Antigua and Barbuda

West Coast of Antigua

Antigua is not short of magnificent beaches and the west coast is no exception. Sheltered from the Atlantic, the calm seas and warm waters are a popular place to try out various watersports, diving and snorkelling. Fryes Beach is particularly special, featuring white sand and great views of Montserrat. Jolly Beach (next to Jolly Harbour) offers a mile-long stretch of white sand and warm water, plenty of restaurants, bars and shops make this a popular destination for holidaymakers.

English Harbour

English Harbour is the name given to an impeccably restored settlement in southern Antigua. The town, originally built as a base for the British Navy and infamous discoverer Horatio Nelson, is a strong reminder of the island's colonial past. Nelson's Dockyard, situated in the harbour is now the only Georgian dockyard in the world. The area acts as a centre for sailing and is visited by many private yachts and yacht tours heading around the stunning Caribbean Sea.

St John's

As the capital and most populous area of the island of Antigua, St John's provides a lively hub for shopping and eating. With a recently refurbished dock for cruise ships lined with hotels, St John's provides a popular accommodation alternative to staying by the beaches. Cruise ship passengers find the port a lovely place to spend a day as there is an open-air mall and a busy farmers market on the weekends in the southern part of the town.

Falmouth

Falmouth, on the south side of the island, was the first settlement on Antigua and home to one of the 40 forts built by the British during their occupation of the island. Today Falmouth is a quiet village surrounded by old sugar plantations, and home to St Pauls Church. You'll find the remains of one of the colonial forts at the top of Monks Hill, and the view from Monks Hill has been described as 'to die for'.

Barbuda

The island of Barbuda is situated north of Antigua in the middle of the Leeward Islands. Except for a handful of accommodation options on the island, Barbuda remains almost entirely unspoilt and undeveloped. The lengthy white beaches are speckled with pink sand and run uninterrupted from north to south. At the north-western tip is a lagoon which provides a home to the graceful Fregata magnificens - or frigate bird. Codrington is the small island's only 'city'. Whilst Barbuda does not have the infrastructure or service provision for tourists of neighbouring Antigua, the beaches and some of the real estate are spectacular.