Your flight to Antigua brings you to the tropical, sister islands of Antigua and Barbuda – two of the sunny Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean. Antigua has more beaches than there are days in the year. Make a beeline for the white sands and turquoise waters of Dickenson Bay. Step back in time to discover Antigua’s colonial history at Betty’s Hope Plantation. Founded in the 1650s to produce sugar using West African slave labour, it is an open-air museum. Mix with the locals at St John’s Market in Antigua where fruit, vegetables and local crafts are sold. Away from the crowds, take a boat trip from Antigua to nearby Barbuda (population just 1,300), swim with stingrays at Stingray City or visit uninhabited Bird Island where herons, turtles and pelicans nest. Antiguans love their passion-fruit soap, island-made rum and shell jewellery – find them on sale in Redcliffe Quay in Antigua’s historic capital, St John’s. Sample Antigua’s specialities – giant cockles in garlic butter, pepperpot stew made with fungy (cornmeal with okra), and round off your meal with the juicy, extra-sweet Antigua Black pineapple. |