Antigua

Come savour the many flavours of peaceful Antigua, the ‘beach with an island in the middle’. Immerse yourself in an exotic and amicable world at the geographical, cultural, social and spiritual heart of the Caribbean.

In 1784 Admiral Nelson, attracted by the warm, steady winds, the complex coastline of safe harbours, and the protective, nearly unbroken wall of coral reef., established Great Britain's most important Caribbean base. Little did he know that over 200 years later the same unique characteristics that attracted the Royal Navy would transform Antigua and Barbuda in to one of the Caribbean's most sought after destinations.

The Trade Winds that once blew British men-of-war safely into English Harbour now fuel one of the world's foremost maritime events, Sailing Week. The expansive, winding coastline that made Antigua difficult for outsiders to navigate is where today's travellers encounter a tremendous wealth of secluded, powdery soft beaches. The coral reefs, once the bane of marauding enemy ships, now attract snorkelers and scuba divers from all over the world. For those preferring ‘terra firma’, tennis, golf, squash, hiking and horse riding are among the many land based activities on offer.

The unspoilt, naturally charming resort island of Antigua is the largest of the Leeward Islands and retains an eminence amongst those more selective visitors. The traditions of superb cuisine, smiling faces and a wonderful variety of accommodation ensure a high number of repeat visitors. Carlisle Bay is the perfect example of this, offering a private bay and utter luxury on the southern coast of the island.

The weather in Antigua is almost always nice. The temperature remains fairly constant year round, making this the perfect island to visit any time of the year.

Antigua´s annual average temperatures range between 22 and 30 degrees celcius, depending upon the season at which you are looking. During the winter, the country´s temperatures hover between 23 to 25 degrees celcius, and during the summer time, they stay in the upper 20´s and early 30´s.

The coolest hours throughout the country are after the sun has gone down, when the temperature can drop to two to four degrees less than daylight hours. With the steady trade winds blowing from the northeast, this can make evenings a little chilly for some visitors. The warmest hours on the island are midday during the summer time.

Hurricane season is from June 1 to November 31, and Antigua does lie in the path of what is considered "Hurricane Alley." Despite this fact, there have only been six direct hits on the island in the past fifty years. Because the Caribbean region makes up such a vast area, the chances of one island constantly being hit is slim. It is more common for Antigua to be affected by the outlying bands of the hurricane, which will bring strong winds, clouds, and heavy rainfall.

This shouldn´t deter you from booking a trip to the island during this time, however. The amount of technology available in the field of meteorology makes it impossible for a hurricane to hit the island unawares. If a hurricane is any threat to Antigua, you will likely know several days in advance of your trip, and be able to make other arrangements.

Boating
Sailing has been a central part of Antigua´s culture for centuries, ever since the British under Horatio Nelson made English Harbour their Caribbean base. Today, the stately Georgian architecture of Nelson´s Dockyard hosts a more pleasure-seeking fleet--the international racing boats, recreational yachts, and classic sailboats of Antigua´s annual Sailing Week. With such a rich marine tradition, its no surprise that boats of all sorts can be hired in Antigua. Most hotels have Sunfish or Sailfish, and a number of companies hire yachts.

Cricket 
Antiguans are more than a little devoted to cricket. The island has historically been a very strong contributor to West Indian and international cricket, and the Antigua Recreation Ground is one of the finest places in the Caribbean to take in a local, regional, or international match. Devotees of the game can visit the Antigua and Barbuda Museum for a look at the infamous cricket bat of Vivian Richards, native Antiguan, former captain of the West Indies Cricket Club, and one of the greatest batsmen of all time. Matches can be found almost anywhere on the island, at almost any time.

Diving & Snorkeling
Both Antigua and Barbuda are almost completely surrounded by well-preserved coral reefs, walls, and shipwrecks. The southern and eastern coasts of Antigua and virtually the entire coast of Barbuda are surrounded by shelfs, providing excellent conditions for spectacular shallow diving and snorkeling.

Golfing
There are two golf courses on the Antigua: an 18-hole, 70-par course at the Cedar Valley Golf Club and another at Jolly Harbour. The K-Club on Barbuda also has its own 9-hole course.

Deep sea fishing 
Charter fishing Marlin, Tuna, King fish, Wahoo, Shark or Barracuda, in the Atlantic waters of Antigua.

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