Information Pages
 Most of our visitors stay in Antigua. But don't forget: we are a two islands nation, and the flat coral island of Barbuda is the second jewel in our crown. We even dare to say that for eco-tourists, this is one of the first destinations in the Caribbean. Easily accessible from Antigua by scheduled flights or by a very comfortable power catamaran, Barbuda's lonely beaches and wildlife reserves are the perfect destination for a one-day excursion.(Although there are guesthouses and hotels if you want to stay longer!)
 Barbuda is mainly beach and lagoons, mangrove swamps and coral reefs. While arriving with the excursion boat, be prepared to see exactly that tropical beach you have been dreaming about: more than 30 km of fine white sand lined by palm trees and glistering in pink under the sun, framing the most crystalline turquoise sea.
No beach bar, no jet skis, and no noise: You may see the one or other Robinson, probably a guest of the two luxurious and very discreet resorts or guesthouses on the island. "The rest is silence": or nearly, if you exclude the birds and the gentle roll of the transparent waters. The island is surrounded by reefs, known for the hundreds of shipwrecks resting in the ocean. If you want to dive around Barbuda, you should organize it with a dive shop in Antigua. But even snorkeling is a pure delight, due to the huge variety of colorful tropical fish gliding through the corals near the shore.
 But Barbuda is even more known for its famous Frigate bird Sanctuary. The excursion boat will first land on the narrow stretch of sand of the West Coast, where visitors are immediately distributed among several fishing boats waiting on the lagoon. Those fishers, who also act as nature guides, will drive you through the lagoon to the sanctuary of about 5000 Frigate birds, which live among the surrounding mangrove swamps.
 You will have plenty of time to observe the amazing behavior of those also called "man-o-war" birds. They come from all over the Caribbean to mate in Barbuda. That's when the visit is especially spectacular: the male birds expand a red pouch under their throat to attract the female's attention. Several other birds can be watched on the lagoon, depending the moment of the year.
For bird watcher, eco-tourists and nature lovers, an excursion to Barbuda will be an unforgettable adventure.
|
