Natural Rock Bridge Antigua
In 1784, Admiral Horatio Nelson chose Antigua, situated in the
centre of the Leeward Islands, as the base for Great Britain's
Caribbean Fleet. It is hard not to see why, as the island boasts a
varied coastline with secure docking points, a protective coral
reef and steady trade winds. Add to that shimmering sandy beaches,
bright sunshine and a laid-back attitude and it is no surprise that
Antigua, together with its smaller sister island Barbuda, is today
one of the Caribbean's most popular tourist spots.
Along with the uninhabited Redonda Island, Antigua and Barbuda
form a tiny nation with a population descended largely from African
slaves and a mix of Europeans. Visitors flock to enjoy the
stretches of beach and miles of excellent hikes on Antigua, the
protected nature reserve of Redonda, the exclusive resorts and
superb bird sanctuary on Barbuda, and world-class snorkelling and
scuba diving among wrecks along the nation's coral reefs. The warm
winds that Nelson relied on to bring his ships safely into harbour
now contribute to one of the world's biggest maritime events,
Sailing Week.
The nation's largest city is the popular cruise destination of
St John's, situated on Antigua. With a strong maritime history, the
city is filled with related attractions and also offers visitors a
chance to shop, dine and unwind. Codrington (named after sugar
plantation Christopher Codrington) is Barbuda's main city and acts
as a base for explorations of the many coastal shipwrecks, as well
as the island's frigate bird population. Ultimately, however,
visitors to this island nation come to enjoy the expanse of sandy
beaches and the unique atmosphere of the Eastern Caribbean.
