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Snorkel Bonaire – Discover a Wondrous Underwater World

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Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

Bonaire Snorkeling – See the Amazing Life that Lives Below the Waves…

Bonaire is a small island in the southern Caribbean’s Lesser Antilles, a mere 25 miles (80km) north of the Venezuelan coast. The island is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Safe from hurricanes, Bonaire has a truly amazing climate, relatively warm and dry for most of the year. Famous for it’s pink flamingos and renowned coral reefs, the island is a dream-come-true for adventurers looking for snorkeling, scuba diving and water sports.

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

With it’s healthy coral reefs and rich marine life, Bonaire is one of the top 3 islands in the Caribbean for snorkeling! Bonaire and Klein Bonaire, a small island less than 1/2 mile (1km) from the main island’s western coast, are encircled by coral reefs providing an amazing biodiversity of oceanic life including colourful fish, coral, sponge and more. Bonaire snorkeling can be enjoyed right off the beach at a number of spots on Bonaire’s western shores and of course there are also several boat operators who can take you to plenty of other locations in Bonaire’s Marine Park and elsewhere around the island.

Slip into the warm Caribbean sea and visit shallow corals on the edge of steep underwater cliffs – Visibility is great as you can clearly see through more than fifty feet (15m) of Bonaire’s clear blue sea. There are plenty of unique and stunning underwater wonders to explore – An underwater world below the waves awaits you. Bonaire snorkeling is an adventure that you just can’t experience on land… If you know where to go – Here’s a few of our favourite spots:

Bonaire’s Best Snorkeling Sites off Klein Bonaire

Klein Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

There’s over a dozen Bonaire snorkeling sites off the shores of Klein Bonaire – Here’s a few samples:

  • Leonora’s Reef offers views of a large variety of corals and sponges / plumes, along with seahorses, fire worms and snails along with fish including groupers, damselfish, butterfly-fish, angelfish, snappers and trunk-fish. Great for beginners!
  • Carl’s Hill is beach accessible and with views starting in about 20 feet of water, it’s a great place to see a wide variety of marine life such as sponges, gorgonians and coral along with fish, including barracudas, bar jacks and schools of blue tang
  • Jerry’s Reef is a deep site that offers views of a large variety of sponges as well as corals, anemones and plumes along with turtles, rays and reef sharks as well as fish including parrotfish and puffers. A great location for beginners and underwater photography.
  • Munk’s Haven is a cool underwater plateau that starts around 30 feet deep and offers views of a large variety of corals and sponges, along with shrimp, turtles and fish including groupers, wrasse and many more
  • Sharon’s Serenity’s views start about 20 feet deep and provides experienced swimmers views of seaplumes, a large variety of coral along with hawksbill and green turtles along with fish including groupers, damselfish, doctorfish, parrotfish and barracuda.  A great location for underwater photography
Klein Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

My first experience snorkeling just off-shore from Klein Bonaire absolutely blew my mind! I have snorkeled in the Caribbean before, however I hadn’t seen anything like this before. After a short boat ride over to the south side of the Klein Bonaire, I stepped off the boat and stuck my face in the calm warm water and literally yelled through my snorkel – Holy S###… We were over a reef so full of life I didn’t know where to look first. Once I settled down, I saw a variety of coral along with colourful tubes and plumes, as well as amazing fish species that I had never seen before. The sand and coral bottom just disappeared over an underwater cliff, and as I was peering into the abyss, a green turtle swam out of the deep towards us. At the second spot we snorkeled at, near the east end of the island, the current was quite a bit stronger. We just drifted with a large school of fish – very invigorating!

For more information on snorkeling Klein Bonaire, including boat operators to get you over there, check out our Klein Bonaire Snorkeling page

Bonaire’s Best Snorkeling Sites North of Kralendijk

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire's Washington-Slagbaai National Park


There are 4 designated places to experience Bonaire snorkeling off the islands’ north-west shores from within Washington-Slagbaai National Park. Bise Morto and Boka Slagbaai are both accessed from nearby beaches and offer the prospect of spotting rays, eels, as well as whales and the occasional shark.

There’s over a dozen Bonaire snorkeling spots on the west coast, south of the Park and north of Bonaire’s capital, Kralendijk. Here’s a few, just to whet your appetite for taking a look ‘below the surface’.

  • 1000 Steps is beach accessible and relatively shallow, offering views of turtles and rays along with a wide variety of fish including parrotfish, angelfish and doctorfish. Further offshore you can see a variety of corals and sponges along with durgeons, filefish and large night sergeants and angelfish
  • Kalli’s Reef starts around 30 feet deep and offers views of a variety of marine life including turtles and seahorse
  • Andrea / Pali Coco is fairly shallow and offers views of corals / anamones as well as seahorses and parrotfish. Great for beginners!
  • La Marchaca / Habitat is shore accessible! Snorkeling starts at 20 feet and features a ship-wreck in 50 feet of water
  • Front Porch / Eden Beach is accessible right off the beach! The fun starts in as little as 15 feet of water with views of a large variety of fish as well as a sunken upside tugboat further offshore. Great for beginners!
  • Something Special / Kralendijk Marina has a sandy bottom and is shore accessible! This is a great drift snorkel that starts around 20 feet deep and offers close to a hundred varieties of fish. Great for beginners!

For more information on snorkeling Bonaire’s western shores north of Kralendijk, including tour / boat operators to get you outfitted, click on our Bonaire Snorkeling – North of Kralendijk page

The Best Bonaire Snorkeling Sites South of Kralendijk

There’s a handful of places to snorkel Bonaire’s West Coast, just south of Kralendijk. Eighteen Palms is accessible right off the beach and at 30 feet deep the views often include sting-rays and eagle-rays. A little further south at North Belnem, you should be able to swim with schools of blue tang – Great fun for beginners!

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

Another half dozen snorkeling spots are just south of the Slave Huts, almost all of them beach accessible. Here’s a small taste…

  • Tori’s Reef is shore accessible! Snorkeling starts around 20 feet deep and offers views of coral, a large variety of fish as well as eels
  • Pink Beach is relatively shallow and is also beach accessible! Experienced swimmers can view rays as well as bone-fish
  • Margate Bay is beach accessible and has a limestone and sand bottom. Snorkeling starts around 25 feet deep and offers views of a variety of corals as well as turtles and rays along with fish including snapper (black margate), doctorfish, parrotfish, angelfish, trumpet-fish, grunt, butterfly-fish and barracuda
  • Sweet Dreams is a fairly remote and quiet spot offering experienced swimmers views of corals, sea fans and anemones as well as turtles and rays along with fish including doctorfish, parrotfish, sergeant majors and barracuda

There’s also a couple of spots for strong swimmers to snorkel on the island’s west coast in the Mangroves of Lac Bay. The reward for venturing in these rougher waters include seeing great coral as well as some large fish.

For more information on snorkeling Bonaire’s western shores south of Kralendijk, including boat / tour operators to get you out there, click on our Bonaire Snorkeling – South of Kralendijk page

For those of you who want to go deeper and stay under water longer, but don’t have scuba diving experience, Snooba (Air Hose Snorkeling) is also available on the island. For more information regarding Tours and Boat Operators to help you snorkel and snooba, check out our Bonaire Snorkeling page

Get out there and have some fun!

Bonaire Snorkeling is one of the Caribbean's best and top of the list of things to do in Bonaire.

ACT Staff

If you’re planning a visit to the island and you’re looking for other exciting activities to experience both on land and in/on the water, take a look at our Bonaire Adventures page

If you’re looking to explore the island at a more relaxing pace, check out our recommended Bonaire Attractions

For an overview of the beautiful island of Bonaire, click on our Bonaire Vacations page

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6 St. Lucia Attractions You Don’t Want to Miss

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Things to Do in Saint Lucia – Get Muddy, Explore Nature & Relax on a Sunset Sail


You’ll find Saint Lucia in the southern Caribbean, just south of Martinique, with Barbados to its east. St. Lucia is a mountainous island covered in lush green rain-forest and is home to the distinctive and easily recognizable Pitons (mountains), a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  A very popular Caribbean vacation destination known for romantic getaways, there’s also plenty of things to do in Saint Lucia for active travelers – If you know where to look….  You can enjoy time outdoors with a walk through a botanical gardens or on a nature trail.  Thrill seekers can zip-line through the rain-forest or motor through the jungle on an ATV or Dune Buggy.

Our personal favourites include:

Saint Lucia Nature – Explore and Enjoy!

Things to do in Saint Lucia include exploring Nature on the Tet Paul Trail

Saint Lucia is a gorgeous island, full of nature’s wonders…

The Tet Paul Nature Trail is a “must do” on the island. The hour long guided tour can be enjoyed by folks of all ages and physical ability.  You will be treated with amazing views of the Pitons, as well as the south coast of the island. Your guide will also share his knowledge of local plant life on display there.

Things to do in Saint Lucia include exploring Nature

For another quiet day in nature, journey to the remote east side of the island to experience Mamiku Botanical Gardens which offers a variety of forest and plantation tours that feature birds, humming birds and butterflies along with flowers and plant life, including medicinal herbs.

The Millet bird Sanctuary is located just outside of Roseau and provides birdwatchers with a 2-mile loop trail through a rich jungle environment that is home to 30 species of birds.

If you’re really serious about nature, take a scenic boat ride over to the Fregate Islands Nature Reserve, an important nesting site for the amazing Frigate bird, or to the Maria Islands Nature Reserve – Home to two endemic species found nowhere else in the world: the Kouwès grass snake and the Zandoli tè ground lizard.

For the more adventurous, take a trip to the Castries Waterworks Forest Reserve (Rainforest Adventures) for amazing views and a few thrills, from riding their aerial tram or zip-line. They also have rain-forest trails to explore. Enjoy some of the more fun and active things to do in Saint Lucia…

For more information check out our Things to do in St. Lucia – Land Excursions page

Visit St. Lucia’s Waterfalls, Mud Baths and more…

Things to do in Saint Lucia include mud baths, sulphur springs and waterfalls

Of course, your trip to St. Lucia is not complete without seeing the multitude of things to do in Soufriere – The most popular attractions include the sulphur springs, therapeutic mud-baths and mineral water pools, along with enjoying a refreshing shower under one of the island’s many waterfalls.

Things to do in Saint Lucia include mud baths, sulphur springs and waterfalls

Coined ‘the only drive-in volcano in the world’, Saint Lucia’s sulphur springs feature small boiling and steaming mud and water holes near the top of the volcano.  Once you’ve seen (and smelled 😉 that area, it’s time to get more interactive – Take a warm mud bath, then rinse off in a nearby mountain fed stream of water – Choose from a number of waterfalls in the area including the Sapphire, Toraille and Latille waterfalls.

Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens provide a guided tour of their gardens and colourful waterfalls, along with an opportunity to relax in their Mineral Baths.

A number of Island Tours include a combination of the sulphur springs, Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens and Waterfalls along with other island attractions such as a banana plantation, an estate plantation, a beach stop and a local Lunch.  Zip-lining, horseback riding and ATV tours are also available.

For more info on some of the more popular things to do in Saint Lucia, including tour operators who will help you get the most out of your day, check out our Things to do in Saint Lucia – Land Excursions page

Saint Lucia Sight-Seaing by Boat Tour 😉

Things to do in Saint Lucia include sail the coast to see dolphins and whales as well as Marigot Bay

For a unique perspective of St. Lucia, cruise down the west coast in a boat to check out Marigot Bay, the ‘tunnel of love’ and the majestic Pitons.  You can take a speedboat, a cruiser, or sailboat, both catamarans and mono-hull yachts are available.  You can even journey by glass bottom boat or pirate galleon.

It’s an amazing sight when cruising alongside dolphins and whales – Yes that’s a thing.  You can also relax and feel the caribbean sea breeze in your face when you it’s sail under the power of the wind – What a great feeling!

Of course it wouldn’t be St. Lucia without a romantic sunset cruise.

For a change of view, you can reach the Soufriere attractions via the water, and boat tours usually include a beach BBQ or Plantation lunch. You can also find party boats and pirate themed tours for the kid in all of us 🙂

For more details, including boat/tour operators who will help you get the most out of your day on the sea, check out our Things to do in Saint Lucia – Ocean Excursions page

Re-live St. Lucia’s Colourful History

Wander around historic Fort Rodney & Signal Peak in beautiful Pigeon Island National Park, and recall how this strategically important island changed hands between the French and the English more than a dozen times over a three hundred year span.

Things to do in Saint Lucia include a visit to Rodney Bay National Park and Pigeon Island

Located on the north-west tip of Saint Lucia, near Gros Islet, remains of the old stone fort are perched on a peak that juts out into the ocean.  Feel the warm breeze while you take in spectacular panoramic views of the island and Caribbean sea.  When you’re ready, travel to nearby Rodney bay where you’ll enjoy having lunch at a restaurant on Reduit Beach. Great relaxing things to do in Saint Lucia for sure…

For more information on the island, click on our St. Lucia Vacations page

Saint Lucia Rum – Sample Some Excellent Stuff!

Located in the west coast town of Roseau, 20 minutes from the capital Castries, you can find the island’s only official rum producer.  Perhaps not that well-known, St. Lucia Distillers produce some of the best rum in the Caribbean, winning dozens of awards from various spirits competitions around the world.  They produce over ten different rums, including varieties of white, flavoured, spiced and aged spirits, as well as rum based liqueurs/cremes. Their aged and spiced rums are excellent, including some great premium sipping rums.  You can visit the St. Lucia Distillers retail store front, which includes a rum sampling room and they offer factory tours as well. Its worth the trip to Roseau to check out these fine Saint Lucian rums.

Things to do in Saint Lucia include a visit to the St. Lucia Distillers for rum tasting

For more information, including tour operators who can get you there and back safely, click on our St. Lucia Rum page

Enjoy Saint Lucia’s SOLEIL Summer Festival

There’s a number of festivals on the island, pretty much year round.  There’s culinary events during the Food & Rum Festival, the St. Lucia ‘Carnival’ and plenty of outstanding music festivals.  St. Lucia’s Jazz Festival culminates with a concert on majestic Pigeon Island, while the Roots and Soul Festival features reggae, conscious hip-hop, Afro-punk and R&B music. You can also experience Saint Lucia’s rich cultural, ethnic and artistic heritage during the island’s Arts and Heritage Festival.  Oh, did I mention…  St. Lucia celebrates Chocolate Heritage Month every August, with a number of local events, including chocolate based meals and beverages – Yum!

For more information, check out our St. Lucia’s Festivals and Events Calendar page

Enjoy!

ACT Staff

Want to see an overview collage of things to do in St. Lucia? Check out our Saint Lucia Sights & Attractions video on YouTube!

If you’re looking for more of a physical adventure, check out our Adventure Activities in Saint Lucia blog

For an overview of this beautiful island, take a look at our St. Lucia Vacations page

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Ride a Train & Tour a Fortress and Gardens in St. Kitts & Nevis

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There’s Plenty of Things to Do on the Sister Islands of St. Kitts & Nevis


The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis Islands, commonly referred to as “St. Kitts” or “SKN”, is a two island nation in the Caribbean’s Lesser Antilles’ Leeward Islands.  The St. Kitts and Nevis islands are actually the tops of a submerged volcanic mountain range.  The green islands are covered with rolling folds of volcanic peaks and lush valleys. Regular ferry service connects the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, which are approximately 2 miles (3 km) apart.  St. Kitts is 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.

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions include Timothy Hill

While no trip to St. Kitts is complete without seeing Brimstone Hill Fortress, the picturesque south-east peninsula or visiting the capital Basseterre, there are plenty of other amazing and fun things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis – If you know where to look.  Our personal favourites include:

Experience Unique and Historical Attractions in Saint Kitts

Sit back and relax while you see the island from the “last railway in the West Indies” – A train, built in the early 1900s for the sugar industry, now operates a unique scenic railway tour.  The train ride takes you around the rugged north-east coastline, then bus transportation takes you along the west side of the island, giving you a great all-round island experience.

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions include Brimstone Fortress and a Scenic Railway Tour


For the history buff, Brimstone Hill Fortress – a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a must see.  With it’s formidable structure and spectacular views of the Caribbean sea, this well preserved fortification makes for an imposing sight.  Located on the west side of the island, the fortress is an excellent example of British military architecture of a bygone era. Covering almost 40 acres (150k sq. m), the main features of the multi-leveled fortification include it’s massive stone wall, with it’s commanding view (and cannon range) of the surrounding coastline and Caribbean Sea, along with it’s main building the Citadel, also know as Fort George.

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions include the Black Rocks and Wingfield Estate


Another structure of historical significance is the Wingfield Estate Sugar Plantation.  The Ruins are located in the Central Forest Reserve National Park on the west side of the island, adjacent to the more popular Romney Manor.  Old stone structures outline the remains of a once majestic set of buildings – Imagine the ancient sugar mill, rum distillery and more.  While you’re in the area, one of the more interesting things to do in St. Kitts is to find the 17th century petroglyphs.  

For a unique and interesting geological site, check out the “Black Rocks” on the rugged north-east coast near the village of Bellevue.  These ancient lava formations on the edge of the sea, provide a reminder of the island’s volcanic past.

OK, so you’re looking for some rum…  Local tour operators can take you to the Fairview Great House for some tasting, or on a Rum Runner’s Tour of the capital Basseterre, along with south-east peninsula sightseeing and 5 Rum / Bar Stops.

For more information, including tour operators who will take good care of you, click on our Things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis – Land Excursions page

Revel in the Natural Beauty of Saint Kitts

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions include Romney Manor and Fairview Great-house

Romney Manor, on the west side of the island is one of the most popular things to do in St. Kitts and is well worth a visit – Their botanical gardens showcase a variety of local flora, including a 400-year-old SAMAN tree as well as colourful ‘lipstick’ palm trees.  A Bar and the Caribelle Batik are also on the grounds – You can even watch a local artist make the famous Batik clothing.

Fairview Great House & Botanical Gardens is a restored 18th century home and grounds.  Your tour there includes the great-house and gardens, which feature local flora.  Located on the west side of the island, you’ll also enjoy great views of the south-western shoreline and Caribbean Sea.

One of the more relaxing things to do in St. Kitts, is to take-in the best views of the islands, without having the climb a volcano or mountain. Journey to a place called Timothy Hill, approximately 3.5 miles (5km) south-east of the capital Bassettere.  From this vantage point you can see all the way down the lush and hilly south-east peninsula of the island, along with Nevis peak in the background.

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions

For those looking for a nice nature walk, you can take a leisurely stroll in the Central Forest Reserve National Park on the west side of St. Kitts. Also visit the St. Kitts Eco-Park in the north-west corner of the island – Stretch your legs while you enjoy a variety of greenhouses, gardens, and orchards, before grabbing some shade at the tea house.

A variety of tours available in St. Kitts will take you sight-seeing through the mountainous interior of the island by jeep, Land Rover or open air safari bus.  This is a great way to really appreciate the natural beauty of the tropical island and one of the more popular things to do in St. Kitts.  Many tours provide a picnic lunch and include a visit to an old Estate and/or Plantation.

For more information, including tour operators who provide island tours, check out our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis page

Visit the Capital, Basseterre

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions includes Independence Square in Basseterre

Sometimes, there’s nothing more relaxing than simply taking a break in a park accompanied by a leisurely walk around town.  Basseterre is a great place in the Caribbean where you can wander around safely.  

Independence Square is a short walk from the port. This former slave market location is now a beautiful and tranquil park setting – Sit on a bench and soak-up the Caribbean sun while enjoying the water fountain, the park’s centre-piece.  In the background you can  see the magnificent Church of Immaculate Conception.  The equally impressive St. Georges Anglican church is also just a five-minute walk away.

Looking for more things to do in St. Kitts? On the outskirts of town, yet just a 15 minute walk from Independence Square, is the Government House – A large 19th century dwelling, now home to the island’s Governor General.

For more information, including tour operators who will take good care of you, click on our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis page

Go Zip-lining and Off-Roading in St. Kitts

Want to feel the rush of flying over cane-fields or jungle foliage?  There’s a zip-line operator on the west side of the island, just next to the Wingfield Estate Sugar Plantation.  They have 5 zip-lines to experience and trying multiple rides involve 4×4 transport to get you from line to line.

ATV and Dune Buggy tours are also available on St. Kitts – Ride off-road country tracks, deserted beaches, up scenic mountain slopes and through cane-fields…  Then enjoy some beach time and maybe a refreshing swim.

For more information, including tour operators who will get you on the move, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Land Excursions page

Cruise St. Kitts & Nevis by Sea

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis include Catamaran, Motorboat or Pontoon Boating for a Dinner at Sea or Sunset Cruise

Get a unique perspective of St. Kitts and Nevis by sight-seeing from sea.  At the sister islands, that means it’s west coast features, including Mount Liamuiga and Brimstone Fortress, the south-east peninsula as well as Mount Nevis.

There are a variety of sea-faring options available to you, including catamaran sailboats, power-boats and pontoon boats. Sight-seeing the western shores of the islands is spectacular and boat tours often include a beach visit and/or a BBQ lunch.  Of course, Party Cruises and Sunset Cruises – featuring the chance to see the famous St. Kitts and Nevis ‘green flash’, are also available!


For the more adventurous, how would you like to rip around in a Mini Speedboat?  A local boat operator offers guided tours with these ‘motorized dinghies for two’ – It’s a great way to explore the blue waters of St Kitts and Nevis.

For more information, including boat operators who will get you on the waves, check out our Things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis – Ocean Excursions page

Visit the Natural Beauty of Nevis

Things to do in St. Kitts and Nevis - Major Tourist Attractions include Botanical Gardens, Plantations and Museums

A short ferry ride will take you from St. Kitts to the island of Nevis, where you can enjoy peaceful natural beauty, all in the shadow of majestic Nevis Peak.  

You can enjoy the local flora at the Botanical Gardens of Nevis on the south side of the island.  Visit to the quaint village of Charlestown, the island’s capital, on the west side of Nevis – There you can learn about the island’s history at the Horatio Nelson or Alexander Hamilton Museums, or simply unwind as you bathe in the local hot-springs.  On the north end of the island you can visit the Nisbet Plantation and kick-back with great views of St. Kitts from Oualie beach.

For a little more activity, you’ll appreciate a nature walk through the rain-forest,  bird watching or looking for the Vervet or “green” monkeys that inhabit the islands.  There’s even an Amerindian Site to explore. These are all great things to do in Nevis.

For the more intrepid, there’s exciting 4×4 off-road adventure tours as well as an equestrian centre where you can enjoy trail rides or even a beach tour.

For more information, including tour operators who will take good care of you, click on our Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis page

Enjoy!

ACT Staff

Want to see a quick overview? Check out our Sampling of the Sights in Saint Kitts video on YouTube!

If you’re looking for more of a physical adventure, check out our Adventure Activities in St. Kitts & Nevis blog

For an overview of the amazing sister islands, take a look at our St. Kitts & Nevis 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