Shopping, Sightseeing & Other Things to do

 

Many tourists like to do more than just sit on a beach and in Antigua there is a lot to explore, numerous activities and a vast variety of shopping from road side stalls to shops selling watches and jewelry worths thousands.

Road tours of the island can be a quick way to see the sights.  Walking trails criss-cross the National Park around English Harbour and for those looking for a little more excitement there is deep sea fishing, diving on coral reefs, swimming with manta rays, eco tours, round the island boat trips, yacht racing in Falmouth Harbour and zip lining through the rain forest.  You can even take a helicopter trip around the smoking volcano of Montserrat.

Tourists come to Antigua by the day on cruise ships, by the week or fortnight for sailing or beach holidays, some even come to get married combining the wedding with the honeymoon.  Antigua has special arrangements for couples wishing to get married on the island.  For full details, visit www.antigua-barbuda.org and www.antiguanice.com.  Whatever the length of your stay there is never enough time to sample all of what Antigua has to offer.

Shopping is always a major activity of any tourist and on a romantic island such as Antigua duty free jewellery abounds.  As the saying goes, ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friend’ and diamonds, together with many other precious stones are for sale, duty free, in the shops around Heritage and Redcliffe Quays.  

For something really unique a visit to The Goldsmitty is well worthwhile.  All manner of other goods, even clothes, can be purchased duty free but do remember to take your passport and your ticket showing the date you are leaving the island in order to qualify for duty free purchases.  

Don’t ignore the local shops in other areas of the island.  Although they may not have Duty Free status some bargains can be found and, sometimes, the quality can be exceptionally high with good imported brands.

All the usual water sports are available from snorkelling and scuba diving to deep sea fishing and water skiing.  There are several charter fishing companies on the island and big fish can be caught if you are guided by an expert.  Viewing marine life can be just as exciting whether by scuba diving or just snorkelling.  A number of reefs exist quite close to the shore and can be reached by dinghy or a short swim.  For those who wish to keep their feet dry a glass bottomed boat could be the answer.  At Stingray City you can swim with these gentle and friendly sea creatures and observe other marine wildlife.

Above the water there are all kinds of different ways to get around from kayak eco tours to high speed RIBs and 70 foot catamarans.  There are a  number of boat charter companies and it is possible to charter your own yacht or motor boat by the day, some skippered but others you can drive or sail yourself.

Windsurfing for the beginner or the experienced surfer can be found at several spots around the island and not necessarily just for the young. In restricted areas, jet skis can be hired but, like their land equivalent, must be treated with respect together with consideration for other users of the water.

The variety of road tours is almost endless beginning with sightseeing from the luxury of an air conditioned bus or taxi to an opened back safari Land Rover.  Inevitably, you see more of the island from a ‘Safari’ Land Rover.

Some of the best views in Antigua are available from the walking trails in the National Park around English Harbour. There are plentiful signs of the occupation by British soldiers in the 18th & 19th Centuries.  Maintained by the Royal Naval Tot Club of Antigua & Barbuda, these trails are well used by tourists and local inhabitants of Antigua including school children researching nature projects and marking  different species of plant life which grow on the island. Anyone interested in flora and fauna will find there is much to see on the trails.  Also recently by the Royal Naval Tot Club are the surrounds to  the partially restored Clarence House, now visible from Nelson’s Dockyard. 

For a little island hopping LIAT provides a regular air service between islands and day trips to nearby islands are perfectly feasible. Travel agents on the island can sort flights at short notice. Small, independent airlines now serve Antigua’s sister island, Barbuda and nearby Montserrat.  

For those wishing to try a little ‘trail blazing’ but find the thought of climbing hills on two legs a bit daunting, the four legged version is available through Spring Hill Riding Club located in Falmouth. Easier still, a  4 x 4 will get you to some fairly inaccessible places such as Wallings Dam, a favourite barbecue area or Mount Obama, the highest point on the island at 1,319 feet.  For the more energetic who want to get a real feel of the country side, bicycles are available for hire or, if this is too much effort, motor scooters can also be obtained but, as with any motorised vehicle, you will have to purchase a temporary driving licence  (see our Transport Section) so remember to bring your driving licence with you. A ‘Jeep’ or 4 x 4 will get you almost anywhere if you want do some exploring on your own.  A few quadbikes are also available in certain locations. 

Antigua is not without its sports facilities. There are two golf  courses  open to visitors.  Cedar Valley is probably the better course, conveniently located in the centre of the island.  Jolly Harbour also has an golf course.  Many of the resorts have tennis courts and pools together with squash courts.  Temo Sports in Falmouth also has squash and tennis courts.  Most of these courses, courts and pools are available to visitors for a small fee.

After a hard day on the road what could be better than a little pampering.  There are a number of spa and health salons on the island.  Some spas will even visit you in your hotel or yacht.   

Fig Tree Drive, Antigua’s rain forest, has tree top tours through the forest canopy on zip lines.  An abundance of flora and fauna can be viewed from a completely different perspective whilst enjoying an exciting high level ride. For those wanting a little more there is always the assault course and, afterwards, you can relax in the bar and buy a souvenir T-shirt and photos of your ride through the rain forest. Whilst in the rain forest take a moment to stop at Lovely Lynn’s bar not only for a refreshing drink but also to buy the hottest sauce found on the island.

Local art abounds on the island from the classic Caribbean style paintings through scrimshaw and batiks to local jewellery and canvases of yachts.  Several studios and tourist shops offer every kind of art  at affordable prices. If you see something you like always be prepared to negotiate, it’s part of the fun.

It is to be hoped that medical treatment or dentistry is not required during your visit, however, if it is, all the modern facilities are available together with well stocked chemists (pharmacies). The new hospital in St. John’s is now open with all the latest medical equipment.  The Belmont and Adeline Clinics offer private medical treatment.

Whatever the length of your stay there is never enough time to sample all of what Antigua  has to offer.  It takes more than one visit and there are probably a thousand and one things you would like to do  before you go. If nothing else, you must not  forget is to go to Shirley Heights and look west as the sun settles into the Caribbean sea. With luck you might just catch the ‘green flash’ as the sun ‘touches’ the indigo coloured water.