Sun-kissed white Caribbean beaches and warm breezes
All that made Antigua difficult to access in the past – a winding and complex coastline, and treacherous coral reefs shared with neighbouring islands – now make it the perfect holiday destination.
The safe harbours on the holiday island of Antigua, with its sun-kissed white beaches and warm breezes, are protected by coral reefs, all of which inspired Admiral Nelson to choose Antigua as the base for Great Britain's Caribbean Fleet in 1784.
One of the Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean, Antigua is about 14 miles (23km) long and 11 miles (18km) wide, and as a nation it includes Barbuda, a flat coral island 30 miles (48km) north and Redonda, a tiny uninhabited island nature reserve.
The expansive, winding coastline that made Antigua difficult for outsiders to navigate is where today's hikers can discover a miles of secluded, powdery-soft beaches. The coral reefs that were once the bane of marauding enemy ships now attract snorkellers and scuba divers from all over the world, and Barbuda – once a scavengers’ paradise because so many ships were wrecked on its reefs – is now home to one of the Caribbean's best-known bird sanctuaries.
Antigua also hosts the world-renowned Sailing Week event, whose craft are fuelled by the trade winds which once guided the British battleships into the safety of the English Harbour.
Is Antigua for you? Visit Co-op Holidays for help in booking your dream holiday at the lowest prices.