Antigua also known as Waladli or Wadadli by the native population, is an island in the West Indies. It is one of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean region and the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda became an independent state within the Commonwealth of Nations on 1 November 1981.
Antigua means “ancient” in Spanish after an icon in Seville Cathedral, “Santa Maria de la Antigua” — St. Mary of the Old Cathedral. The name Waladli comes from the indigenous inhabitants and means approximately “our own”. The island’s circumference is roughly 87 km (54 mi) and its area 281 km2 (108 sq mi). Its population was 80,161 (at the 2011 Census). The economy is mainly reliant on tourism, with the agricultural sector serving the domestic market.
Over 32,000 people live in the capital city, St. John’s. The capital is situated in the north-west and has a deep harbour which is able to accommodate large cruise ships. Other leading population settlements are All Saints (3,412) and Liberta (2,239), according to the 2001 census.
English Harbor on the south-eastern coast is famed for its protected shelter during violent storms. It is the site of a restored British colonial naval station called “Nelson’s Dockyard” after Captain Horatio Nelson. Today English Harbour and the neighbouring village of Falmouth are known as a yachting and sailing destination and provisioning centre. During Antigua Sailing Week, at the end of April and beginning of May, an annual regatta brings a number of sailing vessels and sailors to the island to play sports.
Access : Coordinates : 17.083333, -61.8 / By air : VC Bird International is situated on the outskirts of St John’s and to the north of the island. It has regular flights from UK and America, along with smaller planes from elsewhere in the region. It is a fully functioning airport with Wi-fi capabilities and is currently under construction.
LIAT, which merged with Caribbean Star recently, has a hub in Antigua, operating flights to various destinations in the Eastern Caribbean. The following international airlines serve the airport: Caribbean Airlines (Kingston, Barbados, Trinidad) To the US: American Airlines (Miami, FL), United Airlines (Newark, NJ), Delta Airlines (Atlanta, GA), US Airways (Charlotte, NC), JetBlue (New York, NY) To Canada: Air Canada (Toronto, ON)
To Europe: British Airways (London Gatwick), BMI (Manchester), Condor (Frankfurt, Germany), Virgin Atlantic (London Gatwick), XL (London Gatwick) You can also connect to Paris (Air France) and Amsterdam (KLM) via St Maarten
By cruise ship : Many tourists come to Antigua and Barbuda via cruise ships. On Antigua, passengers enjoy a short walk through Heritage Quay into the heart of St. John’s.
Highlights :
- Nelson’s Dockyard , Museum of Antigua and Barbuda , Shirley Heights Lookout
- St. John’s Cathedral – 1847 ,Wadadli Animal Nature Park
- THE ST. JOHN’S COURTHOUSE , Mount Obama , Green Island
- Cades Bay Pineapple Station , Betty’s Hope , Devil’s Bridge , Fort Berkeley
- Great Fort George Monk’s Hill , Antigua Donkey Sanctuary Animal Shelter , Long Bay Beach , Jolly Beach , Jabberwock Beach , Hermitage Bay , Morris Bay Beach
- Mosquito Cove Beach , Valley Church Beach , Turners Beach , Pigeon’s Point Beach
- Hawksbill Beach , Half Moon Bay Beach , Deep Bay , Darkwood Beach
- Carlisle Beach , Dickenson Bay , Ffryes Beach
- Galley Bay Beach , Galleon Beach , Fort James Beach , Buccaneer Cove Beach
Activities : Kitesurf Antigua , Windsurf Antigua , Ocean Adventures , Hiking , Antigua Reef Riders , Golf , V.I.P Tours
