Antigua and Barbuda Things to Do

 
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Old Fort

by Airpunk

The ruins of this fort, which is officially called "Old Fort", are located on the southern end of Dickenson Bay in the Northwest of the island. Among all Antiguan forts and fort ruins, this is the least well preserved I have seen. Only a small building and several remains of walls can be seen there. Like almost all fort ruins, there are no barriers or restrictions, so that you can walk and climb around as you like. For a better preserved structure, see Fort James which is only a short drive away (or around 25 minutes of walk) to the south.

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Dickenson Bay Beach

by Airpunk

Dickenson Bay is one of the most popular beach areas in the northwest of the island. Unfortunately, it can become very crowded as many hotels, bars and watersport facilities have opened their doors as the beach. The southern strecht of Dickenson Bay is the quieter part. From there, it is easy to spot waterbirds or climb the ruins of the Old Fort. For a drink or to rent a boat, go to ther northern part.For details about the old fort, please see my respective tip.

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Devil’s Bridge

by Airpunk

Devil’s Bridge is the most popular natural monument of Antigua. Water and time have carved this arch of limestone with a length of around 10 meters and a height of around 4. There are many legends around this place. Some say that this was a places where slaves commited suicide out of their desparation. Others tell that if you throw to eggs into the water, the devil will keep one and return the other. Fact is that dumb tourists try to swim there and don’t come back alive. The currents and waves are strong there and the rocks quite sharp. Some others try to walk on the bridge. Please don’t do that – not because I care for your health, but because it may destroy this wonder of nature forever.Close to the Bridge, a couple of meters to the north, there’s some other notable formation created by the elements. Perhaps not more than a hole, it makes noises like a big, deep-breathing creature and...

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Galleon Beach

by Airpunk

Galleon Beach is one of the beaches at English Harbour. It is surrounded by a couple of holiday facilities, like the Galleaon Beach Resort and Calabash restaurant. This makes the beach a less idyllic place – despite its relatively isolated position. Shortly spoken: If you do not want to visit one of the hotels or restaurants at Galleon Beach, I see no reasons to chose this Beach over others. Well, perhaps there’s still a reason: Three of the hiking trails thorugh Nelson’s Dockyard National park start at or very close to Galleon Beach. So Galleon Beach may be a good point to rest, if you take one of the pathes in direction of Galleon Beach.

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Shirley Heights

by Airpunk

If you ask locals what you should see during your visit in Antigua, the two places named are Nelson’s Dockyad and Shirley Heights. Shirley Heights is not just the Lookout, but also includes structures at a point called the “Blockhouse” as well as the ruins of further military buildings. Unfortunately, most tourists’ understanding of Shirley Heights is the steelband concert with cocktails and beer which takes place every Sunday evening. I went there on a Monday – if I want to see drunken Brits, I go to Riga */**. The “Lookout” and the “Blockhouse” are good places to enjoy the view over English Harbour. But both are frequently visited by tourists with the “Lookout” having an overpriced bar/restaurant and the “Blockhouse” a couple of souvernir stands. On the way to these places you’ll see the ruins of other structures, including the Gunners’s Baracks and Officers’s Quarters. Two abandoned...

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Pigeon Beach

by Airpunk

A very popular beach with locals and tourists, although I did not have the impression that it was crowded. The beach is part of Nelson’s Dockyard National Park and offers basic facilities like a bar (some meals are available here too), restrooms and umbrellas. A good place to take a rest.

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Dow’s Hill and Interpretation Center

by Airpunk

The interpretation center on Dow’s Hill is home to a 15-minute multimedia show, a summary of Antigua and Barbuda’s history. The show is probably not the most exciting, but is lovely and good to get an overview. An observatory point from the late 18th century was built on Dow’s Hill too. It was used to transmit a signal to St. John’s (via other observation points) in case of an attack in the southeast of the island. Of course, you can use this old observation point for your own needs too – for example to enjoy the view over English Harbour. As all places within the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, also the entry fee to this place is included in the entry fee to the park. However, this is the place where you have to leave one – and probably the last - part of your card.

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Fort Berkeley

by Airpunk

This small fort was built on a peninsula in front of english harbour, thus on a strategically important position. In 1704, the first stone of Fort Berkeley was placed and the structure was in use until the late 19th century. The most important parts are the gun battery at the end of the peninsula, the guardhouse and the bomb-proof gunpowder magazine on the side facing the harbour. On the battery, a 25-ton gun with the coat of arms of King George III is still preserved. Unfortunately, the rest of the fort was left into decay. It was in 1989 when first restorations took place. Today, the fort is open to visitors. Fort Berkeley is accesible from Nelson’s Dockyard via a path starting behing a guesthouse called “The Copper and Lumber Store”. It is also the start/end point of the “Middle Ground Trail”, a hiking path leading from Fort Berkeley to Pigeon Beach.

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Hiking in Antigua

by Airpunk

I don’t know, if there is some kind of hiking guide to Antigua. I tried to rely on the free map provided almost everywhere on the island, which resulted in some interesting situations. If you like Hiking, I would like to recommend trying out the five hiking paths at Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. However, depending on your physical condition, it is also possible to cover other distances on your own feet. For example, you do not necessarily need a vehicle to get from one point of the park to another. But it is also easy to walk from St. John’s to the beaches north of it. Keep on the side of the road and plan your tour with a reliable map. It is an interesting way to discover the island and it’s for free.For more tips about Hiking in Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, please have a look at my respective tip. They are found in the sports section.

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Nelson’s Dockyard National Park

by Airpunk

For me, the most interesting parts of the island are located in the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park in the southeast of the island. That does not only include military harbour known as Nelson’s Dockyard, but many ruins of old buildings as well as a beautiful landscape to explore. Several hiking paths through the national park will lead you to the most interesting sites of southeastern Antigua. This includes following places:On the eastern side of the bay:-Shirley Heights, including several ruins as well as the “Lookout” and the “Blockhouse”-Dow Hill with interpretation center-Carpenter RockOn the western side of the bay:-Nelson’s Dockyard with museum-Fort Berkeley-Ruins on Middle Ground-Pigeon BeachThe park is located at and around English Harbour. Somehow, I didn’t understans the ticketing system. I got two cards, of which one was taken away immediately and the other at the...

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Fun things to do in Antigua and Barbuda

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Q:  Need to provision a Sail boat in couple of weeks. We are chartering out of Jolly H. Where are the best prices for staples such as... 

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A: thanks for your help but we are the crew..there are plenty of provisioning services there but the whole idea is to do it your self and safe$ We always do our own stuff... 

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