes and hurricanes. For years the cathedral had negative connotations with the black slaves in Antigua as they viewed it as a giant white strength of the English due to its appearance as and the fact that the English first settled here in 1632. One of the most iconic buildings in St John's, the 70 foot-tall (21 m) white towers of this baroque cathedral overlook the city and port welcoming visitors with their majestic beauty and presence. The current church has remained standing since 1845 and is built out of freestone while the interior is encased in pitch pine, built with the intention of protecting the cathedral from natural disasters.

Antigua Rum Distillery

No drink sums up the spirit and flavor of the Caribbean better than rum and a must see while in the capital of St John's is the Antigua Rum Distillery. Located at the Citadel, the distillery is the only one on the island and produces more than 180,000 bottles of the famous spirit each year. Sample rums such as The Cavalier, English Harbour or Rum Punch rum when you visit the distillery.

English Harbour

English Harbour, Antigua's graceful and evocative historic district, is focused on the 15 square miles (39 sq km) of Nelson's Dockyard National Park. Developed as a base for the British Navy in the great age of sail, the harbor served as the headquarters of the fleet of the Leeward Islands during the turbulent years of the late 18th century. Although the dockyard was greatly expanded at that time by Horatio Nelson, it was gradually abandoned in the 19th century and was closed in 1889. Today Nelson's Dockyard has been completely restored, and it is now the only Georgian dockyard in the world.

Almost all of the park's other sites of interest overlook the harbor. The closest of these is Clarence House, a residence built for the future King William IV (1765-1837) when he served under Nelson as captain of the HMS Pegasus. Further above the harbor, at Shirley Heights, are the partially restored fortifications of the harbor's colonial observation post; the view from Shirley Heights extends out over the harbor and far across the Caribbean to Montserrat and Guadeloupe. On Sunday afternoons the vista is enhanced by a barbeque and live music at the bar. Shirley Heights can be reached via Lookout Trail, a nature walk that rises from the harbor through a forest of trees. Buses run between St John's and Nelson's Dockyard.

The Beaches

Antigua boasts 365 beaches, one for each day of the year, the great majority resting inside the calm, protected waters of the island's Caribbean coast. Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay, located along the island's developed northwestern coast, are the places to go for those who want the fully-loaded resort beach experience, complete with reggae music and busy bars. The beaches most conveniently situated near St John's are Fort James and Deep Bay, both of which offer good swimming and snorkeling. Galley Bay attracts surfers during the winter months and joggers during the evening, and the series of four crescent beaches at Hawksbill, one of which is nudist, are also highly regarded. The beaches of the hilly southwest corner of Antigua are generally less developed than those around St John's; Rendezvous Bay and Doigs Beach are especially quiet and worth the rough travel necessary to reach them. Pigeon Point, near English Harbour, is a convenient spot after a day's sightseeing at Nelson's Dockyard. On the southeastern 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.

Redonda

The tiny rocky outcrop known as Redonda, 35 miles (55km) south west of Antigua in the Caribbean, lays claim to being the world's smallest island kingdom, although the rightful heir to the title is currently in contention. In fact the little island went up for grabs simply because no-one wanted it back in the mid-19th century, when all it seemed good for was a source of guano deposited by its rich bird population. Along came an ambitious Irishman, Matthew Shiell, who laid claim to the 'lump of rock' and declared his son to be its king. The kingdom was acknowledged by Britain, and King Felipe's reign continued until his death, by which time he had gained a reputation as a novelist. Poet John Gawsworth became the new king, and currently the title is disputed by at least four different people. The kingdom's subjects are all feathered or scaly, and the island is a favorite haunt for keen birdwatchers, renowned for having a small population of the rare Burrowing Owl.

St. John's Cathedral

St John's Cathedral has been destroyed and rebuilt time and time again since it was erected in 1683 and has seen its fair share of earthquakes and hurricanes. For years the cathedral had negative connotations with the black slaves in Antigua as they viewed it as a giant white strength of the English due to its appearance as and the fact that the English first settled here in 1632. One of the most iconic buildings in St John's, the 70 foot-tall (21 m) white towers of this baroque cathedral overlook the city and port welcoming visitors with their majestic beauty and presence. The current church has remained standing since 1845 and is built out of freestone while the interior is encased in pitch pine, built with the intention of protecting the cathedral from natural disasters.

Antigua Rum Distillery

No drink sums up the spirit and flavor of the Caribbean better than rum and a must see while in the capital of St John's is the Antigua Rum Distillery. Located at the Citadel, the distillery is the only one on the island and produces more than 180,000 bottles of the famous spirit each year. Sample rums such as The Cavalier, English Harbour or Rum Punch rum when you visit the distillery.