Antigua and Barbuda

Welcome to the two islands that have been and will continue to be linked together in a Caribbean paradise. Antigua and Barbuda have shared a common heritage and history through the attempts at colonization throughout the Caribbean. Although both the British and French tried to establish a colony early, none of the attempts were successful until 1666 when the British finally created a foundation for a community that survived both the Carib Indians and the heavy factor of Mother Nature. Since then, Antigua and Barbuda have shared fortunes and famines together.

With warm winds and a number of safe harbors against the tempestuous Caribbean weather, Antigua and Barbuda have both long been refuges for travelers and explorers alike. Admiral Horatio Nelson sailed into Antigua in 1784 and created a strong Caribbean base for the British. The monuments and artifacts of these days are still reflected on the island to this day.

Visit the famous English Harbour to see where Nelson first sailed in. The scenes of this harbor are sure to evoke history and Antigua's Caribbean heritage as the centerpiece is Nelson's Dockyard National Park. This harbor was a busy port until the nineteenth century when it was closed in 1889. Fortunately for us, it has since been restored and is now the only Georgian dockyard in the world.

From here, find the nearby Clarence House, which was a residence built for King William IV who serve under Nelson as the captain of the H.M.S. Pegasus. Tour this home to get a feel for the lifestyle and artifacts from the time. Go walking or hiking along the coastline to see Shirley Heights. Shirley Heights in Antigua is where the guns and military buildings were to see the financially rewarding sunken ships, possible aggressors to the island and more. Today, you can hike up to this point and see boats sailing in the waters below, enjoying a full view of the English Harbour.

Plan a short stay from swimming and scuba diving in the bright blue waters off Antigua when you travel to the Sea View Farm Village for a short stay. Here, you can see Antiguan pottery from the early 18th century and current local pieces gathered from the pits nearby. Purchase pottery at the shops for gifts and memories of your time on this wondrous island.

While in town, travel to St. John's, which has a museum in the middle of it that contains a number of artifacts and exhibits about life in Antigua, including a life-size replica of the Viv Richards, who was once a great cricket player. You can blend the historical attractions with the cultural sites of note to get a better understanding of what it means to be an Antiguan local.

Barbuda is a quiet, relaxing companion to Antigua. Less developed than its sister island, Barbuda offers hours of beachcombing, scuba diving, sailing and more. Wake up each day at your own private villa or luxury accommodation or just enjoy the pink beaches as you let your mood dictate what you want to do here.

Be sure to plan to come here during the ten days of Carnival. You can see the festivities, costumes, incredible food and friendly people during this celebration. Enjoy the Miss Antigua Pageant and the Panorama steel band competition, parades, local concerts and more. Calypso is often played here and is its competitions are one of the highlights during Carnival. You can hear calypso, steel drum bands and more. Soca is a newer form of island music which first appeared in the 1970's and is now as popular as reggae throughout the Caribbean islands.

When you enjoy scuba diving, these islands offer large coral reefs, walls and shipwrecks off the coast. You can see a number of shelves off the coast of Barbuda and very little current, with visibility up to 140 feet. Cades Reef is partly an underwater marine park, while the local shipwreck from 1905 is a three-masted ship easily seen in under 30 feet of water in Deep Bay. The Sunken Rock off the southern coast is a popular site for advanced scuba divers. Spend some time off the water and enjoy playing a game of golf at the Jolly Harbor Golf Club or the Cedar Valley Golf Club. There is a 9-hole course at the K-Club in Barbuda. There is a good amount of golf villas to rent on the island and luxury apartments.

Enjoy sea fishing and more when you plan your luxury vacation to Antigua and Barbuda. You can plan a family holiday, romantic private villa escape and more when you rent an apartment here with villas and cottages that have a luxury pool, A/C, BBQ area and more. Search our listed holiday rentals and start planning your dream luxury holiday today!

There is a variety of top quality accommodation on Antigua and Barbuda from beautiful beach front luxury villas, cottages, and houses to individual rental apartments available from owners direct. There is also a good selection of cheap holidays on offer at some of Antigua's best beach locations.