ANTIGUA BARBUDA’S CHARM island

The Caribbean twin-islands of Antigua and Barbuda is the perfect destination for those looking for sunnier climates, beautiful pristine beaches, countless authentic experiences and friendly people.

Famous for its 365 beaches, it is known for much more. It has a vibe — and beach — to suit every person and price point. Antigua and Barbuda offers visitors a quintessential Caribbean experience, featuring candy-coloured villages, along with an island-driven mellowness from engaging locals who’ll greet you with wide smiles.

Lying on the southeast coast of the island is a National Park, a portion of which was designated by UNESCO a World Heritage Site in July 2016 for its collection of Naval structures from the Georgian period that have remained standing for centuries, a number of them remarkably restored.

The prized diamond in the collection is the Antigua Naval Dockyard, known to many on the island as the Nelson’s Dockyard, so named after the famed British Naval Admiral Horatio Nelson. Truth be told Nelson never left his ship while making use of the Antiguan harbour as a place of respite from the war and conquest of colonial powers in the 18th century. But the stories are a part of the unique attraction of the National Park and they are innumerable, an array of versions that surface from the tell-tale signs of Amerindian, English, and Slave populations that occupied this area of Antigua for centuries.

Today you can visit Nelson’s Dockyard where many of the restored buildings house modern facilities that still reflect the naval heritage. Amazingly, many of those buildings are still serving a purpose eerily similar to the reason for which they were being used centuries ago.

Take for example A&F Sales, a business owned by Franklin Brathwaite, an indigenous Antiguan from English Harbour, a residential yachting community in the National Park. The unshakeable structure bolstered by sturdy beams that have survived time and the unforgiving elements of a tropical destination is the place of work for Brathwaite’s skilled team of sail makers who can be found daily repairing the weather beaten canvasses of ships that drop anchor at the Dockyard marina. It’s not far removed from what took place during the Georgian period when the British Crown struck a deal with the Royal Navy for it to use the Dockyard for the maintenance and repair of its fleet of ships. The scene truly places you into a time capsule and transports you back to the era of European occupation and settlement.

The dockyard is also home to the beautiful English Harbour, where you’ll find countless glorious boats, especially during sailing and yachting season. Antigua and Barbuda is a coveted destination for nautical events and throughout its history has maintained its reputation as one of the premier yachting destinations in the Caribbean. Due to its sheltered harbours, large number of anchorages and abundant natural beauty, the islands present a haven for visitors seeking adventures on the water.

Given the rich history of sailing and yachting in Antigua and Barbuda, it is no wonder that the destination’s packed tourism events calendar offers a plethora of exciting sailing, yachting and racing events for visitors and locals alike. This includes the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, the Royal Oceanic Race Club (RORC) Caribbean 600 race, annual Superyacht Challenge, Oyster Regatta, Antigua Charter Yacht Show and more. Perhaps most well-known is the prestigious Antigua Sailing Week that is often cited as one of the top regattas in the world with 100 yachts, 1,500 participants, and 5,000 spectators on average annually.

Nelson’s Dockyard park is also home to the historic Clarence House — one of the finest examples of 19th century living in the region. Built in 1804 for the Navy Commissioner, Clarence House was designed to impress visiting Admirals, Captains, and royally appointed Governors on their tours of duty. By the 1860s, Clarence House became a location for visiting dignitaries, and for the Governor to escape the heat in St. John’s. Visiting Royals include HM Queen Elizabeth II on her Silver Jubilee, as well as key dignitaries like Winston Churchill, who attended official receptions here. Most famously, however, HRH Princess Margaret spent the first night of her honeymoon at Clarence House. The building was severely damaged in a series of hurricanes in the 1990s and was officially turned over to the National Parks for restoration in 2004. Work began in 2012 to restore this historic building with the financial support of avid sailor, Sir Peter Harrison. The restoration was an opportunity to support the stonemason apprenticeship programme in traditional methods and utilised only local woodworkers. Today, Clarence House is immaculately restored and is a museum and events space for weddings and other important functions.

The Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta, the Royal Oceanic Race Club (RORC) Caribbean 600 race, annual Superyacht Challenge, Oyster Regatta, Antigua Charter Yacht Show.

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An exclusive tour of Clarence House will bring to life the allure and the astonishing attention that has been given to every detail in the miraculous restoration of the picturesque landscape and the grand and elegant architecture of the historic landmark as well as the craftsmanship of Antiguan artisans.

A ntigua and Barbuda has plenty to offer visitors, from guided electric bike tours to snorkelling excursions to yoga sessions in nature to Rastafarian tours to perfect conditions for kiteboarding to plenty of hiking trails. The twin-islands have seen a lot of visitor growth in the past few years as more people have discovered the magic of the destination.

Antiguans and Barbudans boast a rich, vibrant culture, shaped by their African heritage, British colonial history, and modern influences. This is evident in a number of ways such as their language, cuisine, architecture, religion, music, sporting interests, their art and festivals to include Antigua’s carnival celebrations.

Visitors to the destination are encouraged to immerse themselves in the local culture – visit their museums, and interpretation centres for a deeper understanding of our people, and maritime heritage. Sample our delicious local cuisine, enjoy the enchanting sounds of our music, dance to the drums, the steelpan, iron band, calypso and soca music. Take in a local cricket match or a game of warri, take a walking tour through our cultural sites, explore the city, our art studios, attend our festivals or just interact with the friendly people within our vibrant communities.

Antigua and Barbuda, is a place filled with centuries of history that could hold you spellbound by its pure intrigue and the well told tales of a bygone era yet still hold you captive by the beauty of its pearly sand beaches or the nightly offerings of restaurant choices and lively entertainment. | JP