The undulating coast of Antigua accommodates a mess of tucked-away coves and quiet seashores – rumor has it there’s one for daily of the yr.
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 quite a lot of miles from an attractive white-gold shoreline at any time.
From full-scale resort seashores sporting all of the amenities, bays providing the perfect browsing or snorkeling motion, and lonesome desert island coves that you’ve all to your self, these are the 9 greatest seashores in Antigua.
1. Dickenson Bay
For vacationers searching for 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 bundle than this, the place jam-packed resorts jostle with a number of the island’s greatest eating places, bars, cafes, meals vans and water sports activities for a little bit of prime beachfront.
It’s definitely probably the most packed strip of sand, particularly when the enjoyable seekers from the most important of the Sandals Antigua resorts descend.
However as a result of the bay stretches to over a mile in size, there may be invariably area to separate your self from the plenty, and the tradeoff for the crowds is the superb array of actions for whenever 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 excellent for tiny vacationers new to splashing round within the sea.
2. Fort James Seaside
In case you’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, beautiful 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 common Runaway Bay and Dickenson Bay simply to the north.
It’s a much-frequented spot by locals, nonetheless, who create a beautiful environment 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 solely gorgeous.
The Hawksbill by Rex resort complicated straddles a lot of the shore right here; to achieve seashores two, three and 4, guests must move by the resort entrance and safety publish – 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 principally for resort visitors. The fourth, Eden Seaside, is probably the most spectacular of all – although it is the one clothing-optional seashore in Antigua.
An extended slice of sand the colour of banana cream, that is the purpose from which you’ll get pleasure from beautiful views out to the craggy Hawksbill Rock from which the seashores get their identify.
You are greater than welcome to maintain your swimsuit on in the event you’d desire and it is a pleasantly quiet seashore expertise on most days.
4. Ffryes Seaside
Partly reduce off from the remainder of Antigua by a lagoon, the serene sea grape-shaded Ffryes Seaside is a cheerful compromise between busyness and balminess.
This low-key locale attracts households however seldom turns into overly crowded, whereas barbecue amenities and one of many best locations for Antiguan meals on the island, Dennis Cocktail Bar & Restaurant, offer you 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 Seaside
Which facet of Antigua has the perfect seashores? If Robinson Crusoe–esque remoteness is what you crave, it must be the south facet.
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 observe or path (or, when you’ve got one, a non-public yacht).
The simplest land method is from Falmouth Bay: observe indicators for Spring Hill Using Membership, park up close by and observe the observe by scrub and forest for a few miles.
If you wish to be much more intense along 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 facet of a deep lagoon – you’ll have the gorgeous stretch of sand to your self.
6. Pigeon Level Seaside
A curl of neem tree-flanked sand on the peninsula between the south coast’s two most vital pure harbors, Falmouth Harbour and English Harbour, Pigeon Level Seaside 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 price 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? Typically a moniker is manner off the mark however not on this case. This far-reaching sandy crescent has an nearly lunar-like whiteness, particularly when contrasted with surrounding water the colour of blue curaçao. On purely aesthetic grounds, Half Moon Bay is the perfect 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 Seaside
If Lengthy Bay Seaside had nothing to supply in addition to its apostrophe of sand as delicate and white as icing sugar, we nonetheless would not hesitate to incorporate it on any record of high island seashores. However relaxation assured it has tons extra.
Guests listed here 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 greatest pure options, Satan’s Bridge, the place waves have battered Antigua’s craggy easternmost level into geological wonders comparable to a rock arch and blowholes.
Seaside-side amenities are first rate with a small resort, an Italian-Caribbean restaurant and several other kiosks promoting wares.
9. Jabberwock Seaside
Within the northeasternmost nook of the island, the sickle-shaped yellow-white strand of Jabberwock Seaside spans over a mile between Cedar Grove and Camp Blizzard and is probably 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 faculty on the southern finish. This is without doubt one of the closest seashores to the V.C. Chicken Worldwide Airport if you cannot wait to wriggle your toes in Antiguan sand.
