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It's so easy to rent a boat or charter a yacht in Antigua and Barbuda with Yachtious. Book Now!
It's so easy to rent a boat or charter a yacht in Antigua and Barbuda with Yachtious. Book Now!
DISCOVER THE LIVELY WORLDS OF ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
THE LAND OF 365 BEACHES
From aboard your yacht charter, sailing into the island country of Antigua and Barbuda you’ll be lured in by the siren songs from the steel drum music wafting over the waves. With 365 sandy beaches, one for every day of the year if you’d like, you’ll quickly see why tourists and celebrities alike flock to these sun-soaked Caribbean islands.
Antigua and Barbuda are a two for one deal, allowing you two sailing destinations in the proximity of just one. Approximately 1,425 miles (2,293 km) southeast of Miami and 4,076 miles (6560 km) southwest of the United Kingdom, they are an ideal oasis. Barbuda is a peaceful place that only contains a small percentage of both islands’ combined populations at less than 2%. History and culture are abundant on both islands. The natural beauty here extends beyond the beaches and into the rainforest. Sailing around them is a must, however, anchoring your yacht charter for a spell to indulge yourself on the islands is also a necessity.
One of Antigua's most popular tourist attractions, Nelson's Dockyard National Park in English Harbour, is home to Antigua's former 18th century British Naval Dockyard which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2016 along with restored historic buildings and some of the Antigua's best nature trails. The Georgian dockyard of Nelson’s has a unique distinction in that is the only continuously operating one anywhere on earth. The restored marina with its beautiful old stone warehouses additionally features refined hotels, restaurants, shops, galleries, and museums.
History is abundant here, spanning from the 17th century until the present day with the Admiral’s House Museum and the Dockyard Museum. On the hilltop of Shirley Heights, you’ll find Fort Shirley. Fort Berkeley meanwhile is perched at the west entrance of the harbor with stunning island views to behold.The 18th century Clarence House also calls this place home. It was formerly constructed to be the home for future King William IV.
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BEST TIME TO VISIT ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
The most blissful times to visit Antigua and Barbuda are during winter. From mid-December through mid-April, the weather is not only the coolest and driest, but it’s also outside the hurricane season, ensuring smooth sailing. The only downside is that the crowds are busiest and the rates are highest during this time. Your reservations for this time of year both for flights and hotels must be secured months in advance to avoid disappointment.
If budget is a concern, you can embark on your yacht charter and save more outside of this period. The prices drop by almost a third early in December or even in May and June. The weather is still pleasant during these times. In July and August, the weather is quite hot. However, as August moves into September and October, the area is more prone to hurricanes. Even without them, the weather is warm and muggy, and you shouldn’t explore the shore without your umbrella.
QUICK FACTS
BEST FOR CRUISING: DECEMBER - MAY
TIME ZONE: GMT−04:00
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
THE ISLAND'S NATIVES SPEAK ANTIGUAN CREOLE ENGLISH AND BARBUDA CREOLE ENGLISH
CURRENCY: EASTERN CARIBBEAN DOLLAR
REASONS TO VISIT
365 BEACHES
ANTIGUA RAIN-FOREST ZIP LINE TOUR
CARNIVAL
DEVIL’S BRIDGE
ST. JOHN'S
THE HISTORIC ENGLISH HARBOR
WATER SPORTS
GETTING TO ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
For Antigua, you can book your flight into VC Bird International (ANU). It’s the main airport to serve flights coming in from Britain to the northeastern Caribbean region. Antigua provides services for other islands nearby that include Nevis, Montserrat, Anguilla, St. Barts, St. Maarten, and the British Virgin Islands, which means there are quite a few flights each week.
From North America, the big airlines like Delta, United Airlines, US Airways, JetBlue, WestJet, Air Canada, and CanJet all fly directly into Antigua. Both Virgin Atlantic and British Airways provide direct flights from the UK. You can fly Alitalia from Milan and Frankfurt; you can fly Condor. Regionally, LIAT and Caribbean Airlines are there to serve you. For Montserrat, you can use Fly Montserrat and ABM Air.
Getting from Antigua to Barbuda
Try not to find it too adorable that Barbuda’s airport code is BBQ. That aside, you can find daily flights between the two using Fly Montserrat. You can also choose a helicopter to help you hop islands for your yacht charter. Caribbean Helicopters features a charter service for up to 5 passengers. You can connect with them from the airport or their heliport close to the center of St. Johns. The flight takes approximately 20 minutes.
You can also rent a private jet and enjoy the freedom of choice, total comfort and flexible terms for your travel.
Always bear in mind that the airline industry is a fluid one and the services detailed here may change, sometimes from month to month. Please do not rely solely on this information for your travel plans. To keep an eye out for any new flights and to search for excellent flight deals, a website such as Tripadvisor can be a handy resource.
You can also set sail with Barbuda Express to take the daily catamaran ferry service between the two islands. The ferry leaves the port in St. Johns at 9 am and comes back from Barbuda at 4 pm. It takes roughly 90 minutes for the ferry ride.
EXPLORE OTHER CHARTER AREAS WITHIN THE CARIBBEAN
WHERE TO STAY IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
The choices for accommodations in Antigua are extensive. From your yacht charter, you can walk off the docks to find B&Bs, condo hotels, budget hotels, and even apartments. You’ll also be able to see extreme luxury in laid-back settings, something perfect for pampering to go along with the yacht life.
Barbuda, however, is more limited with guest houses and cottages. There are only two hotels. Barbuda hotels are not open during September and often aren’t available at the end of August or the beginning of October either. Make sure you check and plan well before booking your room when planning your yacht charter.
Pro tip: when choosing to stay in a hotel on either island, make sure to ask whether the quoted price includes the government tax and service charge to avoid any surprises.
WINING AND DINING IN ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA
You’ll delight in the restaurants available in Antigua. In the touristy areas in and around the hotels, you’ll find European, American and fusion foods take up the majority. They also provide a few of the local, traditional dishes but suited to the foreign palate. Locally-sourced ingredients are very prized here, so you’ll be getting a fresh meal wherever you go. Like any Caribbean island, seafood choices are abundant. If you love fresh seafood, don’t miss out on red snapper, mahi-mahi, or lobster, as Antigua is renowned for them.
Be sure to get a taste of some of the specialties that make this region special;
Fungee: A dumpling made with salted cornmeal and okra, usually served as a side to meat or fish dishes.
Pepperpot: A robust vegetable stew and salted meat offering that often is accompanied by fungee.
Roti: You’ll recognize this from your favorite Indian takeout restaurant. It is a light and fluffy pastry dough filled with curried meat, chicken, or vegetables.
Ducana: A sweet offering of grated sweet potato and coconut mingling with sugar and spices, steamed up in a banana leaf. You’ll find it usually with mashed aubergine, saltfish, and okra.
Tamarind balls: Ball-shaped candy made from the tamarind fruit.
Antigua black pineapple: A must-try, these pineapples are famous throughout the Eastern Caribbean for an incredibly sweet taste.
Callaloo: This soup is prevalent everywhere in the Caribbean. It’s brimming with greens, potatoes, ham, lobster, and crab. It’s full-on flavor!
Johnnycakes: These deep-fried biscuits are everywhere on the islands and something you’ll adore!
Ting: For added refreshment, try Ting with your meals. It’s a sparkling grapefruit drink that tastes as it sounds.
Wadadli: Looking for something with alcohol in it? Try Wadadli, the local lager which is a light and comfortable offering.
Freshly-squeezed juices: The tropical juices in Antigua and Barbuda are incredible. You can have pineapple, guava, coconut, lemongrass, mango, or tamarind, and any combination of them make for refreshing juices.
Rum: Visiting these islands on your yacht charter isn’t complete without Antigua English Harbor, and Antigua Cavalier, the most famous brands found here.
For non-meat-eaters, the options are a bit limited, but you’ll at least find one or two vegetarian dishes on the menu wherever you go. You can count on okra, breadfruit, and pumpkin to be good choices. Call ahead to the restaurants you want to visit to be sure you’re not disappointed with the vegetarian options. Most restaurants in Antigua open for lunch from noon and dinner menus start to come out around 6 pm or 7 pm. It is also encouraged to make reservations with restaurant up to 2 days in advance to ensure you get a seat.
