The undulating coast of Antigua incorporates a mess of tucked-away coves and quiet seashores – rumor has it there’s one for each day of the 12 months.
Vacationers flock to the Caribbean due to its fame for impeccable stretches of sand however Antigua is on one other degree. You are by no means various miles from a stupendous white-gold shoreline at any time.
From full-scale resort seashores sporting all of the services, bays providing the most effective browsing or snorkeling motion, and lonesome desert island coves that you’ve got all to your self, these are the 9 finest seashores in Antigua.
1. Dickenson Bay
For vacationers in quest of a full-on, full-facility island seashore, head 5km (3 miles) north of the cruise terminal to Dickenson Bay. Antigua doesn’t present a extra developed seashore package deal than this, the place jam-packed resorts jostle with a few of the island’s finest eating places, bars, cafes, meals vans and water sports activities for a little bit of prime beachfront.
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It’s definitely essentially the most packed strip of sand, particularly when the enjoyable seekers from the largest of the Sandals Antigua resorts descend.
However as a result of the bay stretches to over a mile in size, there may be invariably house to separate your self from the lots, and the tradeoff for the crowds is the wonderful array of actions for once you tire of shifting between your seashore towel and the azure ocean.
Have a leisurely lunch at a distinguished restaurant or attempt a Jet Ski session, wakeboarding, parasailing or tubing.
Planning tip: The calm, shallow waters at Dickenson Bay are good for tiny vacationers new to splashing round within the sea.
2. Fort James Seashore
If you happen to’re visiting Antigua as a part of a Caribbean cruise, that is the seashore for you. It’s the closest high quality seashore to the cruise port in St John, a mere 3.5km (2.2-mile) drive away (or, for these with time and inclination, a pleasant stroll).
But regardless of sporting an extended, pretty fringe of white-blonde sand and the intriguingly moody ruins of the 18th-century Fort James on the headland on the southern finish, it sees far fewer guests than the perennially widespread Runaway Bay and Dickenson Bay simply to the north.
It’s a much-frequented spot by locals, nonetheless, who create an exquisite ambiance with their spirited video games of volleyball and seashore cricket, and there are a few low-key however excellent eateries close to the fort.
3. Hawksbill seashores
To the west of St John’s sprawl, the peninsula containing 5 Islands Village buts into the ocean in a form resembling a goat’s head. It is particularly beach-rich, even by Antigua’s exemplary requirements, and the Hawksbill Bay quartet of strands on the western finish is just beautiful.
The Hawksbill by Rex resort complicated straddles a lot of the shore right here; to succeed in seashores two, three and 4, guests should go by the resort entrance and safety submit – it’s absolutely permitted but a deterrent for a lot of.
The primary sands are simply earlier than the resort and the second and third are largely for resort visitors. The fourth, Eden Seashore, is essentially the most spectacular of all – although it is the one clothing-optional seashore in Antigua.
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A protracted slice of sand the colour of banana cream, that is the purpose from which you’ll take pleasure in beautiful views out to the craggy Hawksbill Rock from which the seashores get their title.
You are greater than welcome to maintain your swimsuit on when you’d favor and it is a pleasantly quiet seashore expertise on most days.
4. Ffryes Seashore
Partly reduce off from the remainder of Antigua by a lagoon, the serene sea grape-shaded Ffryes Seashore is a cheerful compromise between busyness and balminess.
This low-key locale attracts households however seldom turns into overly crowded, whereas barbecue services and one of many biggest locations for Antiguan meals on the island, Dennis Cocktail Bar & Restaurant, provide you with causes aplenty to linger.
Planning tip: That is the West Coast’s best-known seashore, however if you would like to snorkel, head to Darkwood Bay with its alluringly iridescent waters and secret part of reef simply south of Ffryes.
5. Rendezvous Bay Seashore
Which aspect of Antigua has the most effective seashores? If Robinson Crusoe–esque remoteness is what you crave, it needs to be the south aspect.
A part of the joys is arriving on the flaxen arc of Rendezvous Bay: it’s amongst Antigua’s most remoted seashores, stashed alongside a delightfully undeveloped chunk of coast, and the one manner in is on foot alongside a tough monitor or path (or, when you’ve got one, a non-public yacht).
The simplest land method is from Falmouth Bay: comply with indicators for Spring Hill Driving Membership, park up close by and comply with the monitor by scrub and forest for a few miles.
If you wish to be much more intense together with your method, attempt approaching the longer path by the rainforest from Wallings Nature Reserve.
Both is the proper rugged build-up to the lonesome rainforest-backed seashore itself, spreading both aspect of a deep lagoon – you could have the attractive stretch of sand to your self.
6. Pigeon Level Seashore
A curl of neem tree-flanked sand on the peninsula between the south coast’s two most important pure harbors, Falmouth Harbour and English Harbour, Pigeon Level Seashore attracts visiting vessels aplenty.
With its gently shelving shore, it’s additionally inviting for a household splash-around. And don’t miss sitting right down to eat at Catherine’s Cafe Plage, the place French-meets-Caribbean delicacies is served in a divine, sequestered-away setting with sun-shielding back-of-beach foliage.
Planning tip: Close by is Antigua’s blockbuster sight, the UNESCO-listed 18th-century nautical complicated of Nelson’s Dockyard. That is among the many world’s oldest marinas, repeatedly used since 1745 and value a go to. It was the British Navy’s base throughout their colonization of Antigua and Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson lived right here between 1784 and 1787.
7. Half Moon Bay
What’s in a reputation? Generally a moniker is manner off the mark however not on this case. This far-reaching sandy crescent has an virtually lunar-like whiteness, particularly when contrasted with surrounding water the colour of blue curaçao. On purely aesthetic grounds, Half Moon Bay is the most effective seashore in Antigua.
Bodysurfers gravitate to the south whereas snorkelers make a beeline for the extra placid sea on the northern finish. Later within the day, everybody convenes within the center for a lunch of grilled fish.
Discover across the headland to the north and revel in cracking views that open out to uninhabited Smith Island.
8. Lengthy Bay Seashore
If Lengthy Bay Seashore had nothing to supply moreover its apostrophe of sand as tender and white as icing sugar, we nonetheless would not hesitate to incorporate it on any record of prime island seashores. However relaxation assured it has heaps extra.
Guests listed below are coaxed immediately out into the teal shallows by the reef that shelters the bay, which makes this one of many most interesting snorkeling seashores on the island.
Spy the likes of sponges, blue-headed wrasse and parrotfish, then enterprise east to the gangly peninsula of Indian Level.
Right here beckons one other of the island’s finest pure options, Satan’s Bridge, the place waves have battered Antigua’s craggy easternmost level into geological wonders resembling a rock arch and blowholes.
Seashore-side services are respectable with a small resort, an Italian-Caribbean restaurant and a number of other kiosks promoting wares.
9. Jabberwock Seashore
Within the northeasternmost nook of the island, the sickle-shaped yellow-white strand of Jabberwock Seashore spans over a mile between Cedar Grove and Camp Blizzard and is essentially the most constantly reliable spot for windsurfing and kiteboarding.
Commerce winds hit the north of the island first, and right here sea breezes blast straight towards the shore – if the surf’s up anyplace on Antigua, it’s at Jabberwock.
There’s a kiteboarding college on the southern finish. This is likely one of the closest seashores to the V.C. Chicken Worldwide Airport if you cannot wait to wriggle your toes in Antiguan sand.
