Caribbean Mountains – Hike the Highest Peaks the Islands Have To Offer
Sure… It’s easy to think of the Caribbean as a place to relax on the beach with a cool tropical rum drink in hand, and while that’s a great idea, when I think of the Caribbean, I paint a mental picture of hiking through a lush rain-forest, heading up-hill a green Caribbean mountain or volcano, enjoying the eye-popping views of the Caribbean Sea along the way!
The Caribbean Islands, also known as “the West Indies”, are located in the Caribbean Sea / Atlantic ocean, forming a sort of right hand arc between Florida and South America. The largest Caribbean islands are in the north-west and include Cuba, Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic), Jamaica and Puerto Rico. These islands also have the largest mountain ranges and the tallest peaks in the Caribbean.
That said, I would suggest that some of the best Caribbean Islands for ‘up-hill’ hiking are further south-east and include Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Guadeloupe, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Vincent and Grenada. Caribbean volcanoes on some of these southern islands are relatively young, which always make for a fascinating hiking experience.
Some great mountainous rain-forest hiking is available on these wild and beautiful islands, with some trails taking just a couple of hours, while others require a full day or two. Weather permitting, most of these hikes allow you stunning views of the island and/or Caribbean sea and all of the hikes will provide you with a gratifying sense of physical, mental and spiritual accomplishment.
If you’re looking for the biggest and baddest the Caribbean has to offer, here are the 15 highest Caribbean mountains/Peaks in the West Indies (Based on vertical height above sea level):
Island
Rank
Height
Mountain
Dominican
Republic
1
10,164 feet (3,098m)
Pico Duarte
2
9,324 feet (2,842m)
Loma Alto de la
Bandera
5
7,477 feet (2,279m)
Loma Gajo en Medio
Haiti
3
8,773 feet (2,674m)
Pic la Selle
4
7,700 feet (2,347m)
Pic Macaya
Jamaica
6
7,402 feet (2,256m)
Blue Mountain Peak
Cuba
7
6,476 feet (1,974m)
Pico Turquino
12
4,098 feet (1,249m)
Gran Piedra
15
3,740 feet (1,140m)
Pico San Juan
Guadeloupe
8
4,813 feet (1,467m)
La Grande Soufrière
Dominica
9
4,747 feet (1,447m)
Morne Diablotins
Martinique
10
4,577 feet (1,395m)
Montagne Pelée
Puerto
Rico
11
4,389 feet (1,338m)
Cerro de Punta
St.
Vincent
13
4,049 feet (1,234m)
La Soufrière
St.
Kitts
14
3,793 feet (1,156m)
Mount Liamuiga
Please note that the above list only covers the Caribbean Islands, and does not include the Central American, Mexican, Colombian, and Venezuelan Caribbean, which have incredible mountain peaks of their own.
Looking for Things to do in Jamaica? Discover the Black River Safari
It was an exciting day! We were headed to Jamaica’s south-west coast to enjoy three amazing excursions – The Black River ‘Boat Safari’, YS Falls and the Appleton Estate Rum tour. All great things to do in Jamaica! We booked this 3-in-1 smorgasbord of adventures through Jamaica’s Amstar DMC.
This is part one of three blog posts from the day’s adventures – This one Focuses on the Black River Safari.
I’ll start by saying that it’s a fair distance from Montego Bay down to the Black River, just over 42 miles (70km). Lucky for us the bus was comfortable and our guide from Tropical Tours kept us busy by providing insight into the points of interest we passed along the way.
We left the concrete and noise of Montego Bay behind us and ventured into the mountains of St. James Parish. We had some great views of Jamaica’s beautiful interior as we winded our way through the mountains. We passed the quaint villages of Mount Carey, Montpelier and Shettlewood, getting a first hand view of how the locals live. From New Market to Middle Quarters the road traveled through an impressive valley before spilling out into the flatter rural areas of St. Elizabeth Parish.
A cluster of Egrets in the bush
When we finally reached the Riverside Dock, it was great to be able to stretch our legs. After checking out some souvenirs offered by local vendors, we boarded our pontoon boat and were ready for our Black River boat cruise – One of the many fun things to do in Jamaica. Just before we got under way, we noticed that it looked more like a green river than a black one, although that would change as we ventured further upstream. Although we had been listening to the enjoyable rhythms of Reggae music the last couple of days, I couldn’t help think about CCRs ‘Green River’ tune.
We pushed off from the dock and our pontoon boat took us out into the murky waters. Our boat operator ‘slash’ guide, immediately started telling us about the various vegetation and birds in the area. It didn’t take long for the view from the boat to get much more wild looking, and we settled in for a nice nature tour. The guide was informative and friendly, pointing out and describing the various flora and fauna that we encountered. He first mentioned that large portions of the river bottom was peat moss, and that is what gave the water it’s dark greenish hue.
Our boat guide also explained how the clumps of long vine-like branches bring water from the river up to the higher parts of the tree – Pretty fascinating. He also showed us Indigo plants growing at the sides of the river and explained that in the past, blue dye was extracted from these plants by European settlers and used for making ‘blue jeans’.
The banks of the river were mostly covered with a couple different species of mangroves along with various bushes and long shoots. There was really no ‘shore’ to speak of the entire boat trip. With the exception of the large ever-present mountains in the background, I again couldn’t help to think I was traveling through some southern bayou.
At a broad bend in the river, we came across a large patch of green lily pads floating on the water. In the background a local fisherman canoed by with his crab traps – apparently they’re quite the delicacy in the area. It was amazing to see him paddling the river in a traditional dugout style canoe – a real blast from the past!
As we journeyed up river, we saw plenty of birds near the water and in the trees along the river banks. There were a couple types of egret along with a variety of other birds, and we also saw a couple of ospreys! That’s all good, however we were really out there to see a Jamaican Crocodile…
Eventually the river narrowed and the water got much darker, OK it was black… This was my favourite area for sure – Again reminiscent of a southern US swamp, although the water here always appeared to be fairly deep. Here’s where we saw a couple of crocodiles. I have to say I’m not a big fan of feeding wild animals, however it did get them out of their hiding spots along the river banks and bring them out onto the water for everyone to see. The American Crocodiles that live in Jamaica’s Black River are relatively small as compared to their African and Australian cousins. Apparently they are also quite mellow, perhaps a reflection of the local people themselves 🙂
After spotting a few of the ancient reptiles, we turned around and moved considerably faster on the way downriver, back to the dock. Once there, we enjoyed a local lunch of beef stew, jerk chicken along with rice & peas (although I think they were beans) and fruit punch (sans rum). Tasty – That hit the spot.
In summary, this enjoyable boat cruise is just one of the many incredible things to do in Jamaica. The tour lasted just under an hour and a half. While there were a number of other boats on the river, I didn’t find it crowded or touristy. Admittedly, we had set out to see a crocodile, although we ended up really appreciating the boat cruise itself. It was a beautiful warm sunny day and there was lots of nature to see with plenty of opportunities for photos to capture and bring home memories.
Hill Top Fortifications, Mount Obama, Coastal trails and more!
Antigua and Barbuda are a Caribbean nation in the Leeward Islands just north of Guadeloupe and east of Montserrat and St. Kitts & Nevis. Known as the sailing capital of the English Caribbean, Antigua is famous for it’s 365 white sand beaches and excellent cuisine. It’s worth knowing that the island also has some amazing hiking trails. Trails that are so quiet that you’ll likely encounter only 1 or two other small groups on your hike! So, when you’ve bored of suntanning and are looking to explore the gorgeous island, get a little exercise by checking out the island’s diverse hiking trials. Antigua hiking trails offer something for everyone – There are short sight-seeing strolls as well as some longer more challenging hilly hikes – Surprisingly, Antigua has got it all.
Most of Antigua’s more popular hiking trails are located in the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park and Shirley Heights area, however there are also a number of trails in the south-west corner of Antigua. Amid the rolling hills and volcanic features of the “Green Corridor”, you can explore the Wallings Nature Reserve, Christian Valley, as well as Mount Obama – the island’s highest peak at 1,330 feet (405m) above sea level. While there’s plenty more to choose from, our favourite Antigua hiking trails include:
Mount Obama Trail
While Antigua’s landscape is mostly flat coral and limestone, the island’s hilly south-west has some interesting volcanic formations as well as larger vegetation than the rest of the island. This area is home to Mount Obama National Park and the island’s tallest peak, Mount Obama. Formerly known as Boggy Peak, the area was renamed in 2009 in honour of the historic presidential election of Barack Obama in the USA.
This is an intermediate level ‘hilly’ hike of just over 4 miles (6.6km) requiring 2 to 3 hours to complete. This review is based on hiking over the mountain one way, from north to south. The hike starts on a nice dirt road lined with papaya trees which narrows onto a trail that disappears into the forest. The natural path twists and turns through the woods, traveling across a couple of dry riverbeds along the way. The dry trail is littered with leaves and foliage from the surrounding trees and bamboo stands, all the while constantly going up and up. The trail gets steeper as it nears the top and becomes really steep on the last section which is actually a concrete road that winds it’s way around the mountain peak.
Feel the refreshing cool breeze at the top as you take-in the spectacular 360 degree views. The southern view of the Antigua coastline and Caribbean Sea includes two of the island’s most famous icons, a large field growing the island’s famous ‘black pineapple’ and the island’s top snorkeling spot, Cades Reef. On a clear day you can even see Montserrat off in the distance. This perspective is flanked by amazing views of rolling hills that hint at the island’s volcanic past. Although the views to the north are somewhat obstructed by telecom towers and antennas, you can easily see the western Caribbean coastline including Darkwood Beach and Jolly Harbour, as well as St. John’s way off in the distance, easily discernible when there’s a cruise ship in port.
The southern descent follows a concrete road all the way to the agricultural land near the bottom of the mountain. Fortunately, the road is not too steep as it twists and turns most of the way down before transitioning to a less arduous road lined with coconut and other fruit trees. A fun way to spend the morning and a “must do” Antigua trail for the avid hiker!
For a longer, more colourful review of this trail, check out our personal Antigua hiking experience with our Mount Obama Blog
Monk’s Hill to Fort George
This short but rewarding hike journeys to an Antigua hilltop with stunning views of Falmouth Harbour. This is an easy/intermediate level “hilly” trail of just under 2 miles (3km) requiring an hour or so to complete. Part of Antigua’s National Park system, the remains of 17th century Fort George sits atop Monk’s Hill, 650 feet (200m) above sea level.
The trail starts as a paved road that quickly degrades into a stone covered dirt road. During the first part of the hike, the left side of the trail offers teasing views of the ocean and southern coastline, partially seen over the rooftops of a few houses perched on the side of the hill. The flora on the right side of the road is an interesting combination of tropical forest and dry scrub desert – It’s somewhat green and lush, although there’s a variety of cacti dotting the landscape as well.
The trail unfolds steadily uphill on a gentle incline, making it a very pleasant stroll. As the track nears the mountain top it takes a hairpin turn along a stone wall, which is part of the old fortification. The trail follows the wall until it ducks into the fort’s entrance through a stone archway then pretty much disappears. The hilltop reveals a large flat rock surface with the remains of a stone building among the scrub brush. The wind is strong along the edge of the escarpment, but the southern view is worth being subjected to it. The Antigua shoreline, in all it’s glory, unfolds below! The amazing view of the bays and natural harbours, provide a great reward for such little exertion required for this hike. The spectacular view of Falmouth Bay, English Harbour and the rolling hills to the west make this a great vantage point. It’s also fun to see sailing regattas unfold below, watching several sailboats racing back and forth across the large bay.
Before heading back down the same trail, a short walk to the other side of the mountain top reveals interesting views to the north-east. Sights include the stone remains of an old mill, a fairly large solar farm as well as the Atlantic Ocean way off in the distance.
For a longer, more colourful review of this hike, check out our personal Antigua hiking experience with our Monk’s Hill & Fort George Blog
Middle Ground Trail to Nelson’s Dockyard
This enjoyable Antigua hike crosses the small peninsula that separates English Harbour from Falmouth Harbour, ending at historic Fort Berkeley. There’s also a small spur trail that connects the fort to the popular tourist attraction of Nelson’s Dockyard. This can be a hot and arid hike on an easy / intermediate level trail of just under 3 miles (4.5km) requiring a couple of hours or more to complete.
The trail starts in a nice wooded area near a beach, with a short climb up a fairly steep, but small hill. Man-made steps quickly give way to a natural dirt path at the top of the hill. Looking back to the west provides a quick reward with an amazing view of Falmouth Harbour and it’s sailboats sitting atop gorgeous shades of turquoise! With it’s low growing scrub brush, cactus and a few scattered clumps of small trees here and there, the rocky landscape is somewhat reminiscent of the southwest USA. For the most part, this trail is a wide path of dirt and small stones – very comfortable to walk on. The ground is also littered with small pellets thanks to a number of shy goats wandering around all over the place. Hence the reason this Antigua hiking trail is also affectionately known as ‘the Goat Track’.
The path journeys on a wide ridge trail of sorts following the contour of the southern coastline with plenty of shallow ups and downs to make the hike interesting. There are remains of stone structures along the trail that were probably part of the original fortifications of the area. These, along with dramatic views of the Caribbean Sea makes this trail a great photo opportunity. Typical of exposed ridge trails, this hike is pretty much fully exposed to the hot tropical sun, while a constant breeze coming off the ocean helps cool things down a bit.
Eventually, nice aerial perspectives of Fort Berkeley come into view. The long and skinny 18th century stone fortification frames the natural land mass protecting the entrance to English Harbour. Across the water, Antigua’s famous coral and limestone rock formations known as the Pillars of Hercules, can be seen at the southern end of Freeman’s Bay.
In order to reach the fort, the trail takes you down a very steep, almost cliff-like section of the hill. Ropes are in place to support the descent and from there, it’s just a short walk to the stone wall that surrounds the point. The old fortification includes a guardhouse and old powder magazine as well as a couple of cannons in place along the wall. Before taking the same trail back, you can follow a short gravel road for a quick visit to Nelson’s Dockyard if you choose.
For a longer, more colourful review of this hike, check out our personal Antigua hiking experience with our Middle Ground Trail Hike Blog
Other Antigua Hiking Trails…
One of the most popular tourist sites in Antigua is an area overlooking Nelson’s Dockyard and English Harbour, known as Shirley Heights. There are a number of hiking trails that can take you to this area – Arguably, the best spot for picturesque views of Antigua. The easy/intermediate routes to ascend and descend this hilltop include:
Carpenters Rock Trail (from Galleon Beach) – An interesting hike past Fort Charlotte
Jones Valley Trail (From Freeman’s Bay) – A partial loop trail with some much appreciated shade
Lookout Trail (From Freeman’s Bay) – A short, but steep route to the top
Desmonds & Carpenters Trail Combo (From Galleon Beach) – A fun, slightly longer route to Shirley Heights
It’s also worth noting that from Shirley Heights, it’s another half mile (1km) walk up the road to the Blockhouse, a historical site for another vantage point with great views south of the island. Finally, on the coastal trail back to Freeman’s Bay, there’s also an optional short spur trail that leads to the Pillars of Hercules.
There are also some great Antigua hiking trails in/around the Wallings Nature Reserve. They include:
Button Pond – An easy nature trail that takes less than an hour
Wallings Dam to Signal Hill – An easy/intermediate trail with some interesting elevation change and great views of the island
Wallings Dam to Rendezvous Bay – An easy/intermediate hilly hike to a secluded lagoon beach that will take about 3 hours to complete
The challenging Rendezvous Bay to Claremont trail
There’s more Antigua hiking trails in/around Christian Valley including:
Christian Valley Bird Trail – There’s a North Loop (easy) and a South Loop (easy/intermediate) through the rainforest jungle
Christian Valley Waterfalls Trail – An easy hike that passes a small (seasonal) waterfall
Mount McNish Trail – An intermediate level hilly hike to a summit of close to 1,000 feet (300m) high, with great views of the island
Body Pond Valley Trail – An intermediate cross country route between a couple of local villages.
If you’re looking for some other adventures that will raise your pulse rate a bit, check the recommendations in our Antigua & Barbuda Adventure blog
If you’re looking to slow-it-down a bit, maybe take a tour of the island to see some attractions, check out our recommendations for Things To Do in Antigua & Barbuda blog
St. Kitts & Nevis Hiking – Explore Nature while Enjoying Spectacular Views
The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis Islands, commonly referred to as “St. Kitts & Nevis” or “SKN”, is a two island nation in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles’ Leeward Islands. SKN are only a few miles from its closest neighbours: Sint Eustatius to the north-west; Barbuda and Antigua to the East; and Montserrat to the south. Regular ferry service connects the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, which are approximately 2 miles (3 km) apart.
The islands of St. Kitts & Nevis are actually the tops of a submerged volcanic mountain range, making it a great place to hike! Combined, the islands have half a dozen mountainous peaks above 1,500 feet (500m), the tallest being Mount Liamuiga on St. Kitts, towering 3,792 feet (1,156 m) above sea level. Covered with rolling green folds of volcanic peaks and lush valleys, more than a quarter of the islands are protected National Park lands. St. Kitts and Nevis offer a variety of easy relaxing nature walks as well as some very challenging hikes, offering something for everyone – If you know where to look. Our favourites include…
The best St. Kitts hiking trails include:
Mount Liamuiga (formerly Mount Misery) – No adventurous trip to St. Kitts is complete without hiking the island’s highest peak. You’ll need 4 to 6 hours for this 5 mile (8km) round trip hike up and down the volcano. The absolute vertical hiked on this trail is just over 2,380 feet (725m), which is a decent challenge for most. This St. Kitts hike is what you think of when you imagine hiking a volcano on a Caribbean island – Trekking through a rain-forest with the trail getting progressively steeper along the way, then reaching the top and being able to peer down into an open crater. This is an enjoyable hike with a constantly varying environment to take-in, including seeing more exposed tree roots than you’ve probably ever seen before in one spot. For a more detailed account of this hike, click on our Mount Liamuiga Trail page
Dos D’ane Pond / Verchilds Mountain Trail – The second highest peak on St. Kitts offers a fairly challenging hike as well, with > 2000 feet (600m) vertical elevation gain, and great views of the island.
“Valley of Giants” Rain-forest Trail – A fairly easy 2 hour loop hike along a River in an amazing rain-forest Valley. There’s also an optional ridge climb for the more adventurous – Enjoyable St. Kitts hiking for sure.
Challengers Village – Bat Cave and Waterfall Trail – The main attractions of this hike are self explanatory 🙂 It takes about about 4 to 5 hours to complete this easy – intermediate level hike.
Southern Peninsula Trail – This unique St. Kitts hike takes place at the south end of the island, providing ‘dry scrub-brush’ terrain with access to empty beaches and spectacular ocean views. A must-do experience for sure!
There’s also a couple of excellent hiking trails on the east side of St. Kitts, including the Phillips Rainforest Trail, the Christ Church Ghaut Loop and the Cayon Ghaut River Trail.
If you’re looking for a longer hike, the Old Military Trail crosses the Island from Romney Manor to Phillip’s Village.
For more information, including hiking guides and tour operators who will get you on the trail, check out our St. Kitts Hiking page
The Best Nevis Hiking Trails include:
Nevis Peak – The feature hike is to the top of the island’s highest peak. The summit of the volcano is 3,200 feet (950m) above sea level. This is a fairly difficult / steep trail taking about 4-5 hours round trip. This iconic hike rewards you with breath-taking views of the islands, the surrounding Caribbean Sea as well as the island of Montserrat!
There is a variety of Nevis hiking trails on the island as well.
There are some intermediate level hiking trails that will give you a decent work-out while rewarding you with great views. They include the Golden Rock Nature Trail; the Devil’s Copper Trail; the Water Source / Waterfall Trail; and Jessup’s Rainforest Trail.
There’s also plenty of more relaxing nature trails on Nevis. They include the Sulphur Springs Trail and Saddle Hill Trail. Other Nevis hiking trails take you through rural villages, to Amerindian sites or plantation ruins. You can bird-watch and you may even get a glimse of a Vervet or “green” monkey along the way!
For more details, as well as tour operators who will get you on the trail, check out our Nevis Hiking page
Now, get out there & have some fun!
ACT Staff
If you’re looking for other exciting activities to experience, take a look at our St. Kitts & Nevis Adventures blog
When you’re not hiking or snorkeling around St. Kitts & Nevis, there’s plenty of other things to do on the Sister Islands, including a Scenic Railway Tour and a visit to Brimstone Hill Fortress. For more ideas for a fun and relaxing vacation, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Attractions blog
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
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.
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
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 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
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 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.
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
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.
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!
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 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
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
