Top events in Antigua and Barbuda

April
24

Antigua Sailing Week offers thrilling races, barbecues and rum punches into one unforgettable package. Over 200 participating yachts of varying...

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Pristine beach, Barbuda

© Antigua & Barbuda Tourist Office

Antigua and Barbuda Travel Guide

Key Facts

Geography

Area: 

Antigua: 280 sq km (108 sq miles); Barbuda: 161 sq km (62 sq miles); Redonda: 1.6 sq km (0.6 sq miles). Total: 441.6 sq km (170.5 sq miles).

Population: 

69,842 (2008 estimate).

Population density: 

158.1 per sq km.

Capital: 

St John’s. Population: 28,000 (2007 estimate).

Government: 

Constitutional monarchy. Gained internal full independence in 1981.

Head of state: 

HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Sir James Carlisle since 1993.

Head of government: 

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer since 2004.

Electricity: 

220/110 volts AC, 60Hz. American-style two-pin plugs. Some hotels also have outlets for 240 volts AC; in this case European-style, two-pin plugs are used.

Low-lying and volcanic in origin, Antigua and Barbuda form part of the Leeward Islands group in the northeast Caribbean and have certainly adopted the notoriously 'Caribbean' way of life. This is a place to take things easy, stroll around markets, sip the fresh juices of coconuts and pineapple and meet friendly locals.

Unsurprisingly, Antigua and Barbuda's way of life is governed by water, and any visitor will find that their stay is too. Nelson's Dockyard in the English Harbour is at the forefront of Antigua & Barbuda's vast yachting and sailing scene.

Unlikely, but should you grow weary of Antigua and Barbuda's nautically themed activities, the area also abounds with colourful bird and insect life. Barbuda is an unspoiled natural haven for wild deer and exotic birds and boasts the Frigate Bird Sanctuary. There are also national parks and blow holes to discover, including, of course, the Devil's Bridge, a natural phenomenon crafted by the colliding of Atlantic and Caribbean surf.

Antiguans are proud of their human history too, especially as it documents their release from colonisation, slavery and sugar plantations. This keenness to remember emancipation is apparent as towns proudly proclaim names such as Liberta and Freetown.