WHAT'S ON

Whether you are visiting Antigua or live here, exploring doesn’t need to be limited to just one island. Antigua is a major hub of the Caribbean, and sits adjacent to several islands, including Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts and Guadeloupe, not to mention our sister island Barbuda. All are just a quick air, ferry or charter boat trip away, and offer interesting new perspectives.

Getting to Barbuda, the closest island, can be an adventure in itself. There are three primary ways to get there—with Caribbean Helicopters, the Barbuda Express ferry, and boat tours. The Barbuda Experience Tour by helicopter whisks you away for a quick 20-minute trip across the sea, landing on a beautiful pink sand beach for lunch and a tour of the Frigate Bird sanctuary. For a more leisurely trip, take the ferry, leaving from St. John’s and arriving at the Barbuda dock in 90 minutes. And for an even more relaxing time, book a day charter with Adventure Antigua or Excellence, where getting there is half the fun.

Montserrat is a popular side trip from Antigua because of the active volcano that devastated the island in the mid-1990s. Caribbean Helicopters can give you a bird’s eye view of the Soufriere Hills volcano and the pyroclastic flows that buried much of the southern end of the island. Another way to explore the island is with a quick flight over on FlyMontserrat, giving you more time to spend visiting the beautiful green side of the island as well as the Montserrat Volcano Observatory.

FlyMontserrat also offers regular service to Nevis, the island clearly seen from St. John’s and the western coast of Antigua.

Even further afield and prime for adventure is the Nature Island of Dominica, connected to Antigua by regional airlines. This beautiful island about 100 miles south of Antigua is noted for its many rivers, waterfalls, mountain peaks and lush rainforests. Among the accommodation choices are Cocoa Cottages, and the best way to enjoy the wild side of the island is with Extreme Dominica’s river tubing, rock climbing, snorkeling and mountain hiking.

So don’t just sit on Antigua wondering what you can do—expand your horizons with an off-island trip that guarantees memories!