Why You Should Choose Antigua For Your Next Caribbean Island Vacation

Choosing a Caribbean Island Vacation is difficult because to the outsider the Caribbean is just the Caribbean, with each island being much like the other. The insider will however tell you that each island has its own identity, none more so than Antigua.

The island of Antigua is always associated with Barbuda, but this article isn't about Antigua and Barbuda, but about what it is that should make you want to choose Antigua for your Caribbean Island Vacation.

Antigua is the largest of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, north of Montserrat and Guadeloupe, and to the south and east of Nevis, St Kitts, St Barts, and St Martin. It is some fourteen miles long and eleven miles wide, totalling 108 square miles. This means with its 365 beaches, one for every day of the year, there is plenty Antigua to explore, and furthermore there is lots to see thanks to the close links with Britain and the British Navy in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century.

Visitors who have chosen Antigua for their Caribbean Island Vacation, also inevitably visit English Harbour which is Antigua's evocative historical district, around Nelson's Dockyard National Park. The whole harbour area was the headquarters of the fleet in Nelson's time. There are historical buildings and fortifications to be seen around the park.

Antigua's beaches are of course a huge reason for taking a Caribbean Island Vacation here. The majority of the beaches are on the west coast , which is the more sheltered calm and protected part.

All of the beaches are open to the public and each has different characteristics, so the main difficulty you will have is finding the perfect Antigua beach for you. One piece of advice is to never go to isolated beaches on your own, and another is to make sure you get good directions before you go.

On the northwest coast you will find Dickenson Bay and Runaway Bay, both highly developed and great resort beaches. Closest to St Johns are Fort James, and Deep Bay. In the winter surfers go to Galley Bay and the four beaches at Hawksbill are impressive, just beware that one is a nudist beach.

On the southwest and south coast of Antigua are where you will find the less visited and developed beaches because the area is quite hilly. A road winds along the coast here and you will find beaches like Fryes Bay, Darkwood Beach, and the beaches around Johnsons Point.

Rendezvous Bay, and Doigs Beach are especially very quiet beaches but not easy to get to. If you are looking for an Antigua Beach to relax on after visiting English Harbour then try Pigeon Point.

On the east coast, the south east corner is Half Moon Bay, is a national park, and if you want a family beach, then this and Long Bay which is as far to the east as you can go are both outstanding. The beaches facing east are quite rough but great for beachcombing.

Whether it is history and sightseeing or beaches, Antigua has something for everyone as a Caribbean Island Vacation

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