With the end of winter in sight, travelers are looking towards sunnier climes for a much-needed break from the gloom. The twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda holds just the answer with its endless array of sugary white sandy beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters. Whether it’s hiking through a marine waterpark or spending an afternoon learning about the history of rum, 2022 is the year to explore the culture and adventure that awaits in Antigua and Barbuda.
NEW EXPERIENCES:
Laviscount Island From Antigua, take a short boat ride over to Laviscount Island, the only location in this hemisphere where visitors can interact with a herd of Giant Aldabra Tortoises, the planet's oldest living animal. Other attractions on the Island include walking trails to discover Lesser Antilles Iguanas and Parrots, and there’s a large beach area which is a popular spot for snorkelling. Laviscount Island also offers stand-alone tours and combination tours with Stingray City. In 2022, they will be teaming up with fast-action boat tour provider ‘Adventure Antigua’ for an exhilarating eco-tour that includes the unique Laviscount Island and the impressive natural formation ‘Hell’s Gate’.
For more information visit: www.adventureantigua.com and www.instagram.com/laviscountislandantigua
The Bird’s Nest
An eco-adventure awaits guests just off the North Coast of Antigua, at the island’s biggest marine park which holds several islets and the picturesque Great Bird Island. Visitors can make their way through the protected marine coast with its bird covered islets and mangrove shores on the way to the Bird’s Nest at the Great Bird Island. The canopied trail is the perfect place for a hike and eagle-eyed visitors should be on the look-out for the harmless, beautiful, and endangered racer snake endemic to Antigua’s Northern coast. Enjoy special access by climbing the grand stairs, spanning the breadth of the highlands. Snorkel around the reef and meet turtles, stingrays, and other ocean life, then enjoy an Antiguan BBQ lunch. For more information visit: https://birdislandantigua.com
E-bikes Tours
With cool trade winds and lots of intriguing sights to be seen, visitors who want a relaxing, cycle experience without too much work, can hop on an e-bike tour, slow down and enjoy the scenery. There are six routes to choose from, allowing visitors the chance to take in the country’s history, scenic views, and beaches. Head North for Jabberwock beach, South to meander down Fig Tree Drive, East for the twin-mills at Betty’s Hope and the natural land formation, Devil’s Bridge or West for the historic Fort Barrington. Visitors can also embark on a historic tour through St. John’s City with a stop at Fort James or head to English Harbour for an exploration of Antigua’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. For more information visit: www.ebikestour.com
Antigua Vintage Tea house
Journey along Fig Tree Drive and nestled within the hills at the Mount Tabor Retreat, visitors will find tucked behind a stunning sugar mill, Antigua Vintage Tea house. The intimate teahouse offers a laid-back experience, in the heart of the rainforest. Guests will be able to enjoy breath-taking views over the landscape paired with delicious food and drink. ‘Quintessentially English; Deliciously Caribbean; Blending the islands’, sums up the tea house perfectly. For more information visit: www.facebook.com/AntiguaVintageTeaHouse
ANTILLES STILLHOUSE
Using super-natural botanicals, Antilles Stillhouse offers three unique gins produced entirely at their distillery and featuring plants from their backyard. Spicy, warm, fruity, and citrusy are the words used to describe the gins - the classic ‘Big Wood Gin’, the Sorrell infused ‘Pink Gin’ and the ‘Fevergrass Spirit’. New for 2022 - their one-hour immersive experience which connects raw ingredients with a tour of the garden and highlights the craft and process of distilling small batches of the spirits. Each Antilles Stillhouse tour offers a chance to sample every spirit in their portfolio to include the beautifully fragrant Pastis.
For more information visit: www.antillesdistilling.com
QUIN FARARA’S RUM PUNCH EXPERIENCE
Opened in 1924 and still operating from their original location, Quin Farara Liquor Store is an Antiguan staple. Guests can now visit the old ‘rum shop’ and engage in a fun, twenty-minute rum punch experience either in group or individual settings. There is also the option of a more in-depth one-hour-long Rum production master class and guided tasting for those wanting to delve further into the history of rum making. The new rum punch experience with a skilled mixologist will give visitors insight into the family-owned business while demystifying the classic old fashioned rum punch and breaking down its elements to showcase the simplest way to make the classic cocktail.
For more information visit: www.facebook.com/QuinFarara
ROKUNI
Rokuni, overlooking panoramic views at Nonsuch Bay Residences, is the newest restaurant to be opened by the Rocks Group of Companies. Known for producing stellar cuisine at their other two restaurants in Antigua, the award-winning Sheer Rocks at Cocobay Resort, and the sophisticated Catherine’s Café at Pigeon Point Beach, with Rokuni, the company is all set to deliver tantalizing Asian-inspired cuisine.
For more information visit: www.rokuni-antigua.com
Weatherills Hotel
Antigua’s fascinating history is on display at Weatherills Hotel, a historic 17th century colonial mansion that has been beautifully restored. Set within forty acres of picturesque gardens in the north of the island, the extraordinary property is home to a collection of seven boutique bedrooms. Enriched by an impressive, restored working windmill, guests will enjoy carefully crafted menus in an elegant restaurant and create memories in beautiful spaces for magical weddings, energetic meetings, and sophisticated events. The property is owned by an Antiguan family and will open in 2022.
For more information visit: www.weatherillshotel.com
UPCOMING EVENTS:
West Indies vs. England Test Series, Antigua Test Match
8 -12 March 2022
The West Indies will welcome England back to the Caribbean for a three-match Test Series to compete for the newly created Richards-Botham Trophy. This new trophy honours two legends of cricket, Antigua and Barbuda’s Sir Vivian Richards and Lord Ian Botham, whose friendship and on-field heroics became synonymous with some of their respective teams' greatest Test match moments. The much-anticipated Test series will start at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua on March 8, 2022. CWI has also confirmed they will welcome fully vaccinated England fans throughout the tour. For more information visit: www.windiescricket.com/updates
Antigua & Barbuda International Kite Festival
18 APRIL 2022
This festival will see the skies filled with colourful and traditional home-made kites, as the young and the young at heart participate in this Easter Monday tradition. Held at the peak of the windy season, hundreds of kite-flyers converge at the Devil’s Bridge national park for this fun-filled family-friendly festival. For more information visit: www.facebook.com/CPKites
ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK
30 APRIL – 6 MAY 2022
Antigua Sailing Week, considered one of the Caribbean's most prestigious regattas, is held annually at the end of April. A vast variety of sailors from around the world are relishing a grand return to action at the Caribbean’s oldest premier regatta. The 53rd edition will commence with the Peters & May Round Antigua Race on Saturday, April 30, 2022. Following that will be five days of competitive racing off the rugged south coast of Antigua, which will wrap up on Friday, May 6, 2022. For more information visit: www.sailingweek.com.
The 365 white and pink sand beaches of Antigua & Barbuda, one for every day of the year, are just the beginning of the treasures that await visitors. Antigua’s rich history and spectacular topography provide a variety of popular sightseeing opportunities. Nelson’s Dockyard, the only remaining example of a Georgian fort commissioned by the British in 1755, is perhaps the most renowned landmark. Betty’s Hope, built in 1674, is the site of one of the first full-scale sugar plantations on Antigua, and offers a chance to step back into time by visiting the restored mills. Another unique attraction is Devil’s Bridge, located at the eastern tip of the island in Indian Town National Park, where Atlantic breakers have carved out a natural limestone arch. Antigua boasts a varied tourism calendar including events such as the World Class Antigua Sailing Week, Classic Yacht Regatta, Antigua Sports Fishing, and the annual Carnival; known as the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival. Island accommodation ranges from luxury resorts and all-inclusive hotels to smaller more intimate boutique guesthouses and cottages. For information about Antigua & Barbuda visit www.visitantiguabarbuda.com
