The twin-island paradise of Antigua and Barbuda is captivating visitors seeking a healthy lifestyle and the perfect balance in 2023 starting with an all-new Antigua and Barbuda Wellness Month in January and continuing with a series of retreats and exciting experiences for visitors to participate in during the year. Discover the best events, activities, and eateries below.
Events
Wellness Month – January 2023 If your New Year’s resolution calls for embracing a wellness lifestyle, Antigua and Barbuda is the perfect place to start with a brand new Wellness Month. During each week in January 2023, visitors can immerse themselves in wellness activities in nature ranging from complimentary ‘Soca-robix’ and Zumba classes, meditative yoga in the countryside, various hikes in lush hills and a variety of spa treatments. Visitors will enjoy healthy dining options utilizing local produce in addition to other wellness offerings by providers throughout the country. Interested participating in Dry January? Head to the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism’s social media pages for interactive sessions that will teach you how to make the perfect mocktail. www.visitantiguabarbuda.com
Wellness continues to be a focus throughout the year in Antigua & Barbuda with numerous activities planned to include:
Carlisle Bay Wellness Retreat - February 2023 Escape to Carlisle Bay from 24 – 27 February for a 3-night all-inclusive Wellness Retreat including daily mindful meditation, gentle yoga classes to suit all levels and abilities, daily activities including reef snorkelling at Cades Bay, a guided rainforest hike to Signal Hill and a local cooking demonstration. A mindfulness coach, holistic health practitioner and yoga instructor will guide creative and soulful yoga practices suitable for all levels. Carlisle Bay will also host a second wellness retreat from 19 – 22 May. www.carlisle-bay.com
Health and Wellness Weekend Curtain Bluff - April 2023 Tucked away on Antigua’s south coast, relaxation awaits at Curtain Bluff. Curtain Bluff will host two Health & Wellness Weeks in 2023 taking place from 15 – 22April and 22 – 26 April. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy daily intimate group classes such as Vinyasa Flow yoga practice, pilates, tennis lessons with in-house pros catered to all levels and daily spa treatments from an exclusive Health & Wellness Week menu. Weekly offerings will also be available, including aqua aerobics, a sunset meditation, a fitness walk through Old Road Village and a hike to Boggy Peak (Mount Obama), Wallings Dam, and Tobacco Bay led by in-house practitioners. www.curtainbluff.com
Run in Paradise – May 2023 Antigua and Barbuda’s most anticipated marathon race returns on 28 May 2023. Runners from around the world join seasoned national athletes and fitness enthusiasts in Antigua for ‘Run in Paradise’. The race traverses the colourful city of St. John’s and Antigua’s north coast, offering one of the most scenic courses in the world. Distances of a marathon, half marathon, 10k and 5k courses offers activities for all skill levels. Friends and family are encouraged to cheer on the runners and stay for the fun when the race concludes at the historic Fort James beach. www.runinparadise.com
Forest Bathing and Beach Massages
Find Balance in Nature at Wild Lotus Glamping Inspired by Shinrin-Yoku, the art of ‘Forest Bathing’, guests at Wild Lotus Glamping can now experience a refreshing and invigorating CBD oil massage in the heart of Antigua’s rainforest. Soak in the relaxing atmosphere, lower your blood pressure and boost your immune system. Expert masseuses blend locally made CBD oil with Paracetamol bush and Aloe Vera, creating a powerful pain-relieving and skin rejuvenating balm. Throughout the massage, guests are led through a ritual of deep breathing and meditation, allowing for complete immersion of the senses. www.wildlotusglamping.com/personal-retreats
Beach Massages in Barbuda For a slow pace, serenity and pink, sandy beaches, travel to Barbuda. Nobu Barbuda offers a new hideaway for travellers in the form of a consciously designed beach club, Nobu restaurant and lounge. As the most recent addition, the beach club is an all-day Nobu experience unlike any other, with sun beds, private cabanas and beach-front massages available upon request. www.noburestaurants.com/barbuda/the-experiences/beach-club/
Spa Experiences
Experience The Freshest Fruit Facial in Nelson’s Dockyard Secluded within The Powder Room Spa at Gun Powder House in scenic English Harbour is the Wellness Spa, where the subdued light, quiet and coolness is perfect for incredible massages and facials. This is where the spa’s signature organic product line, Elements Antigua, glows. These hand-made products are created in small batches by local Mary Wilkinson, ensuring both quality and freshness. Personally blended massage oils including the finest local ingredients makes for some added healing during a treatment.
This season The Powder Room Spa is excited to unveil their continuing and expanding Fresh Food Facial menu. In addition to the luxurious signature line, is the use of exquisite clays from around the world, paired with fresh, local produce and honey for the nutritional boost for an entirely national and international experience that is out of this world. www.thepowderroomspaanu.com
New Tours
Amenta Wellness Journey Prepare for an adventurous wellness experience that will take you to some of the most beautiful places in Antigua. The journey begins in the green pastures of Ebenezer, where Shaman King Swahili, will greet and lead the group into meditation and yoga before the hike to Green Castle Hill. At the summit, be awed by panoramic views of the island. After the hike, fuel your mind and body with a private lunch on a clear turquoise beach catered by some of the finest local vegan chefs. www.amentatours.com/choose-wellness
Ras Freeman Tour with Humbe and Free Wadadli Explore the roots and culture of Antigua through the lens of Rastafari on a one hour guided tour through the sacred grounds of Ras Freeman. Located in one of the first villages to be freed during slavery, the former plantation is now a place for worship, farming, natural living, history and heritage. Explore the landscape and learn more about Rastafari's role in making Antigua a more food secure nation. www.humbleandfreewadadli.com/rasfreemantour
Healthy Eating
Antigua’s Newest Plant-Based Restaurant Situated on a fruit and vegetable farm, Bush Bungalow Creations is the Caribbean’s first minimal waste, plant-based restaurant showcasing local and regional cuisine. The open-air restaurant with a rustic, natural ambience offers healthy menu options skillfully created by Chef Jermaine Jonas. On this season’s menu are breakfast smoothies, gratitude bowls, delicious mains such as a plant-based shepherd’s pie, and tasty pastries like a gluten-free sweet potato crust pizza with a basil pesto, roasted tomatoes, arugula and a cashew mozzarella. www.instagram.com/bushbungalowcreations
Antigua and Barbuda Wellness Guide and Video Find out more about Antigua and Barbuda’s wellness experiences on offer through the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority’s Wellness Guide on www.visitantiguabarbuda.com/wellness-guide
Discover Antigua and Barbuda’s Wellness Offerings by viewing video: Antigua and Barbuda: Your Wellness Destination