Visiting this hidden gem of paradise on your next Caribbean trip and not sure where to start? With 365 white sandy beaches and plenty of rum to be drank, let’s walk through some things you can’t miss while visiting the island.
Shirley Heights
This is the ultimate sunset spot and can’t be missed. While this is 100% a tourist attraction, it will always be worth it. I would do this every time when visiting the island. Why? Between the vibes, the views and the drinks, there are no complaints coming from me here. To get in you will have to pay $10 per person and from there you can enjoy the rest of your night. The first stop for me would be to grab one of their special rum punches, but if you aren’t one for rum punches, they have a full bar to choose from. Next would be to find the perfect spot to view the sunset and listen to music, aka their steel band. From there, just enjoy the whole vibe and watch the sunset from the panoramic view of the English Harbour.
Take an Island Tour
This is without a doubt the best way to see the island and from a local point of view, which is the biggest bonus. Your tour could include seeing some of the historical, cultural and beauty of the island. From old forts to unique beaches, it is definitely worth taking a day/half day for a tour. We were able to see different beaches, Devil’s Bridge, eat local foods, go shopping in St. Johns and drive through the rainforest. Don’t forget to be on the lookout for the occasional mongoose running along the road.
KJ Experiences should be your top choice for your island tour! Full of knowledge and wanting to show you the best of the island, experience only the best with KJ. There are different tours that you are able to choose from based on what you may desire to see/do. Be sure to reach out to osleyjames8121@gmail.com to discuss what your tour could be.
Boat Trip
No matter what your budget is while traveling, this needs to be added to your itinerary. A boat trip could be half a day, a full day or a sunset cruise, whether it’s private or not. It will be the best decision you’ll make.
We chose to do a full boat day tour that included lunch, and it turned out to be the best day! It was pretty rough out, but we went all the way to the other side of the island where it was much calmer. I’m not sure if there are usually multiple stops to swim, but we just stayed in one spot the whole time. We got to swim around the reef seeing the fish, a stingray, a couple of remoras and tons of turtles. You truly can’t beat a picnic surrounded by sea turtles.
If you’re looking to charter a boat that is private, I’d highly suggest going out with Cleve and Garfield from Carlisle Bay. They will make sure that your day meets all your needs. I don’t think I ever had an empty drink while on the boat. For all the best vibes, ask them to play some Reggae or Soca music.
Visit the Beach
This one is very obvious, but it has to be mentioned. Yes, wherever you stay, you will have a beach and pool to relax. However, this island supposedly has 365 beaches. While some are only accessible by boat, plenty are reachable by taxi. So where should you go? Half Moon Bay, Jolly Harbour, Hermitage Beach and Dickenson Bay are very popular and gorgeous beaches. As a personal suggestion, I’d say visiting Ffryes Beach is a must. No matter which beach we visited, it was never overly packed. Which honestly shows what a hidden gem Antigua is.
Drink Rum
Can you really go to the Caribbean and not drink rum? Absolutely not (unless you don’t drink alcohol, no judgment here.) For those who do, you definitely need to try an island favorite, English Harbour Rum. This is best paired with ginger beer, ginger ale or tonic. My choice is ginger ale, but you’ll have to let me know yours after you try it! Lastly, you can’t leave the island without having a Rum punch or two. Each bartender makes it just slightly different by adding their own unique twist. With this drink in hand, island time just got all the more real.
Stay tuned on my socials for more Antigua tips!
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