Experience the Perfect Climate Year-Round on an Antigua Vacation
The moderate temperatures and minimal rainfall on the island allow you to take an Antigua vacation just about any time!
As far as tropical islands go, Antigua is nearly perfect. With winter temperatures in the mid 70s and summer temps hovering around 85 degrees, visitors to the British island of Antigua can arrive at any time and be assured of a dry, comfortable vacation.
Rainfall here averages only 45 inches per year (mostly from August to October) and the constant tradewinds that grace the Leeward Islands keep the humidity at a manageable level.
Antigua History
Located 17 degrees north of the equator in the eastern Caribbean, the nation of Antigua and Barbuda has long served as a refuge for travelers…and not just the vacationing type.
The warm winds, the safe harbors, and the wall of coral that surrounded Antigua first attracted British Admiral Horatio Nelson in the late 1700s.
Upon viewing the island, he decided to set up Great Britain's most important Caribbean naval base there. He found it to be the perfect place to hide a fleet.
Since that time, guests to Antigua, the larger and more populated of the two islands, also come to hide away…losing themselves in the warm sand of the secluded beaches and the clear waters teeming with interesting marine life.
Awesome Antigua Activities
There's so much to do here that you'll want to spend weeks trying out the diverse activities available. If you don't have that much time, you'll need to be sure to carefully plan your activities while on your Antigua vacation.
For active vacationers, the possibilities are many. Watersports, of course, are quite plentiful and include swimming, boating, windsurfing, diving and snorkeling, and fishing.
The coral reef that surrounds the island makes Antigua an ideal choice for scuba diving aficionados. Outfitters are plentiful and they'll help you gain your certification so you can join in on the fun. Dive trips range from a few hours to multi-day adventures.
Antiguans love cricket, so you can always find a rousing game or two to watch. There's also plenty of room to play golf at one of the island's fine 18-hole courses.
Ecotours have become quite popular here over the last decade. Most are located on or around the water and give visitors a chance to view the island's wildlife and marine creatures. You may even have the opportunity to explore a cave or swim with the stingrays.
St. John's and English Harbor
If you enjoy historic sightseeing, you'll want to visit the capital city of St. John's. Here you'll be treated to the beauty of the baroque-style St. John's Cathedral and can enjoy a little Antigua-Barbuda history by scheduling some time at the local civic museum, where you'll be treated to a fascinating look at long-ago island history.
Don't miss the Friday and Saturday morning farmer's markets in the capital, where visitors experience the best in local flavor and color.
English Harbor, the country's historical district, is home to the 15-square-mile Nelson's Dockyard National Park, site of the original British naval base. Completely restored, it's the only Georgian dockyard in the world.
Your Antigua vacation will need to include plenty of time to explore the sites here, including touring a number of gracious old homes. You'll also find an interpretive center at English Harbor and will have lots of chances to enjoy local food and music in this part of town.