Antigua And Barbuda - Where The Beach Is Just The Beginning

The islands of Antigua and Barbuda are best known for their many fine sandy beaches and the most healthy and comfortable climate in the world. The easy going English speaking people who live here have a reputation for humor, hospitality and no problem attitude. Visitors to Antigua and Barbuda rarely want to leave and are usually planning to return before they take off. 

Antigua boast 365 white sand beaches, one for every day of the year, as well as miles upon miles of secluded pink shelled beaches on Antigua sister island of Barbuda. In Antigua you have the choice of five star luxury resorts with a Caribbean flavor, or more modest local boutique hotels as well as Antigua all inclusive resorts. In Antigua, nightlife, shopping, and sightseeing are at your fingertips. Barbuda is a short trip away, where peace and tranquility are the order of the day. Barbuda famous beaches stretch for miles and miles, with the seas abounding in fish. Lobster is a staple food and no visit is complete without a lobster lunch on the island. Barbuda is famous not only for pink beaches but also for its Magnificent Frigate Bird sanctuary where the impressive Frigate Birds breed. A visit to the sanctuary in a small boat is the highlight of a visit to Barbuda.

English Harbour, with the famous Dockyard, named after Admiral Horatio Nelson, is Antigua most prized historic possession. The unique setting of the Dockyard, the restored 18th century buildings, and the surrounding hills leading to the great ruined fortress of Shirley Heights has made Antigua unique in the Caribbean. Nelsons Dockyard is not only a great monument to the past but is now a lively focus of activity. In Nelsons Dockyard are all the facilities which make it a year-round home for yachts and the floating palaces of the famous.

Back in the 60s Classic yachts, which were gathered in English Harbour Antigua, had begun chartering and the captains and crews challenged each other to a race down to Guadeloupe and back to celebrate the end of the charter season. From this informal race, Antigua Race Week was formalized in 1967, and in those days all of the yachts were classics. The Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta has maintained a steady growth, hosting between 50 and 60 yachts every year. There is great variety of competitors including traditional craft from the islands, classic ketches, sloops, schooners, and yawls making the bulk of the fleet, plus the beautiful Spirit of Traditional Yachts, J Class yachts, and Tall Ships. In 2007, Antigua is hosting two of the top sailing regattas in the world, celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Classic Yacht Regatta and the 40th Anniversary of Antigua Sailing Week.

For more than two decades Antigua and Barbuda has been the home of Carnival Cricket, a blend of music, dance, world record innings and Caribbean exuberance. In 2007, West Indies will for the first time host the ICC Cricket World Cup and Antigua and Barbuda as one of the 9 countries where the matches will be played, will host one of the Super 8 matches.

Antigua and Barbuda are great islands for any type of vacation. Whether you like relaxing by the sea and soaking up sun and rum punch, or diving and snorkeling with turtles, rays and many other reef creatures, or windsurfing and sailing in blue waters, Antigua and Barbuda are offering you the best. If you are ready for luxury Caribbean vacation, choose Antigua and Barbuda where the Beach is just the Beginning.