Antigua Island Attractions
* During its May to December nesting season, the rare hawksbill sea turtle may be sighted at Pasture Bay on Jumby Bay Island.
* An archaeological site of floor flints dating back 7000 years lies on the northeastern corner of Jumby Bay Island.
* Casinos are located in English Harbor on Antigua.
* Once a base for the British Navy, English Harbor is home to Antigua’s historic district including Nelson’s Dockyard National Park.
* The tiny uninhabited islet of Great Bird Island is a bird watcher’s fantasy.
* On Antigua, Green Castle Hill offers a spectacular three-way view of the island. Rock formations, thought to be prehistoric megaliths, rise up 180 meters.
* Jumby Bay offers over four miles of hiking and walking trails. There are numerous hiking trails throughout Antigua such as Wailing’s Woodland, Old Road, Falmouth and Rendezvous
* On Antigua, The Museum of Antigua & Barbuda features Arawak and colonial artifacts discovered on both islands.
* Antigua’s Shirley’s Heights features a partially restored fortification of the island’s observation post, breathtaking views from atop the hills and Victorian gardens.
* Colorful shops and local vendors in St. John’s, Antigua, offer wonderful native products. Duty-free Heritage Quay or Redcliffe Quay are excellent for wares from clothing, jewelry, local arts and crafts to Cuban cigars.
Location:
Antigua (pronounced An-tee’ga) and Barbuda are located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, roughly 17 degrees north of the equator. To the south are the islands of Montserrat and Guadeloupe, and to the north and west are Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barths, and St. Martin.
Size:
Antigua, the largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands, is about 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, encompassing 108 square miles. Its highest point is Boggy Peak (1319 ft.), located in the southwestern corner of the island. Barbuda, a flat coral island with an area of only 68 square miles, lies approximately 30 miles due north. The nation also includes the tiny (0.6 square mile) uninhabited island of Redonda, now a nature preserve. The current population for the nation is approximately 68,000 and its capital is St. John’s on Antigua.
CURRENCY AND CREDIT CARDS
The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$ or XCD), which is divided into 100 cents. Paper money runs in denominations of EC$5, EC$10, EC$20, EC$50 and EC$100 bills, and coins in 1¢, 2¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢ and EC$1 pieces.
To ensure hassle-free purchases during your trip, you may want to contact your credit card company and let them know you will be travelling abroad.
DEPARTURE TAX
Antigua & Barbuda charges a US$20/EC$50 airport departure tax.
ILLEGAL ITEMS
There are harsh penalties for possession, use or trafficking in illegal drugs, and strict regulations for the temporary importation or export of firearms, medications and animals. It is illegal, even for children, to import or wear camouflage material and camouflage clothing.
For more information call Customs and Excise at 268/462-0026/8.
LANGUAGE
English
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
Jan 1 New Year’s Day
Mar/Apr (varies) Good Friday
Mar/Apr (varies) Easter Monday
May (first Mon) Labour Day
May/June (varies) Whit Monday
Aug (first Mon) Carnival Monday
Aug (first Tue) Carnival Tuesday
Nov 1 Independence Day
Dec 9 National Heroes Day
Dec 25 Christmas Day
Dec 26 Boxing Day
Note: When a designated holiday falls on a Sun, the public holiday is observed on the Mon.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The phone system in Antigua & Barbuda is modern and cellular and Internet services are available.
The country code is 268. Local phone numbers have seven digits. Local phone numbers begin with a 4 or 5 and cellular phone numbers begin with a 7. For local directory enquiries dial 411 and for international operator assistance dial 0.
TEMPERATURES
Temperatures vary between the mid 70s (°F) in winter to the mid 80s (°F) in summer with an average annual temperature of 75°F.
TIME ZONE
The island is on Atlantic Standard Time year round, which is four hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). During the summer the time is the same as on the east coast of North America and during the winter it is one hour ahead.
GETTING THERE
Major airlines such as American, US Airways, and British Airways provide service to Antigua’s V.C. Bird International Airport from destinations in North America, Europe, and the Caribbean. Taxis meet every flight to take vacationers to their choice destination on the island. Despite reduced flights, flying remains a popular way of reaching Antigua or any island in the Caribbean.
Sailing and yachting is especially popular in Antigua as the island hosts a popular sailing week and regatta and also boasts challenging terrain on it’s eastern shore for the sailing elite. The historic English Harbour is a fabled destination among sailors and a major reason why sailing and yachting is such a popular means of traveling to or around Antigua.
Choose a method of travel that appeals to you. Those wishing to experience as much of the island as they can will choose to fly. For those cruising or sailing to the island, the vacation starts before their arrival. Either way, Antigua offers beaches and culture for those traveling to its shores.
GETTING AROUND
- Taxis
- Rental cars
- Bicycle rentals
- Motorcycle rentals
- Public bus service