Welcome to Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua is home to many beaches, yet each offers a unique experience. The warm, calm waters of the Caribbean Sea provide vacationers with a perfect beach holiday.

All of the beaches on both Antigua and Barbuda are open to the public, though some of the more isolated beaches may be a little difficult to reach and some can only be reached by boat. However, these hard-to-reach beaches are among the island’s most beautiful, so making the journey is well worth the effort. There are plenty of choices and you’ll run out of time long before you run out of beach options.

If you are looking for the full beach party scene, check out Dickenson Bay. Close to St John’s you can find Deep Bay and Fort James but Galley Bay is where you will find the surfers and joggers. 

Hawksbill is a series of four crescent shaped beaches that are worth a visit, one of these beaches allows nudity.

There is plenty to see and do on Runaway Bay, with its array of shops, restaurants and beach bars.  It is home to a beautiful, long beach and there are several public areas with easy parking. The gentle surf on Runaway Beach is perfect for every kind of water sports, especially children’s activities.  Visitors can rent windsurfers, floats, kayaks, and sailboats. Water skiing also can be arranged.  For those who want to explore the area, horseback riding is another fun option. 

Half Moon Bay Beach 

The nearly one mile long Half Moon Bay Beach is breathtaking.  The view from the steep hill leading to the beach is captivating and makes a great photo-op. Voted by the Travel Channel as one of the top ten beaches in the world, the crescent shaped beach offers rolling waves on one end (good for windsurfing), and a coral reef sheltered bay for calm swimming on the other end. Except for the remains of the Half Moon Bay Hotel, closed since 1995, the beach is totally natural, being part of a National Park. At the entrance to the beach, stop in Smiling Harry's Beach Bar, and grab some soft drinks, beer and snacks from Harry, a colorful local.

Pink Sand Beach Barbuda

The most magnificent 17 mile pink sand beach, possibly in the world, is found on Barbuda, the  little sister island of  Antigua. There are tiny pink shells (some crushed) that give the amazing pink hue to the sand. Hire a boat to take you there for the day.