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You might get wet at this Remote Antigua blow hole

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Active Caribbean Travel visits Antigua's Devil Bridge

Antigua Attractions – Devil’s Bridge National Park

Not one for the beach, I’m always looking for something to do while vacationing in the Caribbean.  While staying in Antigua we visited a natural attraction on the east coast of the island known as Devil’s Bridge – Don’t worry, it sounds a lot more ominous and scarier than it really is 😉

Devil’s Bridge is a natural rock formation created over time by the power of the sea. A bird-eye view of the area reveals a land mass that juts out into the rough Atlantic Ocean with the sea forming the shape of a can-opener.  Right at the pointy end, the water is forced into a cul-de-sac, where the water has nowhere to go… but up! Years and years of relentless waves crashing against the limestone cliffs have eroded the lower sections resulting in a stone structure bridging over the water.  Not only does this rock platform span over the sea, it is also partially separated from the shore’s cliff.  If you time your visit just right at high-tide, you’ll be able to witness the waves being forced under the bridge and shooting up in the air from the blow-hole created by the gap between the bridge and the mainland.

Active Caribbean Travel visits Antigua's Devil Bridge

Finding this natural attraction among all the many small peninsulas along the jagged Antigua coastline is easier than it sounds.  You can find it in the coastal township of Willikies, in Saint Philip Parish. Devil’s Bridge is actually designated as an Antigua National Park (formerly known as Indian Town Point National Park), although you would never know it if it wasn’t for the unassuming sign on the road. The sign marks the spot to turn off the road that travels to the Pineapple Beach Club and Verandah Resort. Instead, turn off and venture down the dirt/gravel road that takes you to the tip of the peninsula that is Indian Town Point.

Active Caribbean Travel visits Antigua's Devil Bridge

We happened to be staying practically right next door, so we decided to walk over to Devil’s Bridge.  We hiked for a little over half an hour to cover the 1.25 mile (2 km) distance to reach the end of the peninsula.  While it doesn’t sound that far, hiking under that relentless Antiguan sun made it kind of feel a little longer.  That said, we enjoyed the quiet desert like environment and took the opportunity to appreciate the flora along both shorelines of Indian Town Point. There is plenty of low scrub and cactus for sure, although we really enjoyed several magnificent coastal views of turquoise water along the way.  Except for the occasional tour operator mini van and construction truck (on it’s way to the new resort being built), there was not another soul in sight on the long dusty road to Devil’s Bridge.


As we neared the end of the peninsula, we could see some local vendors had displays set-up to sell their wares – They face tough competition from the natural spectacle everyone has come to see.  Once we got closer we could feel the wind picking up and we could hear the waves pounding against the seaside cliffs.  Ahhhh… the main attraction came into view…

Active Caribbean Travel visits Antigua's Devil Bridge

The natural bridge looks to have cracked away from the mainland leaving a gap of a foot or two before widening to a mini-chasm several foot across.  This is where the action is – We watched as waves crashed into the tight opening and the water had nowhere to go but up! We did not experience the action at high tide, however I understand the right wave will shoot pretty high into the air – Not a time to be standing out on the bridge, as you wouldn’t want to get washed over the side and get thrown against the jagged cliffs.  After observing the crashing waves for a while, I decided to venture out on the bridge for a brief moment.

It’s always fascinating to experience the force of nature in action. After a few seconds I returned to the safety of the mainland, just a little damp from the near-constant spray and mist in the air.

Active Caribbean Travel visits Antigua's Devil Bridge

As amazing as the bridge is, the sea also leaves behind more subtle reminders of it’s ever presence. The rocky ground is bumpy and pitted everywhere.  Most of the pits and holes near the shoreline are constantly filling with up with sea water only to evaporate under the blazing sun. This perpetual process eventually leaves many of the pits filled with a solid mass of salt crystalline. Having just left a cold and snow covered landscape behind up north, the opaque substance filling the holes at first looked like ice, however my thoughts soon turned to wax – It was a really cool site I’ve never witnessed before on this scale.  Bending down closer to examine the phenomenon, the texture of the salty material appears soft but is actually quite hard, definitely more like hard wax.


Active Caribbean Travel visits Antigua's Devil Bridge

We wandered around for a while, also taking in the view of Devil’s Bridge from the other side of the water-filled opening.  The rocky surface of the shore seems like something you would see on the moon – Whiter in colour and again covered in bumpy pits.  A sure reflection of it’s creation from a tortured past.

While we took the long road route to reach Devil’s Bridge, we found a short-cut along a small beach for our return journey.  What a great way to spend a couple of hours on this Caribbean paradise.

FYI – The annual Antigua & Barbuda International Kite Festival is held at Devil’s Bridge – With all that wind, it must be a spectacular sight to see hundreds of kites dancing away in the sky!

Devil’s Bridge is a fairly popular tourist attraction on the island, so there’s many options for tour operators who will bring you there. Here’s a link to our list of tour operators that can show you this and other attractions on the island – Antigua Land Excursions

ACT Staff

Want to see more? Check out our Antigua’s Devil’s Bridge video on YouTube!

For other popular Tourist Attractions on the island, check out our Things to Do in Antigua and Barbuda blog

For the cycling enthusiast, this area is a good place to explore on two wheels! For more info on biking the island, check out our Antigua Cycling page.

For an overview of the “land of sun and sea”, feel free to check-out our Antigua & Barbuda Vacations page.

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Top Five Caribbean Islands to Visit this Fall

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Active Caribbean Travel

Looking to head south this fall? Here’s where we would go…

If you’re like me, you might not be able to wait until spring to feel the sand beneath your feet and snorkel in the clear, warm Caribbean sea. If you’re thinking of heading south for a warm weather vacation, here’s our thoughts on the best Caribbean destinations this October, November or December.

For this article, we first looked at the Caribbean islands that appear to be minimizing the spread of Covid-19 the best, then we evaluated each island’s current Covid related entry requirements for a good balance of safety and convenience. Finally, we took into consideration the historical weather patterns this time of year, prioritizing on the Caribbean islands with the least amount of rain.  It’s kind of difficult to rank order our top choices, so we provide rational for our top 4 Caribbean destinations, and let you decide what destination is best for you. We also listed a few other islands that just missed the cut, in case you need more options. Take a look at our findings below – We hope you enjoy our review!

Turks and Caicos

Turks & Caicos beaches from Active Caribbean Travel

There are a relatively low number of active Covid cases in Turks & Caicos – around 12 per 10K people.  It’s also encouraging to know that the local vaccination rate is approaching 3 out of 4 locals (having received 2 doses of Covid-19 vaccine).  It’s also reassuring to know that only fully vaccinated visitors can travel to the islands and that restaurants and bars are restricted to 50% normal capacity.

From a historical weather perspective, there’s a very low probability of rain (around 20%) on any given day this time of year.  Even if it does rain, it typically doesn’t rain more than around 3.4mm per month, so it’s not worth worrying about.

Turks and Caicos is open to tourists who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. TCI Assured Travel Authorization is required before travelling. Approval to visit can be acquired on-line by completing a health screening questionnaire, and providing proof of a negative certified COVID-19 test, taken no more than 3 days before arrival, along with verifying travel insurance which covers COVID-19 related medical costs and expenses.

Once you’re on the islands, you are required to wear a mask in public places. Turks and Caicos establishments can be open no later than midnight, and there is a curfew in effect between the hours of 1am and 5am.

For more details and specifics of Covid related entry requirements and restrictions, please visit the official Turks & Caicos Entry Requirements page.

Turks & Caicos Watersports at Active Caribbean Travel

As for what to do once you’re there, here’s just a taste of what you can enjoy in Turks & Caicos.  The islands are surrounded by white, peach and sand beaches, with plenty of water-sports options like kayaking, SUP (paddleboarding), windsurfing, kiteboarding and even parasailing. Boat operators can also get you to some great fishing and snorkeling spots and of course the islands are an amazing place for scuba diving reefs and deep walls. Grand Turk has a number of historical sites of interest, while there are several amazing national parks and nature reserves on many of the other islands. Turks & Caicos also offer good golfing along with hiking and cycling trails. There’s caves to explore as well.  Enjoy!

For more information about fun and adventurous Caribbean destinations, check out our website, ActiveCaribbeanTravel

Aruba

Aruba Divi Divi tree from Active Caribbean Travel

There are a relatively low number of active Covid cases in Aruba – around 10 per 10K people.  It’s also encouraging to know that the number of cases on the island is on the decline and that the local vaccination rate is relatively high, with close to 3 out of 4 locals having received 2 doses of Covid-19 vaccine. For those of you from select European Union countries, you’ll be happy to know that Aruba’s entry requirements are less demanding for you, as long as you’re fully vaccinated.  Hopefully, Canada will also be added to that list before long.

From a historical weather perspective, there’s a somewhat low 50%-50% probability of rain on any given day this time of year, however even if it does rain, it typically doesn’t rain much more than 3mm per month, so it’s pretty low risk.

Aruba is currently open to travellers from the US, Canada, Europe and many other places. All visitors are required to follow the Aruba Embarkation/Disembarkation Card process.  This includes completing a Covid related on-line questionnaire, verifying you have Covid related Travel Insurance, along with providing proof of a negative result from a certified molecular Covid-19 test within 3 days of travelling to the island.  If you manage to show up on Aruba’s shores without a negative test result, you will be required to take a Covid test at the airport, followed by a short quarantine period while you wait for the test results.

Fully vaccinated travellers from a few European countries, such as the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy, Sweden and Finland, are not required to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test.  For a full list of countries qualifying for this benefit, please check out the links below.

While in Aruba, all visitors (and locals) must wear a mask in any indoor public space such as retail shops, supermarkets, museums, casinos, etc. Masks are also recommended is public places where social distancing is not possible and where there are no physical barriers, such as plexiglass shields, to compensate for social distancing.

Aruba establishments can be open until midnight (1am for casinos), however dancing in restaurants and bars is currently prohibited.  Seating at restaurants is at a maximum of eight per table (excluding children under the age of 12). Public beaches and parking lots are “off limits” to visitors between 7 pm and 5 am.

For more details and specifics of Covid related entry requirements and restrictions, please visit the official Aruba Entry Requirements page and Aruba’s List of Countries Except from Covid-19 Testing page

Aruba's famous pink flamingo tree from Active Caribbean Travel

Once you’re in Aruba there’s plenty of things to do – here’s just a taste of what you can enjoy.  There’s over a dozen beaches, with soft white sand, all around the island, many with snorkeling and a variety of watersports facilities right on the beach.  Once you’ve had your fill of kayaking, windsurfing and kitesurfing, you can venture inland to explore unique tropical deserts and caves.  Get in a round of golf, or for the more adventurous scuba divers, you can experience a wild underwater world.  Of course, you can always enjoy time walking and shopping along the colourful streets of Oranjestad!


For information about hiking, snorkeling and other active vacations in the Caribbean, check out our ActiveCaribbeanTravel Adventure page.

Curaçao

Curacao's European vibe from Active Caribbean Travel

There are a relatively low number of active Covid cases in Curaçao – around 16 per 10K of the population.  It’s also encouraging to know that the number of cases is on the decline and that over half of the local population have received 2 doses of Covid-19 vaccine.  A minor inconvenience, but as a good precaution, most visitors will need to take a Covid Antigen test on your third day on the island.

From a historical weather perspective, there’s a very low probability of rain (around 30%) on any given day this time of year, and even if it does rain, it typically doesn’t rain more than about 3.6mm per month, so the odds of rain dampening your day is very low.

Curaçao is currently open to travellers from all over the world. While there are exceptions for a few countries such as China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, New Zealand, Hungary, and Poland, general requirements for most visitors are to complete the Curaçao Digital Immigration Card and Passenger Locator Card (PLC) online prior to arriving on the island. The process includes verifying a negative result from a certified COVID-19 PCR-test taken within 48 hours of your flight (or a negative result from an antigen test taken within 24 hours before your flight); along with providing proof of Covid-related medical insurance. Also note that a rapid-result Covid-19 Antigen test will be required on your 3rd day on the island, with the test being scheduled as part of the PLC process. For a full list of countries not requiring proof of a negative Covid test prior to arrival or an Antigen test once on the island, please check out the link below.

While on the island, visitors are asked to socially distance, practice frequent hand hygiene and wear a mask when 2 meters (6 feet) distance cannot be maintained between people.

For more details and specifics of Covid related entry requirements and restrictions, please visit the official Curaçao Entry Requirements page.

Hiking Curacao with Active Caribbean Travel

As for what to do at this Caribbean destination, here’s a short sampling… There are over two dozen beaches to relax on, several providing opportunities to enjoy Kayaking, SUP (paddleboarding) and windsurfing. Curaçao’s two National Parks showcase the island’s unique Caribbean desert landscape and picturesque coastal inlets, while a visit to one of the numerous plantations/landhouses offer a glimpse of the island’s past. Curaçao is also home to some of the southern Caribbean’s best snorkeling and diving. There are hiking and cycling trails, as well as caves to explore in Curacao. Let’s not forget there’s a couple of golf courses to enjoy as well. Of course, walking and shopping in Curaçao’s historic waterfront district provides you with a little European vibe.


For more fun and adventurous Caribbean vacation destination ideas, check out our ActiveCaribbeanTravel Islands page.

The British Virgin Islands

The British Virgin Islands with Active Caribbean Travel

There are a relatively low number of active Covid cases in the British Virgin Islands – around 14 per 10K people.  It’s encouraging to know that just over half of the local population has received 2 vaccination doses. It’s also convenient that entry requirements are somewhat less demanding for fully vaccinated travellers.

From a historical weather perspective, there’s a somewhat low 50%-50% probability of rain on any given day this time of year, however even if it does rain, it typically doesn’t rain more than around 4mm – 5mm per month, so not a big concern.

Fully vaccinated travellers must be prepared to show proof of vaccination, a negative PCR test result (taken within 5 days of travel), along with proof of Covid related Travel Insurance upon arriving in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).  Prior to travelling, fully vaccinated travellers must register for a rapid antigen test, which will be taken at the airport upon your arrival.

Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated visitors need to obtain travel authorization via the on-line BVI Gateway Portal prior to travelling to the BVI. In order to be approved, visitors must provide proof of a certified RT-PCR negative test result (taken 3-5 days prior to arrival), along with evidence of Covid related Travel Insurance.  All partially vaccinated and unvaccinated travellers will receive an RT-PCR test on arrival. I assume that there is a short quarantine period while waiting for your test results.

Sailing the British Virgin Islands with Active Caribbean Travel

All travellers are to adhere to COVID-19 protocols while travelling around the British Virgin Islands.  These include relevant physical distancing, wearing masks and sanitization measures.

For more details and specifics of Covid related entry requirements and restrictions, such as which port of entry you are allowed to use (dependent on vaccination status), please visit the official British Virgin Islands Tourism page, as well as the British Virgin Islands Entry Requirements page.

As for what to do on the islands, here’s just a taste of what you can enjoy once you get there. There’s plenty of white sandy beaches offering a number of swimming and watersports options. Perhaps the best kayaking and SUP (paddleboarding) in the BVIs can be found at Tortola, while kiteboarding and windsurfing might be best experienced on Virgin Gorda. Boat operators can get you fishing around the islands, and spectacular views can be found while hiking the BVI’s National Parks. For a journey back in time, there are museums and ruins of forts and sugar mills. Of course, there’s always plenty of sailing and rum to enjoy in the BVIs!

For more ideas for fun and adventurous activities in the Caribbean, check out our ActiveCaribbeanTravel Excursions page.

FYI – Montserrat, Anguilla and the Cayman Islands almost made our list, however a few conditions need to be improved before they’re included. I’m sure Anguilla will get their peaking Covid cases under control any day now. Once Montserrat increases their local Covid vaccination rate and removes the need for visitors to quarantine, it will be a lush green (although perhaps rainy) alternative. While the Cayman Islands have a relatively high Covid-19 vaccination rate, unfortunately they’re currently struggling with peaking numbers of Covid cases. They also have a quarantine period that makes visiting a bit inconvenient at the moment. All that said, I’m sure these islands will all be near the top of our Top 5-10 list for spring travel – So Stay Tuned!

Now, a couple of disclaimers… Please note that this article was written on October 10th, 2021. Covid-19 information can change pretty quickly, so we recommend you check Covid case counts on your island of choice, right before booking your trip. Also, please be aware that many local tourism-related businesses have been temporarily or permanently shut-down because of Covid, so again we advise that you connect with local tour operators prior to arriving on the island. This can help set expectations appropriately.

FYI – Some information for this article was derived from the following sources: graphics.reuters.com/world-coronavirus-tracker-and-maps; covidvax.live; weatherspark.Com; and weatherbase.com

Active Caribbean Travel

We hope you liked our assessment and it has motivated you to take a trip to the Caribbean!

Feel free to ‘like’ and ‘follow’ our facebook page for more articles/blogs like this…

ACT Staff

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8 Fun Antigua & Barbuda Adventures

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Antigua & Barbuda Adventures include snorkeling & diving, fishing and awesome water-sports. On land there's cycling & really good hiking too! Plan a trip today

Awesome Activities Include Snorkeling, Sailing, Caving & More…

Antigua and Barbuda are a Caribbean nation in the eastern Caribbean sea (Leeward Islands), just north of Guadeloupe and east of St. Kitts. Known as the sailing capital of the English Caribbean, Antigua is famous for it’s 365 white sand beaches and excellent cuisine. That said, there are plenty of adventures to make you feel alive, both on land as well as in & on the water!

While vacationing in the Caribbean, it’s always great fun to get off the resort and really explore the island. Antigua and Barbuda adventures are waiting…

Surrounded by protective reefs and outer islands, Antigua & Barbuda offers some really good Caribbean snorkeling, diving, sailing, fishing and water sports. It’s also good to know that there’s plenty of action on the islands themselves as well. Here’s our recommendations for experiencing Caribbean adventures in Antigua and Barbuda…

Snorkel Antigua’s Coral Reefs

Antigua & Barbuda Adventures include snorkeling & diving, fishing and awesome water-sports. On land there's cycling & really good hiking too! Plan a trip today

Practically surrounded by vibrant coral reefs, Antigua is a great place for Caribbean snorkeling. Explore Antigua’s clear multi-hued blue waters full of diverse sea-life, including colourful fish, coral and sponges! Discover an alien world that you just can’t experience on land…

Slip into the warm Caribbean Sea and snorkel right off the beach on the island’s west side at places like Hawksbill Bay and Darkwood Beach. There are also some sheltered bays on the east coast that are good for beach-goers to snorkel from.


Antigua’s well known and perhaps best snorkeling site, Cades Reef is just a short boat ride from the south-west coast – This 2 mile (3km) long barrier reef has snorkeling locations like Coral Gardens, School House, Passage and Aquarium. There are also good snorkeling locations in the popular English Harbour area – Here you’ll enjoy snorkeling in the shadow of the Pillars of Hercules, or perhaps over a shipwreck in the protection of Freeman’s Bay. There’s also a 3 mast shipwreck in the shallow waters of Deep Bay near St. John’s. Good snorkeling can also be found via a short boat ride to a few of the off-shore islands near the north-east coast of Antigua.

Antigua & Barbuda Adventures include snorkeling & diving, fishing and awesome water-sports. On land there's cycling & really good hiking too! Plan a trip today


Of course, no trip to Antigua is complete without visiting Stingray City. While you can snorkel there, the main attraction is having Southern Stingrays swim around your legs. If you’re brave enough, you can even hold one of the gentle creatures – kind of a once in a lifetime experience! Antigua’s Stingray City is located about a mile (2km) from the coast, yet the man-made dock floats just 3 to 4 feet (1m) above the sandy ocean floor. The large 5 feet (1.5m) wide females are very sociable as they swim slowly around, while the smaller males dart swiftly around and through the crowd.

For more information on Antigua’s snorkeling sites, plus a listing of tour/boat operators, click on our Antigua & Barbuda Snorkeling page

Want to see more? Check out our Snorkel Antigua’s Great Bird Island, and Snorkel Antigua’s Long Bay videos on YouTube!

For a more colourful and detailed story on Stingray City, check out our personal experience by reading our Stingray City Antigua blog post.

Sail Around Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua & Barbuda Adventures include snorkeling & diving, fishing and awesome water-sports. On land there's cycling & really good hiking too! Plan a trip today

Antigua has a long and storied sailing history that dates back way before Horatio Nelson’s famed stay on the island. Today, Antigua’s annual ‘Sailing Week’ attracts dozens of yachts and hundreds of visitors from around the world to Nelson’s Dockyard for the Caribbean’s top Regatta.

For visitors to the Caribbean islands, an Antigua & Barbuda sailing adventure provides an opportunity to experience the islands from a unique perspective. Cruise quietly along the coasts of Antigua & Barbuda with a refreshing cool wind at your back and delightful sights just glide by… See the mountainous south-west of Antigua, as well as the island’s many forts, bays and off-shore islands, across a stretch of gorgeous multi-hued blue waters!

Sailing excursions also provide plenty of opportunities to snorkel and dive along the way. If you’re up to the challenge, you can even join a crew for some races in English Harbour! Of course, watching the sun set from sea with someone special also has it’s charms.

For more information about sailing in Antigua, including boat operators and yacht charters (with or without a crew), click on our Antigua & Barbuda Sailing page

Explore Amazing Caves in Barbuda

Antigua & Barbuda Adventures include snorkeling & diving, fishing and awesome water-sports. On land there's cycling & really good hiking too! Plan a trip today

Escape the ever-present sun by journeying underground to a world of natural subterranean limestone caverns and sea caves. It can be a bewildering experience venturing into sub-terrain grottoes to witness eerie stalagmites, stalactites and flow-stones up-close and personal. There may be bats in the caves, or even petroglyph paintings on the walls to examine!

Two Foot Bay Cave is a short walk from Barbuda’s pink sand beaches and is home to bats, crabs, iguanas and birds. Ancient petroglyphs can be seen on the cave walls – Amazing!

Journey out from Burbuda’s main town of Codrington to see the astonishing Darby Cave, a massive sinkhole with it’s own forest and plenty of long stalactites. You’ll be in awe.

Hike a couple of miles (3km) farther out and you’ll encounter an amazingly bizarre grotto called Dark Cave. It’s filled with water and you’re sure to see bats and maybe even some of the resident blind shrimp.

For more information about Antigua and Barbuda caves, plus tours operators to get you there, check out our Antigua & Barbuda Caving page

Dive Antigua’s Coral Reefs

Antigua and its neighbouring islands boast over 40 dive sites, some in relatively shallow water and others in the deeper more complex underwater terrain south of Antigua. If you’ve always wanted to try scuba diving, Antigua is a great place to get started – there is a dive school on the island along with several Dive Centres offering PADI certification.

Antigua & Barbuda Adventures include snorkeling & diving, fishing and awesome water-sports. On land there's cycling & really good hiking too! Plan a trip today

Antigua diving provides opportunities to view a diverse collection of coral, sponges, sea fans and other interesting marine life. The island’s reefs are also home to schools of colourful fish as well as eels, lobsters and crabs. Antigua’s south-west coast offers some good coral covered ledges and deep plunging walls to explore along with crystal-clear dive sites in and around the popular Cades Reef area. The English Harbour area has plenty of sunken boulders, rocks and wrecks providing more diverse and exciting places to examine.

For more information on the islands’ dive sites, along with a listing of dive centres and boat operators, click on our Antigua & Barbuda Diving page

Fish the Turquoise Waters of Antigua & Barbuda

Head out from Antigua for some serious Atlantic Ocean ‘deep sea’ fishing to bring in some big game sport fish like Marlin, Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Tuna, Kingfish and Sailfish. For the competitor fisherman in you, you can join the annual Antigua & Barbuda Sport Fishing Tournament.

Antigua & Barbuda Adventures include snorkeling & diving, fishing and awesome water-sports. On land there's cycling & really good hiking too! Plan a trip today

Barbuda has some more great fishing options closer to shore.  Fish in the shallows for good eating fish like Bass, Grouper and Snapper. If fly-fishing is more your thing, settle down near Barbuda’s Codrington Lagoon and bring in some Bone fish, Tarpon, Snook and Barracuda.

For more Antigua & Barbuda fishing information, including a list of boat operators to get you out there, click on our Antigua & Barbuda Fishing page

Hike Under the Sun in Antigua

Antigua & Barbuda Adventures include snorkeling & diving, fishing and awesome water-sports. On land there's cycling & really good hiking too! Plan a trip today

A great way to experience the natural beauty of Antigua is by hiking one of it’s surprisingly enjoyable trails. The island offers some easy coastal sight-seeing walking trails as well as some more challenging hilly trails. The best thing is… Most Antigua hiking trails offer rewarding picturesque views of the island and Caribbean Sea from hill-tops or coastal vantage points.

There are several popular Antigua hiking trails located near Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, most of which lead to Shirley Heights, one of the best places in Antigua for taking pictures of iconic English Harbour. They include the Carpenters Rock Trail, which passes the remains of Fort Charlotte, as well as the steeper Lookout Trail.

Antigua & Barbuda Adventures include snorkeling & diving, fishing and awesome water-sports. On land there's cycling & really good hiking too! Plan a trip today

Monks Hill Trail, with its spectacular view of Falmouth Harbour, as well as Middle Ground Trail which crosses the small peninsula between English and Falmouth Harbours ending at historic Fort Berkeley, are also in the area.

Not to be missed, there are a number of remote trails amid the rolling hills and volcanic features of the rain-forest area called the “Green Corridor” – This quiet area includes the Wallings Nature Reserve, Christian Valley, as well as the ultimate Antigua hiking trail, Mount Obama – The island’s highest peak at 1,330 feet (405m) above sea level.


For more detailed descriptions of our favourite Antigua Hiking Trails, click on our Antigua’s Best Hiking blog post.

For a more complete list of Antigua & Barbuda hiking trails, as well as a listing of hiking guides, check out our Antigua & Barbuda Hiking page

Get On the Waters of Antigua & Barbuda

With plenty of healthy mangroves and numerous beaches, bays and inlets along 100 miles (160km) of coastline, Antigua & Barbuda are ideal for enjoying Caribbean Water Sports. All in the comfortable warmth of the Caribbean sun!

Antigua & Barbuda Adventures include snorkeling & diving, fishing and awesome water-sports. On land there's cycling & really good hiking too! Plan a trip today

There’s some great kayaking available in Antigua’s North Sound Marine Park and the mangrove forests of the nearby off-shore islands. There’s more mangroves to explore by kayak on the south-west coast of the island as well. Probing the island’s tranquil mangrove inlets and lagoons is the perfect speed for sightseeing wildlife and enjoying nature in shallow calm waters. A local guide can show you some native marine life, including sea-grasses, mysterious sea cucumbers, jellyfish and spectacular starfish.

If you have a need for more speed…  Antigua’s east coast trade-winds are ideal for surfing, windsurfing and kite-surfing. Same thing holds for Barbuda’s remote crowd-less beaches. You can partake in the action yourself, or just hang around and check out “the scene”.

For a more colourful story about our personal water sports experience, check out our Antigua kayaking-snorkelling-hiking blog

For more information on the islands’ water-sports options, including a list of tours, lessons and equipment rentals, click on our Antigua & Barbuda Water Sports page

Get to Know Antigua by Bike

Antigua & Barbuda Adventures include snorkeling & diving, fishing and awesome water-sports. On land there's cycling & really good hiking too! Plan a trip today

Get some fresh air and exercise while getting to know Antigua better.  Antigua cycling provides great views of the Caribbean Sea and on a clear day, even some neighbouring islands. Ride on Antigua’s scenic coastal roads or cross-country routes, some of which even include some nice hilly terrain. Take an excursion with a local cycling tour operator who knows the island well or even rent a bike and venture out on your own.

Popular regions to cycle on Antigua include areas near the capital St. John’s as well as less busy areas like Devil’s Bridge & Long Bay, Half Moon Bay, Falmouth Harbour, Rendezvous Bay, Darkwood Beach and Jolly Harbour. There’s also the hilly road to Shirley Heights as well as more challenging routes to Mount Obama, Fort George and McNish Mountain.

For more Antigua cycling information, including a list of cycling tours and bike rentals, click on our Antigua & Barbuda Cycling page

Have fun out there!

ACT Staff

Once you’ve had your fill of action and want to slow-it-down a bit, check out our recommended Things To Do in Antigua & Barbuda

For an overview of the “land of sun and sea”, take a look at our Antigua & Barbuda Vacations page

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The Adventures of Cayman Brac and Little Cayman

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Cayman Brac & Little Cayman are home to great Caribbean adventures, including the Caribbean's best Diving & Rock Climbing, plus great Caving, hiking & cycling.

Amazing Diving and Climbing / Caving, Hiking and Cycling too!

A British Territory in the Western Caribbean, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are peaks of the massive underwater Cayman Ridge. The Cayman Islands are located south of Cuba, between Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and Jamaica. Little Cayman and Cayman Brac are situated east and slightly north of Grand Cayman.

If you’re wondering how to get to these remote islands, don’t worry – There are daily island hopper flights from Grand Cayman that can get you over quickly and easily. Local Grand Cayman boat operators can also cover the 80 miles (130km) or so of ocean.

There’s plenty of outdoor adventures to experience in the Cayman Islands and that includes the rarely visited Cayman Brac, affectionately known as ‘the Brac’, as well as Little Cayman. Here’s our favourites that we would recommend…

Join an Exclusive Club of Scuba Divers

It’s not just a cliché, the Cayman Islands are truly a Diver’s Paradise! The islands are well known in diving circles for pristine sea water with amazing visibility, as well healthy coral reefs alive with marine life. When it comes to Cayman Brac and Little Cayman, their remoteness translates into relatively few visitors and almost guarantees uncrowded diving at relatively untouched dive sites!

, Cayman Brac & Little Cayman are home to great Caribbean adventures, including the Caribbean's best Diving & Rock Climbing, plus great Caving, hiking & cycling.

There are over 60 Cayman Brac dive sites that offer an incredible oasis for divers! There’s easy to access shore diving, shallow reefs brimming with marine life, as well as deep walls and amazing swim-throughs that never get old. There’s also plenty of shipwrecks to explore, including the 330 foot Tibbets (Russian built Navy Ship) with some of it’s guns still in place.

Little Cayman has 60 dive sites of its own, including the world-famous Bloody Bay wall… A steep wall that descends several thousand feet that is home to colourful corals, sponges and sea fans. There’s plenty of rays, barracudas, sharks and large fish to see as well – Little Cayman diving is truly a fantastic experience for experienced and beginner divers alike!

For more information on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman dive sites, as well as a listing of boat operators to get you outfitted, click on our Cayman Islands Diving page

Cave and Climb the Bluffs of Cayman Brac

The Brac is well known for it’s amazing caves! There are a number of accessible and impressive caves on the island to explore including Bat Cave, Peter’s Cave, Rebecca’s Cave, Skull Cave, Great Cave and Halfway Ground Cave.

Cayman Brac & Little Cayman are home to great Caribbean adventures, including the Caribbean's best Diving & Rock Climbing, plus great Caving, hiking & cycling.


Prefer to stay on the outside of Cayman Brac’s rocky cliffs, then maybe rock climbing is more your speed. The cliffs at the eastern end of the island seem to be made for Cayman Island rock climbing. There are dozens of routes for expert climbers to explore. With names like Dixon Wall, Neptune’s Lair, North Wall, Love Shack Wall and Tsunami Wall, its a must do for avid rock climbers!

For more information on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman caves and rock climbing, including tour guides to show you “the ropes”, check out our Cayman Islands Caving & Climbing page

Hike Pristine Caribbean Wilderness

It may be hard to believe, but there are more than a dozen short trails on Cayman Brac. While they’re all relatively easy, some of the more challenging ones include the following:

Cayman Brac & Little Cayman are home to great Caribbean adventures, including the Caribbean's best Diving & Rock Climbing, plus great Caving, hiking & cycling.

The 4 mile (6km) long Lighthouse Footpath (AKA The Bluff Trail) pretty much follows the rugged north-east coastline to the lighthouse on the east end of the island. More of a tower than a lighthouse, it stands on the 140 foot (43m) high bluff that is the highest point of the Caymans – Take in the amazing views of the sea towards Cuba.

The mile (2km) long National Trust Parrot Reserve Nature Trail is a short hike that provides the opportunity to potentially see a rare Cayman Brac Parrot. The loop trail goes through a small section of the protected reserve land covering grassed-over farmland, thickets as well as forests where you’ll pass mango trees, cactus and orchids.

The best Little Cayman hiking trails include the Salt Rock Nature Trail which is a 3 mile (5km) round trip requiring a couple of hours to complete. There’s also a good hike between Blossom Village and the north coast where you’ll likely encounter plenty of birds, butterflies, iguanas and orchids.

For more information on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman hiking trails, including guides to help you out, click on our Cayman Islands Hiking page

Cycle Around the Islands, Literally

Cayman Brac’s quiet coastal roads offer amazing sea views and the opportunity to get some really fresh air and exercise! The island’s north and south coastal roads are each approximately 9.5 miles (15 km) long… Plenty of road for you to work up a good sweat.

Cayman Brac & Little Cayman are home to great Caribbean adventures, including the Caribbean's best Diving & Rock Climbing, plus great Caving, hiking & cycling.

Little Cayman has a quiet around-the-island road resulting in a nearly 10 mile (16 km) long circuit with few vehicles and un-ending views of the Caribbean Sea! Not sure if it gets any better than that…

For more information on Cayman Brac and Little Cayman cycling, including bike rental locations, check out our Cayman Islands Cycling page

Have fun out there!

ACT Staff

Once you’ve had your fill of action and want to slow-it-down a bit, check out our recommended Things To Do in Cayman Brac and Little Cayman blog

For an overview of the beautiful and diverse islands that make up the Caymans, click on our Cayman Islands Vacations page

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Antigua & Barbuda’s Top Attractions & Things to Do

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Things to do in Antigua & Barbuda include historical sites like Nelson's Dockyard and Forts as well as Stingray City. Also enjoy Golf, Sailing, Boating & Nature!

Nelson’s Dockyard, Shirley Heights, Stingray City & So Much More!

Antigua & Barbuda are a beautiful Caribbean nation in the Leeward Islands just north of Guadeloupe and east of St. Kitts & Nevis. Antigua is famous for it’s 365 white sand beaches, excellent cuisine and rich sailing history. When visiting the Caribbean, it’s always fun to get off the resort and explore what the island really has to offer. In Antigua, that means taking-in great tropical views from historic sites and enjoying nature from both land and sea. Of course, there’s also time to fit in a round of golf as well as a visit to Stingray City. For your next vacation to Antigua and Barbuda, may we suggest you…

Visit Antigua’s Best Attractions (on land)

Things to do in Antigua & Barbuda include historical sites like Nelson's Dockyard and Forts as well as Stingray City. Also enjoy Golf, Sailing, Boating & Nature!

Nelson’s Dockyard is probably Antigua’s most popular historical site and a must-see for the history buff. Reminiscent of its 18th-century origins, the humble English Harbour outpost includes a marina, hotel, shops and restaurants. Being around all the ships and history of the area should give you a nice relaxing vibe.

Shirley Heights provides spectacular views of English Harbour, Falmouth Harbour and the Caribbean Sea! Once the site of a military lookout and gun battery, this location is now home to the where you can take the most iconic pictures of Antigua.

Devil’s Bridge is an interesting limestone rock formation on the coast of Antigua. Relentless sea waves crashing against small rocky cliffs has over time created a natural bridge, where sections of the under-pinning rock have eroded away. See the blowholes in action at high tide.

Things to do in Antigua & Barbuda include historical sites like Nelson's Dockyard and Forts as well as Stingray City. Also enjoy Golf, Sailing, Boating & Nature!

Betty’s Hope is a historical site on the grounds of a 17th-century sugar plantation.  The main feature is the remains of a couple of wind-powered stone mills.  One can imagine life back in the day…

St. John’s Cathedral is an impressive church, both inside and out. The large stone & brick structure seen today has replaced the wood building originally constructed in the 17th century.  Just down the street in the town’s oldest building is the Museum of Antigua & Barbuda, with exhibits that outline the history of the islands.

Guarding the mouth of the large bay at St. John’s stands the remains of a pair of military outposts.  Fort James on the northern side of the bay is located next to a long beach and still has stone walls and some cannons. Fort Barrington on the southern coastline is located on a small hilltop with great views of St. John’s and the surrounding bays and beaches. Simply gorgeous!

A couple of other Antigua attractions to consider stopping at includes: Cades Bay Agricultural Station, the home of Antigua’s famous ‘Black Pineapple’; and the Humane Society’s Donkey Sanctuary, always fun for kids of all ages.

For more information on Antigua’s attractions along with a list of tour operators who will show you around, click on our Antigua & Barbuda Land Excursions page

Swim with the Stingrays

Active Caribbean Travel visits Antigua's Stingray City - Come swim with the Stingrays!

Meanwhile, in the water, Stingray City is a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience where you can swim and snorkel with southern stingrays in their natural environment. It’s an exhilarating feeling standing in waist-deep water with the large otherworldly fish swimming around your legs. Of course, you won’t forget what it’s like to hold one of the gentle creatures – Their soft, fur-like wings in your hands!

For a more colourful review of visiting the island’s stingrays, check out our personal Stingray City Antigua Experience blog

 

Check out Antigua from Sea

Things to do in Antigua & Barbuda include historical sites like Nelson's Dockyard and Forts as well as Stingray City. Also enjoy Golf, Sailing, Boating & Nature!

The multi-hued blue waters around Antigua is absolutely breathtaking and being on the sea provides a unique perspective of the island.  Appreciate the mainland’s jagged shoreline with its inlets, points and white beaches as well as mangrove forests and multiple off-shore islands.  It’s also the best way to see Antigua’s famous coral and limestone rock formations known as the Pillars of Hercules as well as the coral archway known as Hell’s Gate, up close and personal.  While most of the island is flat limestone, Antigua’s hilly south-west with its volcanic features will really stand out when viewing from the sea.

For a relaxing and enjoyable cruise around Antigua and Barbuda, there are plenty of sailboats available to show you around. To really engage and feel the energy of the sailing scene, time your visit to coincide with the annual ‘Antigua Sailing Week’ which attracts dozens of yachts and hundreds of visitors from around the world to Nelson’s Dockyard for the Caribbean’s top Regatta.

If motoring around the islands in a fast boat is more your thing, there are several motorboat / tour operators that can fill your need for speed. Don’t worry, they’ll slow down for you to enjoy all the attractions…

When sight-seeing from either a sailboat or motorboat, there’ll be opportunities for snorkeling or swimming over a reef / perhaps even a stop at an uninhabited offshore island for a stroll. Of course, watching the sun set from the sea with that someone special is also a unique and wonderful experience.

Things to do in Antigua & Barbuda include historical sites like Nelson's Dockyard and Forts as well as Stingray City. Also enjoy Golf, Sailing, Boating & Nature!

For more information on Antigua’s ocean excursions along with a list of boat / tour operators who will get you on the water, click on our Antigua Sailing and Antigua Boating pages

Golf in a Tropical Setting

There are a couple of gorgeous Antigua golf courses to choose from. The Cedar Valley Golf Club is conveniently located near the capital, St. John’s. This 18-hole / par 70 golf course that plays to 6,157 yards is set within tropical trees and has great views of the ocean.  Set on the quieter west side of Antigua in a slightly hilly parkland is the Jolly Harbour Golf Club, an 18-hole / par 71 championship golf course plays to 5,587 yards.

For more information on Antigua’s golf courses, click on our Antigua Golf page

Enjoy Nature in Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua is home to four National Parks that were established to preserve the island’s cultural and environmental heritage.

Things to do in Antigua & Barbuda include historical sites like Nelson's Dockyard and Forts as well as Stingray City. Also enjoy Golf, Sailing, Boating & Nature!
  • Green Castle Hill National Park and it’s ‘megalith’ rock formations are only accessible on foot
  • Devil’s Bridge (Formerly Indian Town Point) National Park is a limestone rock formation featuring blowholes at high tide
  • Fort Barrington National Park features the remains of a 17th-century hilltop garrison
  • Nelson’s Dockyard National Park encompasses the Dockyard area as well as Shirley Heights, Fort Berkeley, Fort George and a number of hiking trails.

Outside of the parks, there are a few locations known to be great for bird watching.  They include Antigua’s off-shore islands, specifically Great Bird Island and Long Island as well as Barbuda’s bird sanctuary, which is home to the largest Frigate Bird colony in the Caribbean.

For more information on Antigua’s natural attractions along with a list of tour operators who will show you around, click on our Antigua & Barbuda Land Excursions and Antigua Hiking pages

Join the Festivities

Antigua’s annual Carnival, billed as “the Caribbean’s Greatest Summer Festival”, includes costumed parades and music including steel-bands and calypso.  Of course there’s always plenty of food fairs and partying throughout the festival…

The annual Antigua & Barbuda International Kite Festival is held at Devil’s Bridge National Park. Watch hundreds of kites flying and dancing in the wind along Antigua’s rocky east coast.

For a full listing of Antigua’s Carnival, Festivals and Events, check out our Antigua & Barbuda Events Calendar page


Want to see more? Check out our Memories of Antigua video on YouTube!

For a more complete review of Antigua & Barbuda Attractions and things-to-do, along with a list of local Tour Operators who can help you get the most out of your day, check out our Things To Do in Antigua page.


If you’re looking for something more active that will raise your pulse rate a bit higher, check out our recommended Antigua & Barbuda Adventures blog

For an overview of the beautiful and diverse islands, click on our Antigua & Barbuda Vacations page