Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda on the world map: capital, flag, coins, citizenship and landmarks of the island state

"Take a longer look at the sea and you will have all the stories you want" Jojo Moyes. - The weather is pleasant. -Even the wind is like that. - I thought it would be heat and sun. But no. - Hello everyone, friends! This is "Heads and Tails" and we flew to - Antigua and Barbuda! - Alina, what associations come to your mind when you hear the word Antigua? - Something so beautiful, sophisticated, exotic, delicious. Antigua. - Super. Probably rich, you know. Aristocratic. - Well, maybe. -And what associations come with the word Barbuda? - Well, the word "Barbuda". As if something is falling like that. Some kind of stone. Barbuda. Or some kind of shamanic dances. You know, such uh uh, Bar-boo-da. - Something so barbaric? - Well, yes, something like that. - Poor. - Not sure. - Poor ?! - Perhaps. - Poor! - Good. - Super. Then we will now flip a coin and decide which of us will be Antigua and which will be Barbuda. - Oh, there you are! - Eagle! - Tails! - What did you say about Antigua? - I do not know. In general, there are no longer any associations, Kolya. - Come on, Alinka, don't be upset. In fact, you remain Antigua. You remain refined, sophisticated, aristocratic, beautiful, rich for sure, but not this time. I will remain Barbuda, what have I to lose. Especially when you are Barbuda with a gold card. Antigua and Barbuda are small islands in the Caribbean. Covered in tropical greenery and surrounded by white beaches. This weekend I will show you all the delights of Antigua. And I will go to Barbuda - the favorite vacation spot of the Hollywood rich. You can already get to know the island without leaving the airport territory. And all thanks to the graffiti, which depicts .. The brightest, outstanding, interesting - what you can meet, see or taste here. I propose to find out interesting facts about these islands. In fact, the state of Antigua and Barbuda does not consist of two islands, but of three. And this third one is called Retonda. It was in Antigua that cricketers were popular all over the world. This is officially a favorite sport, because here every day, imagine, there are matches every day. In Antigua, for 2000 years there has been a unique pineapple variety called black pineapple. And now the most unusual and my favorite fact - there are 365 beaches in Antigua. Imagine, every day you can change the beach. Therefore, we came here with our sea. To the beach! So now I'm going to Barbuda. There are two ways to get to Barbuda - the first is by plane, the second is by boat. Well guys, this is the Caribbean Sea, by what plane. I am always ready to smell it, touch it. So I rented a private boat and went to get to know Barbuda. And I, with my 100 dollars, stay to explore the island of Antigua. And first of all - I will go to the capital - the city of St. John's. But it turned out that getting there is not so easy. I don't see a stop or any public transport sign. And you don't want to spend money on a taxi right away. Therefore, I suggest just catching with your hand. 20 minutes - and I'm already in the capital. Although the capital is said loudly. St. John's looks like our provincial urban-type settlement. Yes, and lives here - only 30 thousand people. But every day for several hours the city's population grows at times. And all thanks to tens of thousands of tourists. That come here on cruise ships. As part of the tour, they have only 3-4 hours to get to know the main attractions of the city. So, the first of them is the Harwich Quay shopping area. There are cafes and street entertainers here, but its main feature is duty free shops. That is, shops where you can buy goods without taxes. Tourists leave tens of thousands of dollars here every day. The second attraction is Redcliffe Quay Street. This is the historical part of the city. It used to sell sugarcane, rum, and slaves. But slavery was abolished, and sugar production fell into decay, so now ... they sell souvenirs, jewelry and delicious food. And finally, the third attraction. I am in a special place - behind me - Mr. Bird or as the locals call him - the father of the nation. This is the first Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda. He is considered a national hero! He won the country's independence, raised wages on sugarcane plantations and restored roads on the islands. And while Alina is getting to know Antigua, I got to Barbuda. Barbuda is a cozy green island with unspoiled paradise beaches. Private villas of Hollywood celebrities. Luxurious restaurants and hotels. But the island was like this until September 2017. Two years ago, Hurricane Irma, the most powerful Atlantic hurricane in a decade, hit Barbuda. He destroyed the entire infrastructure of the island. He left about 2 thousand people homeless. And caused damage in the amount of $ 100 million! Now the island is slowly being rebuilt. But even after 2 years, he still hasn't recovered from the disaster. Let's take a look at what Barbuda has to offer to the wealthy tourist right now. So, in order to explore the island, I need a wheelbarrow. In order to rent a car here, I need a car rental. Kar rentals are located in the village, in order to get there, you need to take a taxi. For an hour and a half, I walked the capital of Antigua up and down. In fact, the town itself is quite small. But this does not mean that there is nothing to see here, guys, 365 beaches! I have something to do, I went! This weekend I am going to tour the whole island and show you the main attractions of Antigua. The path is not close And it is not known whether there will be shops and cafes along the way. Therefore, it is better to stock up on food while still in town. Well, I took care of the restaurant - now I have it all in a bag with me. Another bit of luck - you can get to the nearest beaches by public bus - for only 2 and a half dollars. 15 minutes later the taxi driver brought me to the only rental on the island of Barbuda, which was opened after the hurricane. - Hello, I need a car. - We have no cars available. - Yes, I only have one day. - Everything is booked a month in advance. - I can pay more! - Sorry, nothing at all. - Okay. Thanks a lot. Can you help me? Can you drive me? - Then I'll hire you? - No problem. - What did I not guess before? We drove on to get acquainted with Barbuda! The island of Antigua is washed, on the one hand, by the Caribbean Sea, and on the other, by the Atlantic Ocean. Therefore, the beaches here are for every taste and color. Take Deep Bay, for example! A deep bay among 2 rocks with a thin coastline of white sand. The beach is public, so anyone can relax here absolutely free. The only caveat is that there are no sun loungers, no changing rooms, no cafes nearby. But "Jolly Beach" is a private beach at the hotel. There are all the amenities here. But if you are not a guest, you have to pay for the sun lounger. And here is Hawkesbill Beach. Its peculiarity is a mountain in the shape of a turtle's head. ... They say that a kind giant turtle once lived here. Once bloodthirsty pirates swam to the shore. Unable to endure their ignorance, the turtle emerged from the water, frightened off the villains and froze forever, becoming the guardian of this beach. And the beach is guarded by such cute creatures. Good ones. My dear ones, you saw a very little one there. such a little thing. Klaaass, look at which ones. Good ones. Such a goat beach - in a good way. I also asked the taxi driver to take me to the beach. Friends, this is the most famous beach in Barbuda - Pink Beach. It means “pink beach”. This is one of the few places in the world where the coastline is of such an unusual color! And all thanks to the crushed pink shells and corals from the nearby reef, which throw waves ashore. But that was before hurricane Irma. And now "Pink Beach" looks like this. It used to be really pink, but then a hurricane came and lost its color. No, of course he's handsome too. But it’s not so pink anymore, his uniqueness went away with a hurricane. The wind almost completely washed away the coastline and damaged the coral reef, so the beach lost its color. Although if you look closely, you can see these small shells in the sand, thanks to which it was pink. Of course, there are significantly fewer of them than there were before, but they are. The most interesting thing is that now all tourists coming to Barbuda go to the pink beach first of all. Listen, they read the old forums. Somewhere the beach is still really pink, but you won't be like that. You will know that there is no pink beach here. We are trying for you. I love. I decided to give Barbuda one more chance. And he asked my taxi driver to take me to the most expensive hotel on the island. It turned out to be Beach House. Three years ago, a lot of tourists came here with a gold card, like me. But then Hurricane Irma came and the hotel was destroyed. The hotel had 22 luxury cottages .. its own helipad, spacious pool and private beach access. Imagine what the view was like here. Surely, there was no grass of this all. This is how one hurricane caused so much destruction. Okay, but something must work on this island. - Take me, please, to some restaurant? - We have no restaurants on the island after the hurricane. But I can call my friend, she will arrange for you something special on the beach. Unlimited card - and Barbuda has an unlimited card! An exclusive lunch was arranged for me, firstly, secondly - in nature, and thirdly, look how authentic it is. Of course, of course, there is no luxury and delicacy here, but look how sincere. So, the “exclusive lunch” in Barbuda consists of: overripe avocados and bananas, coconut and lobster water with rice and vegetables. In general, what the locals themselves eat every day. Of course, the infrastructure here is still suffering a lot, but listen, the nature is great and the people are good. They did not have a cafe by the ocean, but they built, albeit a small one, but they built it .. To their health! Well, I looked at the beaches, it's time to get acquainted with another attraction of Antigua. Black pineapple. It grows only on these islands where there is a suitable humid climate and endless sun. At the same time, they are not transported from the island, because ripe pineapples quickly deteriorate. And immature ones will not ripen in a different climate. They say black pineapple has more sugar than regular pineapple. That is why it is several times sweeter. Now we will check it. Oh, here he is. But it turned out that black pineapple is not black at all. I don't even know why black. Perhaps due to the difference from the classic pineapple in the color of this top, you see it is darker. Now let's check if it is so sweet. Tasty, but I can't say it's killer sweet. I would say that this is a good ripe delicious pineapple, if they gave me a taste with my eyes closed, I would say that it is just a pineapple that tastes familiar to me. And there is nothing to add. As you can see, there is practically no entertainment on the island: no restaurants, no hotels. Therefore, tourists, in order to somehow attract tourists, have come up with such an attraction or something. This is a nature reserve where people take this boat. Ten minutes of the way and I am there. 20 thousand birds live here, and the population of the island is 1400 people. That is, after that, it seems to me not to say that Barbula is an island of people. This is the island of birds. And here there are more chicks. There is a little chick sitting there. Over there in the nest. Just hatched, look! Wow! The main attraction of this reserve is the frigate birds. They cannot swim, but they can stay in the air for hours. They do not know how to sing, but they loudly click their long hook beak. But their main feature is the red throat sac in males, which they inflate during the mating season in order to attract the female. Cool! I am impressed! Although Antigua is a small island, I cannot get around it on foot. And since the buses run irregularly, I will hitchhike again. In general, as you understand, so far there is nothing to do in Barbuda. So I boarded my private boat and returned to Antigua. I will also settle here. They say that the rich are offered here an exclusive option of housing - right on the Caribbean Sea in a "luxury" tent. But these are not ordinary tents. No no no. This is glamping. Glamor is made up of two words - glamor and camping. Why it is called that, now you will see for yourself. Glamping is outdoor recreation with all the amenities. Therefore, my tent is more like a tent, which fits a chic bed, a chest of drawers for things, a mini-bar sofa, and what is important - there is even a shower! Look, I get it, this is really glamping. It seems to be a tent, well, outwardly, well, a tent, well, what is there? And you go inside - it's just a luxury. And the most important thing is that you can stand here at full height, even on the bed. Where have you seen these tents? You have never seen such tents anywhere! See, enjoy, remember! The coolest thing here is 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 steps to the sea! I arrived at the next attraction in Antigua. Lookout. There is a life hack - until 5 pm - the entrance is paid, and after 5 pm the guard leaves and you can enter for free! Arriving a little later, you will not only save $ 9, but also see the best sunset in Antigua. Hats off to Antigua and Barbuda. You look like this from above and you realize that this is a real gem in the Caribbean. I would like to protect this place, and not tell anyone. Can you smell it? What? Listen, it's delicious! Wow! Here is this shaman of wonderful scents. Yes, friends, it turned out that glamping is not only a "luxury" tent, it is also a picnic on the beach, which will be organized by a professional chef. Wow, how it smells. So what's on my plate - chicken, fish, shrimp, corn. But this is all cooked on a barbecue - with a smoke in the background of the sunset. Immediately, ordinary ingredients are transformed into a cosmic dish. You know, Kolya, now I am also organizing glamping for myself. And do it yourself and absolutely free! I've done this before. So, this is definitely some kind of up or down. So, what is it? What kind of hospitality? I will spend the night like this, and this will protect me from animals. Ahahaha. Well, the first pancake, or rather, the tent, was lumpy. Now it should definitely work out! Tomorrow, when I'm getting ready, don't forget to remind me of the pegs, okay? And then my situation was so uncomfortable. And the situation was in the Maldives. Where are the pegs? These are such small, funny things, thanks to which the tent does not fly away from the wind in an incomprehensible direction. Bring Regina back! In general, everyone should remember about pegs. I, you, pegs. Sasha, maybe I will shoot, and you collect? Magic sticks. Well, 20 minutes of perseverance and ... Tadaaam! Put! Who is the beauty? I'm beautiful! Friends, as you understand, we in "Heads and Tails" are not looking for easy ways - neither for ourselves, nor for you. It is here, knee-deep in water, making our way through the thickets, we will hide for you a bottle with a hundred bucks and a note. And then you, making your way through the thickets, knee-deep in water, will look for it. So, the bottle, 100 bucks, roll off. Your holiday in Antigua and Barbuda will be much more enjoyable with the treasure from Eagle and Tails. To find it, go to Antigua Island, at the end of the Valley Church Beach. There, in the stones, among the bushes, we hid the cherished $ 100, good luck with the search. And with a stick, a stick, like in billiards. Let's go to the hole. There is housing, left, to resolve the issue with dinner. Sash, do you have a lighter? Is burning! Now let's prepare the kitchen "inventory", in my case - a stick. To begin with, the stick must undergo disinfection, pour over it with fire. You never know. Maybe some kind of doggie ambassador to her. You know, anything can happen. Better to be safe. And finally, let's move on to cooking. For dinner we have overseas potatoes and sausages. Listen, the smell, the smell in general is Michelin. So, well, are we trying? Perfectly smoky. These moments are not forgotten! All inclusive hotel, huh? From what is there? On the third day, it's boring. You come, the same thing, these tables are bursting with food, the same thing. Breakfast lunch dinner. And then look: find the firewood, light the fire, don’t tear your dress, then adventure after adventure. Goodnight. Do you hear what waves? I will fall asleep to their noise. Good morning! What an invigorating water! Come here, I got up in the morning, swam in the sea, exercise, breakfast, please. Not doing this - like this. Good morning. Not far from my place of stay there is another attraction of the island of Antigua. So called the Pillars of Hercules. These are vertical limestone rocks on which waves break for centuries, honing a unique pattern. The locals believed that the pillars of Hercules served as an entrance to the kingdom of the dead. And a warning to sailors to stay away from this place. Believe it or not, there are indeed hundreds of ships wrecked in this place! And if you have a mask with a snorkel, then you can see them without even sailing far from the coast! At a depth of only two to three meters. For example, here is a small fishing boat that sank in a violent storm about 20 years ago. And here is the remains of an old cargo ship that transported sugar cane. But several decades ago, it crashed against underwater rocks and now serves only as a home for a flock of yellow-striped dumplings. And a free underwater attraction for tourists. In the morning, I also decided to explore the underwater world of Antigua and Barbuda. But not floundering along the coast, like Alina, but hired a boat and went out to sea. The Caribbean Sea is one of the largest and warmest seas in the world. Every six months - from June to November - terrible hurricanes sweep over it. Therefore, it is recommended to dive in the remaining six months - in order to safely view the underwater world and its inhabitants. Today I was lucky enough to meet a Caribbean reef shark. Size - one and a half meters, weight - 50 kilograms. But its main “feature” is that it is considered harmless for people. Regardless, the reef shark cannot be provoked. Over the past 50 years, these predators have nevertheless attacked people a dozen times. And although the perpetrators of the attacks were the people themselves, I'd better swim upward - out of harm's way. By the middle of the second day, I got to the most beautiful beach in Antigua. His name is "Halfmun Bay". It is a perfect crescent-shaped bay. Bordered by a strip of white sand surrounded by dense tropical greenery. ... This area is still untouched by private villas and hotels. Therefore, locals consider this beach to be a real paradise on earth. According to the locals, this is the best beach, well, let's see. I don't even know which points to start with. Population density - yes, there is no population here, here is wild nature. The contingent - well, people like me. Interested. Infrastructure. What? We haven't heard of her here, I suggest you just enjoy it! Despite the lack of infrastructure, the rating for the beach is five. Another rich entertainment in Antigua is fishing for the elusive mahi mahi. Mahi-Mahi is one of the fastest carnivores in the Caribbean. She develops a speed of up to 60 kilometers per hour. But the main thing is that mahi-mahi is a strong fighter! She resists to the last, and often just cuts off the bait. Therefore, catching this fish is not so easy and you need to know a few nuances. First, it bites mahi-mahi on flying fish. Mahi-mahi loves this kind of fish. Secondly, the spinning rod must be strong, with a thick line. We will use 5 rods - so for sure! And thirdly, you need strong hands, an experienced fisherman. It will take about 20 minutes to get the mahi-mahi aboard the boat. And, of course, the main attribute of fishing is patience. For some reason, I waved to sit there, I will rest a little. Guys, I'm now going to spend almost half of my budget, namely $ 50, on the excursion I'm going on now. And they promised me that I would see not one, not two, not even five, but hundreds of stingrays! Just 10 minutes from the coast is the "city of stingrays" - as the locals call the shallow water on the reef, where a flock of southern Atlantic stingrays is found. For them, there are ideal conditions here - shallow depth and warm, clear waters. It is to these rays that curious tourists are brought daily to swim with sea creatures. It's just fantastic - they are not afraid of people, but swim very close. Oh, they squeak. They emerge from the water and squeak. Southern stingrays are calm and obedient animals. They are already accustomed to the fact that people come here and feed them, so they have long ago become tame. He is like a puppy - he goes where they give a treat. And stingrays feed on small fish and mollusks. So, catch a large slope, catch a small slope. He swims up and like a vacuum cleaner and picks up the squid. Having learned that feeding occurs regularly during the day, the local stingrays changed their usual way of life: unlike their other relatives, they sleep at night, not during the day. They live in a pack, and not alone, and they themselves are looking for contact with people. How pleasant it is to the touch. These are fantastic creatures, I am completely delighted, I have ... goosebumps, not from the cold, but because it's just incredible. After half an hour of waiting, it finally hit! Like mahi mahi. Right. Look, look, it splashes out there. Well, now, the main thing is not to get lost! Wow! I don’t understand how Alina pulled out her marlin - I started swinging with a swing. One mahi mahi is here! A little more effort - and the second swing swing on the hook! But that's not all! Listen, well, finally, in my life, a truly successful fishing, and instead of one swing-swing, three at once! Hooray, we did it! Hurray, another fishing trip that came out with a plus sign. Another rare fish, with not one, but a whole 3! Mahi-mahi hurray! At the end of the second day, I came to the last beach on my list - "Dickenson Bay". And on this beach, tourists come to a bar, but to a very unusual bar - on the high seas! The bar is called “Kon Tiki”. It is built on pontoons and can accommodate up to 50 people at a time. And today I am one of them. Take me to your place. There is even a special transfer in a small boat. You gesture what you need, in fact, to the bar. A small boat comes and takes you to the desired place. The transfer is free, but drinks, of course, are for money. Another nice bonus is that everyone is in a good mood here, because they have been sitting for more than an hour. Oh, here it sways right on the waves. I don't even know if it's worth trying what the guests advise. But word for word, and you are already on the same wavelength with other vacationers. We can afford a cocktail, Sash. So, what we have is a small company, good music, mood. It doesn't matter how old someone is, who came from where, it's just that everyone is in high spirits. I like. Not only do you drink a delicious cocktail, but you also watch the most beautiful short film of the day - this is sunset. Having visited Antigua and Barbuda, you understand - this is where the real sea rest is! - 18 steps to the sea If you want - get relaxation. - Look, enjoy, remember. And if you want - look for adventure. - These are fantastic creatures, I am absolutely delighted, I have goosebumps. It doesn't matter if you have a gold card or $ 100 - there are enough beaches for everyone! - I take off my hat to Antigua and Barbuda - you look like this from above and you realize that this is a real gem in the Caribbean. -Of course, there is no luxury or sophistication here, but look how mentally. - And there is nothing to add. - We are trying for you. I love. - They are just some kind of space. One didn't bite me, but kissed me on the shoulder. - Wuhu! The holiday has come! Hey! - That's for sure! Hey! - So how are you? Tell me, I'm already burning up all over impatiently. - Very good. These islands are truly heavenly. There are 365 beaches. - How did you manage? 365 beaches, have you been everywhere? - No, I was at five or six, but they were incredibly beautiful. Just like in the picture. I also had contact. - In the sense of aliens? - Well, actually. Ha ha ha! With stingrays! But they are really like aliens. They are so simple .. - It's all good, of course, Alinka, but it's just just a warm-up. - Oh, what have you done? Did you catch the mahi-mahi? I don’t know .. - For a second, I caught mahi-mahi mahi-mahi mahi-mahi! - Did you catch the mahi-mahi? - Yes, Alina! - Congratulations! - Wuhu! - This is plus one! - Plus three, friends! Plus three, cloudy in places. Bye Bye! Until next time! - It's a joy! - Will we take it away or ..? - We'll take it, of course! - Let's take it. - And how are they? Well, was it hard? - It was very hard.

General information

Official name - Antigua and Barbuda, translated from Spanish - "ancient" and "bearded". The state is located on the islands of the same name and the island of Redonda in the group of the Lesser Antilles (Caribbean Sea). The area is 442 km 2. Population - 86 654 people. (for 2009). The state language is English. The capital is St. John's. The monetary unit is the East Caribbean dollar.

Island state in the West, in the Eastern Caribbean. The length of the coastline is 153 km. The country consists of three islands - Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda (practically uninhabited).

The climate is tropical maritime with small seasonal temperature fluctuations. All year round, the air temperature is kept within the range from + 26 + 27 ° С (January) to + 30 + 32 ° С (July). There is about 1300 mm of precipitation per year, with the maximum amount of rain falling between August and September-December. Winds blow almost constantly on the islands, significantly softening the heat. In the period from June to November, it is possible for tropical hurricanes to pass over the country's territory, accompanied by stormy winds and heavy rainfall.

History

The first inhabitants of the islands of Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda, which are now occupied by the state of Antigua and Barbuda, were the Siboneans, whose origin is still unclear. In the first century A.D. the Arawak Indians settled on the islands, who arrived in these regions from the mainland lands of the South American continent. In the XIII century. the Arawak tribes were replaced by the Caribbean tribes, famous for their warlike disposition and vast territories of conquest.

In 1493, the islands of the Lesser Antilles group, which also include the territories of Antigua and Barbuda, were discovered by the sea by the navigator Christopher Columbus (1451-1506). True, the Spaniards failed to find a common language with the locals: the Caribbean warriors resolutely blocked the path of foreigners.

Europeans managed to gain a foothold on the islands of the future state of Antigua and Barbuda only in the seventeenth century. In 1632, the first English colony appeared on the island of Antigua. In 1663, the land was granted by King Charles II to Lord Willoughby, who established a small plantation farm here (the main crops grown at that time were indigo, ginger, tobacco). Slaves from Africa were brought to the island to work in the fields.

Already in 1671, a full-fledged colony of the Leeward Islands was formed, which included not only the island of Antigua, but also Barbuda St. Kitts, Montserrat By 1689, each island had its own apparatus of power, which was the Assembly (its members were local landowners and planters) ... In addition to the previously cultivated spices and tobacco, sugarcane was cultivated on the territory of the colony, which later became the main export crop of the Leeward Islands. The slave regime was abolished in the English possessions only in 1834, but in fact, slave living conditions remained ineradicable for many years.

Difficult times for the English colony fell on the 1930s - the period of the global economic crisis. During these years, the general economic downturn was accompanied by a decrease in demand for sugar, the main export product of the islands, which caused serious problems in the islands of Antigua and Barbuda. On the basis of the crisis in 1940, the Trade Union and Workers 'Union was formed on the islands, which immediately began to organize workers' demonstrations.

In 1967, she formally weakened the shackles of colonial dependence of Antigua and Barbuda: the islands received the status of a state associated with Great Britain with the right to full internal self-government. Since then, a gradual democratization began in the former colony, however, the solution of diplomatic issues, defense and trade remained the responsibility of the British government. The Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, George Walter (1928-2008), continued to fight for the freedom of the "associated state with Great Britain", while the islands experienced another crisis: sugar factories that fed most of the local population were simply closed.

Antigua and Barbuda gained full independence rather late - November 1, 1981. However, the monarch of Great Britain is considered the formal head of state.

Attractions Antigua and Barbuda

Columbus named Antigua island in honor of the Church of Antigua de Santa Maria in Seville. The most beautiful island with a picturesque coastline, many bays and rich vegetation, for a long time became an arena for the struggle of European colonists with aggressive Indian tribes and the forces of nature. Only in the middle of the 17th century, the life of the settlers began to improve, and today the islands of Antigua and Barbuda are one of the largest resort areas in the West Indies.

Island of barbuda lies 42 km north of Antigua. This quiet, pastoral-rural island, which is home to only 2% of the country's population, is very rarely visited by tourists - mainly bird watchers and yachtsmen come here. But nevertheless, this small piece of land in the endless expanse of the sea is considered one of the most colorful islands on the planet, and its eight-kilometer Long Beach is also one of the most beautiful shores in the world. More like a village capital of the island, Codrington was named after the Gloucestershire family that once leased Barbuda to the British crown for "one fat pig a year." Barbuda, almost entirely composed of limestone rocks, abounds in caves.

A tiny and virtually uninhabited volcanic rock known as Redonda, located 56 km south-west of Barbuda. The island is practically not visited by tourists, only yachtsmen are frequent guests of these waters. Currently, a natural park is located on Redonda.

Spainish Port, surrounded by coral reefs in the extreme southeast of the island, most likely named after the accident of the Spanish merchant ship "Santiago de Cullerin", archaeologists believe, was the main area of ​​settlement of the Arawaks for five hundred years BC.

Dickenson Bay on the northwest coast of Antigua, is especially attractive for tourists with children. Thanks to its clear waters and a wide beach area with soft and delicate sand. Although, of course, if the beaches across the island are generally relatively quiet, this is uncommon in the Dickenson Bay area. The major resorts in Dickenson Bay are Antigua Village, Halcian Cove (with Wory Pier), Siboney Resort. The coastline is lined with restaurants, beach bars, water sports concessions. There are several uninhabited islands and a long coral reef off the coast.

English Harbor, a village located in the south of the island, whose name comes from the nearby harbor, is a center for water tourism, especially yachting and boating. English Harbor, located nearby (on the east coast), and Falmouth Harbor, on the north coast of the island, are two natural sheltered harbors for sea-going ships.

Nelson Dockyard Museum housed in a building built in 1855, it offers a wonderful journey into the era of privateers, pirates, and the great battles of the sea. The collection of the museum is constantly replenished with exhibits thanks to archaeological and historical research in Antigua. The park itself has excellent sandy beaches, lush tropical vegetation, mangrove forests with a migrating colony of Egyptian herons, and many cactus species. The best hiking trail that starts at the Galleon Beach Hotel is from English Harbor to Shirley Heights. Having reached an altitude of 150 meters, travelers will be rewarded with amazing panoramic views.

Antigua and Barbuda cuisine

Antigua and Barbuda's indigenous cooking traditions are based on the use of products and cooking methods typical of the Caribbean.

From plant products, sweet potatoes and corn play a huge role in Antiguan cuisine, while rice is slightly less popular. Fruits grow in a wide variety, but most often coconuts and bananas are used, as well as exotic tamarind or Indian dates - a tropical plant of the legume family, the pulp of which is used in sauces, spicy dishes, desserts and snacks.

Fish and seafood occupy an important place in the diet: flying fish, berix, red snapper, delicious lobster and shrimp. They are fried in coals, stewed and baked. Salted dried fish is very popular.

Meat dishes are represented by all kinds of meat, but mutton and poultry meat are considered the most used. Due to its high cost, beef is cooked much less often.

The traditional local breakfast includes salted fish, eggplant known as Troba, eggs and lettuce. For lunch, they prefer starchy dishes - rice or pasta, as well as fresh vegetables or salads from them. For lunch, a main course of meat or fish is served with a side dish: pasta casserole, baked sweet potatoes, or fried bananas. For dessert, ice cream, jelly, cake or pie stuffed with apples, pineapples or mangoes are most often eaten.

Funji is a cornmeal dish reminiscent of Italian polenta. It is a thick porridge that is sometimes boiled with okra and served with fried flying fish or stews.

Dukan- dumplings made from grated sweet potatoes, sugar, flour, coconut, vanilla and nutmeg. They are boiled wrapped in foil or banana leaves. Serve with the salted Bakala cod or together with Chop-Do - a mixture of spinach, eggplant and okra. Can also be eaten cold or cut into thin slices and lightly fried.

Peanut roasted nuts- a popular dessert in Antigua. For its preparation, sugar syrup is boiled until caramelization, then peanuts, spices, baking powder are added and poured on a flat granite or marble surface for cooling. The cooled roasted nuts are broken with a wooden mallet.

The most popular local soft drinks are Maubi (from the bark of the Colubrina tree), Simoss (a drink made from red algae, milk and cinnamon, considered an aphrodisiac), tamarind, hibiscus, raspberry, mango, passionfruit, guava, soursop, and ginger beer juices.

The islands produce high quality alcoholic beverages: beer, whiskey and rum, including the famous Wadadli beer, named after the ancient name of the island, as well as the English Harbor rum.

Antigua and Barbuda on the map

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Three islands - Antigua, Barbuda and Redonda - form a small but proud state, lost in the Caribbean.

For several centuries in a row, starting from the 17th, the British owned the islands and used them, in fact, as huge plantations of sugar cane, tobacco and cotton. For work, they used slaves, the descendants of which make up the bulk of the modern population. The country became free only in the last century, when Foggy Albion gave Antigua "free" and the status of a state associated with Great Britain.

The tropical climate of the islands offers a varied beach holiday, and the best time to travel is from November to April, as during the European summer there is a rainy season. There are beaches in the country for every taste, and without exaggeration - 365 are at your service.

Natural attractions

The shores of Antigua and Barbuda are indented by lagoons and bays, once the former craters of ancient volcanoes. By the way, three volcanoes still rise above such a modest territory of the islands: Agua, Fuego and Akatenango. But do not worry, it is safe to rest here, as the volcanic activity of these three giants stopped several million years ago.

On Barbuda, it is highly recommended to visit the caves.

Since the island is rich in limestone, you can see real stalactites, stalagmites, underground pools and other cave delights with your own eyes.

To feel like a real islander, you can go on a safari with the promising name "Tropical Adventures", however, for the sake of safety, you will move through the thickets in jeeps accompanied by professionals, but this fact will not hurt your impressions too much.

Active rest and cultural program

When you realize that you are fed up with the exoticism of island life, you can plunge into the bohemian environment and visit the casino, yacht club or golf center on the island of Antigua. For fans of extreme sports - diving and windsurfing, in which competitions are held here.

The capital of the country is St. John's (Antigua), the main attractions of the country are concentrated here. If you have a desire to take a closer look at this exotic country, the National Museum is well worth a visit.

The Devil's Bridge, carved into the rocks by the stormy waters of the Atlantic, is a truly impressive sight. They say that earlier slaves used the bridge to gain eternal freedom - they threw themselves upside down into the abyss of the waves. Another must see is St. John's Cathedral, a colonial-style Anglican church. Here, in the capital, a market has survived to this day, where slaves were traded for several centuries in a row.

Cultural features

Antigua and Barbuda is a country that has mixed the nationalities of European, African, American and Eastern peoples. Calypso and reggae, carnivals and cricket are held in high esteem as a legacy of colonial times.

There are excellent cricketers among the locals, some of the best in the world.

People live here are believers and peace-loving, guests are welcomed, but some accepted norms of behavior should be followed. For example, you should refrain from overly explicit backgammon and military style - any military symbols in civilian clothes are simply prohibited.

The most significant cultural events in Antigua and Barbuda are Sailing Week (held annually in April) and Carnival (organized every summer). The magnificent show lasts for 10 days, so there is a good chance to get into the very center of events and enjoy an incredible extravaganza.

National holidays

• January 1 - New Year;
• first Monday in May - Labor Day;
• November 1 - Independence Day;
• December 9 - National Day of Heroes;
• December 25 - Christmas.

Kitchen

Antigua and Barbuda cuisine is a mixture of tastes of Latin Americans, French, Chinese, Danes and many others.

At the head of the table are legumes, from which soups are prepared, stewed, fried and steamed. The ingredients in many dishes are sweet potatoes and corn, fish and a variety of seafood. Meat, poultry, beef or pork, also fried or stewed, are usually served on hot dishes. Roast is popular, in which tomatoes are usually present, all the same legumes, as well as meat or sausage. They cook here in the ways we are used to, but there is also a non-standard approach - for example, baking a dish in banana leaves.

For dessert, various sweets are traditionally served - fruit jelly, pie with apples, pineapple or mango, ice cream or coffee with fruit.

As for drinks, residents prefer juices from dates, apples, raspberries, mango, passionfruit, guava, etc. Alcoholic products are used less often, beer or rum are popular.

Shopping

Antigua and Barbuda is a duty free zone that will surely make your shopping experience even more enjoyable. What do travelers take from the islands? Local rum, which is one of the finest in the world, and Bay Rum cologne, which is produced in a local distillery.

Susie’s Hot Sauce, which contains chili, is now a favorite Caribbean delicacy and is known all over the world, and it all started as a small family business.

Look out for hand-painted T-shirts with a variety of animals and flowers, ceramics, figurines, wicker baskets, original jewelry made from sea shells and tree seeds. When buying ceramic utensils, it is important to remember that they can only be stored in warm conditions, and will crack in cold temperatures.

Opening hours of shops: from 08:30 to 16:30

Visa

The duration of stay in the country under the visa-free regime is 1 month. Is it possible to enter the country with a civil passport of the Russian Federation? No. How long is your passport valid? The passport must be valid at the time of entry. But the rules are subject to change, so it is best to have your passport valid for the entire trip. Do I need additional documents for entry? ... Read more

How to get there?

The island nation is a popular tourist destination. Direct flights from Russia to St. John's airport ... Read more

Borderline nuances

Russian citizens do not need a visa to visit Antigua and Barbuda, there are no other border nuances. You should have with you ... Read more

Customs

Duty-free import of 200 cigarettes, 2 liters of alcohol and personal items is allowed. Import and export of foreign currency should be declared if the amount ... Read more

Car rental

All of the world's major car rental brands are represented on the islands. This area is superbly developed here, which makes the tariffs relatively ...

Antigua can be safely called the heart of the Caribbean. Tourists from all over the world are attracted by the opportunities for a stunning beach holiday, because the weather here does not present any unpleasant surprises.

The trade wind tropical climate presupposes rather dry and warm weather throughout the year. Antigua is one of the smallest islands in the country, with an area of ​​only 280 km². An ancient limestone plateau is located on most of the island, only to the southwest there is a more varied relief created by volcanic activity. The coastline has a very indented relief; it is strewn with small coves and bays. In some places of coastal waters, there are accumulations of coral reefs.

Coral island

The second largest and most important in the state is the island of Barbuda. The island is located just 40 kilometers from Antigua, and you can get to it from the capital by airplanes that carry out regular flights there and back. The coral island of Barbuda is low and flat in relief. On all sides, the island is surrounded by picturesque coral reefs that attract fans of underwater travel. None of the islands can boast of the presence of fresh rivers and lakes; drinking water is extracted exclusively from deep artesian wells. To meet the needs of the population for drinking water, desalination systems were installed on the islands in 1970.

More than 30 species of birds live in their natural environment on the island of Barbuda, most of them nest in the lagoon. The waters around the islands are full of all kinds of fish and crustaceans. To preserve the optimal ecological ecosystem around the coral reefs, special parks have been established where fishing and diving are prohibited.

City for tourists

On the island of Antigua there is a city that is the capital of the state - St. John's. More than 36 thousand people live in this city, which is the majority of the entire population of the state. It seems that the city was created especially for tourists. Local clubs and restaurants are quite remarkable; from a wide variety of such establishments, everyone can choose a cozy place to their liking. In the Redcliffe Rye area, you can see examples of native Caribbean architecture from the late 19th century. The destroyed buildings, mixed with the restored ones, create a unique flavor of this place, which is so beloved by tourists.

Many people, especially those who have visited the islands, associate the word "Caribbean" with a kind of paradise on earth. Plunging into the rustle of the surf, the serenity of the waters, soaking up the soft sand, you understand that it is so.

Top 5 best beaches in Antigua and Barbuda

1. Diana beach & Coco Point - the best beach in Barbuda, as well as in all the Caribbean. Endless white sand and coconut trees are the perfect recipe for a tropical getaway. It is customary to distinguish Cape Coco Point, which ends with an excellent sandbank.

2. Jolly - the best beach on the island of Antigua in the Caribbean. It may not be the most beautiful beach on the island, but it is the most soulful.

3. Curtain Bluff - the best hotel beach in Antigua. A distinction is made between a surfer beach overlooking the open sea and a closed part of the beach located in the harbor. Both are a classic tropical landscape with palm trees, white sand and clear water.

4. Lighthouse bay - the beach of the eponymous luxury hotel on the island of Barbuda. It is part of a huge 17 Mile beach.

5. Mamora Bay is another gorgeous hotel beach on the island of Antigua. In fact, these are two beaches. The first one is located in the bay and is well protected from waves and wind. The second is looking at the open ocean.