During European colonization of
the Antilles in the 1700s, Antigua became the most important Caribbean base
for the English crown. Admiral Horatio Nelson stood command over English
Harbour, overseeing the protection of tall barkentines loaded with sugar,
rum and gold set to sail for Bristol. Meanwhile, the English navy’s
swift 30-cannon frigates set off in search of pirates and the
Spanish, French and Dutch navies. The port was also a refuge from
the elements for all types of ships from nations around the globe. A
natural hurricane hole wreathed by protective mountains, English
Harbour welcomed hundreds of vessels that put in whenever the seas
got dark and stormy. All that naval lore lives on in Nelson’s Dockyard National Park in
English Harbour today.
This is easily Antigua’s most visited attraction with
an eclectic array of pubs and restaurants, intimate inns, sail maker and
shipwright shops, and charter boat services—all housed in 300-year-old
buildings once used as sailor’s barracks. The best time to visit is during
April and May when Nelson’s Dockyard is ground central for the hugely
popular Antigua Sailing Week and Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. Literally
thousands of sailors from as far away as Australia and Japan meet on the
island to sing sea shanties and race among the tropical trade winds in
everything from multi-million dollar mega-yachts to tired old wooden scows.
Around The Sea
Despite so many global visitors throughout the centuries, Antigua has
managed to avoid over-commercialization and saturated development. Almost
all of the oceanfront hotels are low-rise buildings blended into the green
hills and a staggering lineup of 365 white-sand beaches. Because there are
so many superlative beaches, it’s easy for visitors to find privacy on their
own strip of sand. Standouts include Jolly Harbour, Dickenson Bay, Friar’s
Bay, Nonesuch Bay and Half Moon Bay.
For the active crowd, Antigua’s coasts offer some excellent snorkeling
and diving sites because many of the shores are surrounded by underwater
shelves. Off the southwest coast near Johnson’s Point, Cades Reef is a
specially designated underwater park and the island’s most well-known diving
spot. For advanced divers, the ledge of Sunken Rock lures divers down as far
as 180 ft. to see rare fish and other marine life. And for wreck diving, the
most accessible sunken treasure is the Andes schooner, just a short hop from
St. John’s and Five Islands Peninsula.
St. John’s
This capital city of Antigua is a quaint waterfront community laid out in
easily walkable squares that gently slope up the hillside towards the
majestic Anglican Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The view from the church
is worth the walk up because the front rampart overlooks the entire vista of
St. John’s Harbor. In the center of town, the Museum of Antigua & Barbuda
revisits the island’s history through an interesting collection of artifacts
and original photographs. Throughout the week, visiting artists display and
sell their watercolors that capture the natural beauty of Antigua.
Barbuda
Few other inhabited islands in the Caribbean are as far off the tourist
map as Antigua’s sister island Barbuda. The number-one attraction on this
completely unspoiled tropical milieu is the Frigate Bird Sanctuary that’s
accessible only by boat. Birdwatchers can scout out over 170 species of
birds, including more than 5,000 frigate birds. Other pastimes include
beachcombing and exploring historic estates, along with fishing, golfing,
tennis, snorkeling and diving. Barbuda can be reached from Antigua by daily
20-minute flights or a 3-hour cruise.
General Information
Marriage requirements: Visit Ministry of Legal Affairs with valid
U.S. passports and birth certificates or picture I.D. in the form of a valid
driver’s license and pay a registration fee of $40, another $150 for a
marriage application fee and a Marriage Officer’s fee of $50. Applicants
must then confirm date, place and time with Marriage Officer. If previously
married, a divorce decree or death certificate of spouse is required.
Gaming: Multiple casinos are spread throughout the island
Destination Information
Official language: English
Government: Member of the British Commonwealth
Temperature: Averages 79-86ºF
Rainfall: 40 inches annually
Official currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar, but U.S. dollar is
widely accepted
Entry requirements: Valid passport or original birth certificate and
valid I.D. photo in the form of a valid drivers license, plus onward airline
ticket
Departure tax: $20
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