Do you want a quality vacation in a breathtakingly picturesque environment? Have you had enough of crowded popular resorts? Antigua’s archipelago is the perfect choice for you. Christopher Columbus discovered and named Antigua. Its northern side is a strongly shattered limestone board, the south is the remnant of a rundown volcano. Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the Caribbean Community, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States.
Location of Antigua
The tiny independent Central American island nation lies in the middle of the Leeward Islands, where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea. The state consists of three major islands. Barbuda lies northward from Antigua. It has a flat surface of coral limestone. Redona is the smallest of the three and uninhabited. Its 300 m high rocks have volcanic origins. 100 963 people live on the island of 442 km2.
History of Antigua
The first residents of the region were Indians around the year 2400 BC. Later Arawak and Caribbean Indians populated the islands. Natives named the island of Antigua Wadadli, as locals still call the country. Christopher Columbo landed here on his second journey in 1493. He named the island Santa Maria de la Antigua, after a church in Sevilla. Spanish control ended in 1632, the start of British domination. The peonage on Antigua’s sugar cane plantations was banned in 1834. In 1940 Great Britain hired out a part of Antigua to the USA for 99 years, as a military base. From 1967 the country became an associated state of Great Britain. They proclaimed their independence on the 1st of November in 1981. At the same time, the country joined to the Commonwealth of Nations.
Beaches in Antigua
This group of islands welcomes lovers of the sea with beautiful open and hidden beaches. You’ll find amazing gulfs and white sandy shores here. Diving is among the most popular pastimes. The crystal clear water is ideal for discovering the wildlife of the sea.
Gulf of Dickenson:
This beach is a typical Caribbean seaside. The Gulf of Dickenson is a mile westward, with hotels standing above the golden sandy shore. It’s a lively beach with sports opportunities and beach bars. Local establishments provide deckchair rental opportunities and other services. Take a chance and try a glass floor voyage, banana boat, or jet ski. Rent a boat to explore the beautiful sea.
Pigeon Point beach:
A spot of sand near Falmouth port, Pigeon Point is the main public beach on the southern side. It welcomes families with children with shallow water and seagrape trees. It’s also popular among locals. Local cafés and restaurant provide a stylish environment with deckchairs and tables facing the sandy seaside. The French menu and a variety of wines further enhance the elegance of the shore. There’s another bar on the other end of the beach serving simple Indian dishes and cocktails. It’s open every day from morning to evening, sometimes late night. More beaches in Antigua
Main sights in Antigua
Antigua is not a big group of islands. Overseas, however, you have plenty of opportunities to explore the outlying gulfs and reefs by boat. Antigua was a part of the Caribbean region of the British Colony. These times left significant historical memories. This is best illustrated by the multitude of fortresses on the islands. The modern era has arrived here, but the capital, St. John’s, is still worth a peak. The Antigua and Barbuda Museum contains catalogs about the history of the islands. You can view ancient findings, colonial objects, and modern memories as well. If you wish for more recent programs, off-road hikes and zip-line adventures are both very popular.
Weather in Antigua
The Caribbean region is characterized by the all year long hot and humid tropical climate. The weather is somewhat cool and dry from the middle of January to the middle of April. From the middle of June to the middle of November it’s usually hot, wet, and rainy.
Yacht charter Antigua last-minute
There are many ports and anchorages in Antigua, we will list some of them:
Falmouth Harbour
The harbour is located on the south coast of Antigua. It is only a few minutes’ walk from the famous Nelson’s Dockyard Maritime Museum. In the well-equipped harbour there is drinking water and electricity available. The harbour can accommodate larger boats up to 100 m in length. The AYC Marina is home to a regatta in April and the following Antigua Sailing Week.
Catamaran Marina
It is located north of Falmouth Harbour, just minutes from the hustle and bustle of the harbour. However, the distance is enough to make the marina peaceful and quiet. The marina has 60 berths for boats up to 60 m in length. The depth of the seabed is 4 m. In the marina, there is 24-hour security, a hotel and two restaurants.
Nelson’s Dockyard
Nelson’s Dockyard is a 45-minute drive from the capital. It is one of the most famous sailing destinations. Also, the Dockyard is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thanks to regular maintenance and restoration work, the port still preserves its 18th-century look. Once it was a naval base for the British Royal Navy. Today, the Dockyard is part of a complex with museums, parks, restaurants and cafés. You need a permit to berth with your own boat, but you can easily berth with chartered boats.
Jolly Harbour Marina
Although Jolly Harbour Marina is not the largest marina on the island, it is well-equipped and offers quality services for sailors. Whether it is boat maintenance, storage, bicycle rental or even a hairdresser, sailors are not in short supply. The marina has 155 berths of drinking water and electricity.Find yacht routes in the Caribbean or choose another last minute yacht charter in the Caribbean
More information about Antigua
The climate diagrams are based on 30 years of hourly weather model simulations. They give good indications of typical climate patterns and expected conditions (temperature, precipitation, sunshine, and wind). The “mean daily maximum” (solid red line) shows the maximum temperature of an average day for every month for Antigua. Likewise, the “mean daily minimum” (solid blue line) shows the average minimum temperature.
The wind rose for Antigua shows how many hours per year the wind blows from the indicated direction. The diagram for Antigua shows the days per month, during which the wind reaches a certain speed.
Antigua has a stable year-round tropical climate, like other islands in the Caribbean. On the coast, the climate is generally sunny and pleasant year-round. Average temperatures on the island vary usually from 20º to 30º C. The dry season lasts from December to March, the daily average temperature is around 25 º C. From April to October the daily averages are around 28 °C. The rainy season starts in May with showers till November. September is usually the rainiest month. Hurricanes may occur from June through November, most likely during September.
Rent a boat in Antigua, and cruise around Antigua
Day 1. English Harbour – Nonsuch Bay 18, 24 km (11, 33 mi), Day 2. Nonsuch Bay – Low Bay (Barbuda) 55, 26 km (34, 34 mi), Day 3. Low Bay – Coco Point (Barbuda)18, 41 km (11, 44 mi), Day 4. Coco Point – Dickenson Bay 52, 91 km (32, 88 mi), Day 5. Dickenson Bay – St.John’s 6, 34 km (3, 94 mi), Day 6. St.John’s – Jolly Harbour 13, 56 km (8, 42 mi), Day 7. Jolly Harbour – Carlisle Bay – English Harbour 20, 13 km (12, 51 mi).
Day 1. English Harbour – Jolly Harbour 20, 13 km (12, 51 mi), Day 2. Jolly Harbour – Little Bay 48, 05 km (29, 86 mi), Day 3. Little Bay – Marigot (Guadalope) 98, 36 km (61, 12 mi), Day 4. Marigot – Pointe-à-Pitre 61, 30 km (38, 09 mi), Day 5. Pointe-à-Pitre – La Désirade 54, 55 km (33, 90 mi), Day 6. La Désirade – Port Louis (Guadalope) 66, 03 km (41, 03 mi), Day 7. Port Louis – Nonsuch Bay – English Harbour 94, 26 km (58, 57 mi).
Day 1. St. John’s – Long Island 16, 99 km (10, 56 mi), Day 2. Long Island – Barbuda 54, 97 km (34, 16 mi), Day 3. Barbuda – Gustavia 109, 89 km (68, 29 mi), Day 4. Gustavia – Anguilla 40, 58 km (25, 21 mi), Day 5. Anguilla – Saint Kitts and Navis 94, 84 km (58, 93 mi), Day 6. Basseterre (St.Kitts & Nv.) – Redonda 58, 53 km (36, 37 mi), Day 7. Redonda – Montserrat – St. John’s 71, 55 km (44, 46 mi)
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