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If you want to experience something you still did not, then start doing what you have not done yet. The path to change in your life is to invite yourself to start with a completely different journey. If you are missing something on traditional holidays, if you are looking for unique experiences and acquaintances, discovery and self-knowledge, massively untrained travel destinations, this invitation is for you.

Antigua and Barbuda is a state in the West Indies, located on the islands of Antigua (280 square kilometers), Barbuda (161 square kilometers) and Redonda (1.6 square kilometers) entering the archipelago of the Lesser Antilles. A lot of quiet lagoons and bays protected by coral reefs, snow-white beaches, and mountain tops, overgrown with lush vegetation - Antigua and Barbuda like a fairy world captivates and fascinates its guests.

Antigua and Barbuda is a former British colony. Independence of the territory was received more than 30 years ago, and now it is a completely independent state. About the former greatness reminds almost nothing. On the island, there are only a few red telephone booths and double-decker buses, which are now used for cafes and offices. One more - a transport movement is left-handed, as in England.

Tours to the exotic Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda - a pleasure for the knowledgeable and wealthy tourists. Magnificent nature, blissful seclusion and a comfortable climate throughout the year - these are the main attractions of the direction. There are no noisy tourist crowds, hotels are all upscale five or no less four stars only because of annoying natural misunderstandings - the beach, for example, is not so wide or the area of the room is a few meters less. For the sake of justice, need to be noted that the hotel fund is a bit old, but the nature of the paradise, it seems, compensates any minor shortcomings. In addition to Antigua and Barbuda, an exceptionally diverse nature on land and underwater is a paradise for enthusiastic naturalists and a center of attraction for divers from all over the world.

On the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, there are 365 beaches all year round, surrounded by paradise nature. The divers are attracted by magnificent coral reefs, and romantics - fiery sunsets over the Atlantic. The nature of the country - a lot of convenient bays protected from storms by coral reefs, white sand beaches, and tops of mountains, covered with lush vegetation. There are not so many historical sights, but these are enough to dilute the beach holiday if suddenly the azure ocean and a soft sand will become boring. The main ones are concentrated in the colonial capital of St. John's, and all of them belong to the glorious years of British rule.

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St. John's is the capital of Antigua, its commercial center and major tourist area of the country. St. John's is a rather unusual capital. Only 30 thousand people live here, and this is almost half of the population of the country.

The main sights of St. John are the quay around the harbor, Heritage Quay, and the Redcliffe Quay district, where most shops, restaurants, and galleries are concentrated. In addition, the local architecture gives the unique coloring to St John: stone houses and wooden huts, some of which are in a dilapidated state.

The capital of Barbuda island is Codrington - more like a village. A small, cozy town where there are several guesthouses, a handful of restaurants, bars, and shops. It is revived only on Sundays when traditional cricket competitions are held here.

So, there is a practical guide for traveling to Antigua & Barbuda

Antigua Island

The island of Antigua, drowning in the greenery of tropical forests, is decorated with majestic mountains and white sand beaches. This delightful island was opened in 1493 by Christopher Columbus and named after the Seville Church of Santa Maria de la Antigua. Now here is the state capital - St. John's.

At Antigua, you will find everything you need for an unforgettable vacation: luxurious hotels, entertainment centers, nightclubs, two golf courses (18 holes), a yacht club, a diving center and a casino. The best beaches are located in the Runaway Beach and Dickenson Bay beach near St. John's. For diving and snorkeling, the southern coast of the island will suit the best as there are rich colonies of coral reefs. In addition, Antigua is famous for the world's most sweet pineapple of unusual black color, ginger beer and, of course, Cavalier rum.

The Antiqua Island has 365 beaches, as local residents say, "one for each day of the year". Everyone in Antigua will find a corner for the soul: in the northern part, known as the Dickenson Bay, it is noisy and fun, here is a large number of resorts and hotels. In the south of the island, it is like a desert, secluded beaches are an ideal place for those who are tired of the fuss and want to fully enjoy the unity with the amazing beauty of nature. The West beach is imperative to visit in the evening: the quaint colors of the Caribbean sunsets are an unforgettable spectacle.

The territory of the islands is considered to be quite suitable for tours with children, because, except for not quite high-quality fresh water, there is a very good ecology. The problem with the quality of drinking water in the country is common to all Caribbean countries, but it is successfully solved using only bottled water and various beverages, as well as the total ban on using water from the local water supply.

It has already been calculated that more than 50% of the GDP of the state will constitute income from tourism, 2017 will not be an exception. Unique nature, in many places, preserving its original appearance and original cultural heritage - these are the main reasons why trips to Antigua and Barbuda are so popular.

Each of the islands - they are often called simply A, B, R - has its own characteristics and is distinguished by different types of recreation.

Island A is a large recreational site, on which a wide network of modern beaches is located, but the prices for rest here are higher. There is an ever-improving infrastructure, which includes a large number of comfortable hotels, entertainment centers, nightclubs, and casinos. There are quite interesting events organized here.

Island B has a high attendance, mainly due to the wild and original nature of undeveloped beaches, an abundance of coral reefs, free access to the sea and the possibility of seclusion in paradise corners.

Island R is a small peculiar park in the ocean, which today is completely uninhabited, although it has a few hotels on its shore, so the tours there are precisely cheap.

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Sights to see in Antigua Island:

• National History Museum - an extensive collection of exhibits, the most ancient of which date back to the beginning of our era. It is located in the courthouse, built in 1750. In the museum, there are exhibitions devoted to the geology of the country, its culture, as well as the political upheavals of the state.

• Sugar Plantation (XVII century) belonging to Sir Christopher Codrington.

• Cathedral of St. John the Divine - the main historic landmark of St. John's. It was built in 1683. Due to various reasons, the cathedral was rebuilt many times. The last of the reconstructions dates back to 1845. There is a version that the statues of John Baptist and St. John located in the cathedral were taken from one of the ships owned by Napoleon Bonaparte himself.

• Falmouth Harbor and the England Harbor- an area in the south of Antigua, where colonial fortifications and the Marine English base (XVIII century) are located. There began a military career of Admiral Nelson.

• Redondo National Nature Park is a tiny islet of volcanic origin, the only inhabitants are the exotic birds. Redondo is a favorite place for yachtsmen.

• Fort James - built in 1675, it has been greatly preserved to this day. Here you can still see the barracks, gunpowder warehouses, canteens, as well as guns that once provided inaccessibility of harbor.

• National Park in the south-east of the island. Here is the famous natural phenomenon - the 9-meter Devil's Bridge (Limestone Bridge).

On the island of Antigua, there is a casino, a yacht club, and a diving center, as well as two golf courses for 18 holes each. Dickenson Bay - the center of windsurfing in Antigua, where competitions in this sport are held in January and July.

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Barbuda Island

A picturesque coral island 48 km from Antigua. An ideal place for a secluded holiday. The rich nature of the island is preserved in its original form: limestone caves and rocks, lush tropical forests, turquoise sea. The island is famous for its deserted sandy beaches of amazing gently pink color. The most magnificent of them - the eight-kilometer Long Beach - is one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Snorkeling and diving fans will appreciate the richness of the coral reefs. Here you can meet fish parrots, sea angels, barracuda, as well as dolphins, sea turtles and harmless tired sharks.

Sights to see in Barbuda Island:

Laguna Codrington, a district in the west of Barbuda, will be interesting for lovers of caves and seabirds.
Pink Sand Beach with stunning pink color sand.
The infamous Devil's Bridge. The stormy streams of the waters of the Atlantic Ocean seem to have carved like a bridge from the stone. This bridge has a sad fame. Runaway slaves often jumped from him in the foamy waters of the ocean, thereby gaining the long-awaited freedom.
Bird Reserve is a unique place known for its largest colony of frigates.
Limestone caves with bizarre stalactites and stalagmites. In the distant past, the caves served as the dwelling of the Indians who inhabited Barbuda. The source of fresh water was a wonderful underground lake located in the Dark Cave.
Island also has a 9-hole golf course.!

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Entertainment

Along the shores of Antigua Island, runs the restored pirate ship "Jolly Roger". On it, you can make a cruise with a stop in a remote bay, where it will be nice to swim, sunbathe, and maybe even engage in snorkeling. Expressing itself as a simple tongue, swim along the sea surface with a mask and a breathing tube, watching the underwater life. Not less popular here is diving, because near the islands are coral reefs, as well as the impressive coral gardens with their beauty and exotic character. This pastime is unreally popular in Antigua and Barbuda.

For fans of extreme sports, there is a possibility to make jeep safaris in the hard-to-reach corners of the islands. Only the name of a safari such as "tropical adventures" sounds promising. In January and July on the island of Antigua you can see the competition of windsurfers, and later try yourself in this form of sport.

A couple of times a week, in bars and cafe of Antigua and Barbuda are running crabs competitions. Having put on one of the crabs, you can win a small amount.

Each spring, Antigua holds a classic regatta, which has long been one of the most important in the world. And Barbuda Island in the spring pleases visitors with an annual folklore festival. Here you can see colorful processions, rituals, aboriginal dances. No less striking spectacle takes place in August on the island of Antigua. The annual carnival collects huge numbers of people dressed in a variety of costumes on the streets of the capital. They walk along the streets of the city, sing, dance. In short, they create the atmosphere of the holiday.!

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The local cuisine of Antigua and Barbuda

Local cuisine is similar to Mexican or Brazilian. Local food is based on meat and vegetables. Particularly popular are pies with meat filling, which are served with a spicy seasoning. Of course, in a country located on the shores of the Caribbean, many fish are eaten. A special coloring for fish dishes is given by a mixture of spices that are prepared by local herbalists.

The main drinks in Antigua and Barbuda are juices, coffee, as well as all kinds of drinks from date-palms.

Antigua and Barbuda, like any other major tourist center, have a well-developed network of catering services. The average check amount in these cafe is approximately $30.

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When it is the best time to visit Antiqua and Barbuda

You can go to Antigua and Barbuda throughout the year because the climate is comfortable here: +29 ... + 31 ° C in the air and +24 ... + 26 ° C in the water at any time of year. At the same time, a big influx of holidaymakers is observed in December and close to the New Year: New Year's tours to Antigua and Barbuda are very popular among US citizens.

Antigua and Barbuda are one of the world's most popular destinations for wedding ceremonies. Here you can conclude a marriage both symbolically and officially.

Transport

The international airport is located a few kilometers from the state capital - the city of St. Johns, a very comfortable facility for passengers, even if you are traveling with a child. From there, regular 20-minute flights to island B are regularly deployed, and on Redondo, it will be necessary to sail only on a pre-ordered boat trip.

With a buss, from the capital, you can reach the Falmouth and the English Harbor, which is quite convenient and cheap, it takes about half an hour to travel. There are no buses in Dickenson Bay and other resort areas in the northern part of the island. There are very few buses on the island on Sundays.

You can also use taxi services, trips between fixed points are paid at fixed rates. Among other things, taxi drivers in Antigua have qualification guides for exploratory excursions.

Car hire in Antigua and Barbuda. At Antigua, there are about a dozen car rental agencies, most of them have offices at the airport. In order to rent a car, you need to have national or international driving licenses, a credit card, as well as a local driving license issued at the rental office (for purchase, you will need to show driver's license and pay $ 20). The movement in the country is left-handed.

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Connection

In the country there is a cellular connection of GSM standard, therefore most cellular operators support roaming for Antigua and Barbuda. In the capital and large cities, you can find an internet cafe. The cost of one hour is $ 5.

Security

Antigua and Barbuda are characterized by a very low level of crime, but cases of theft still occur. You can call the police at 462-01-25.

There are no mandatory vaccinations before entering the country, but vaccinations against hepatitis A and poliomyelitis are recommended. Do not drink raw water from the tap.

Nature

The country's nature is impressive with its majesty and exoticism. There are three volcanoes on the small territory: Agua, Fuego, and Acatenango. In Antigua and Barbuda, you can enjoy the amazing views and aromas of exotic plants. Typical scenery for the city's streets of the country is the lush bougainvillea bushes growing on the cracked stones.

The coastline of the island of Antigua is formed by many bays and lagoons, which, in fact, are the craters of ancient volcanoes. By the way, volcanic activity ceased on these lands about 8 million years ago, so rest is safe. On the whole territory of the state, there are neither freshwater rivers nor lakes. Therefore, there are practically no large forest tracts on the islands. Water, suitable for drinking, is extracted from underground sources.

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The climate of Antigua and Barbuda

The climate is tropical, warm, and dry all year round. Winds blowing practically constantly on the islands, noticeably increasing to September. Rain (short-term) occur only in September-November. The driest period is from February to April when rainy days are no more than three per month. The average temperature of water + 24 ... + 26 ° C, the average temperature of air for months: January-March +28 ° C, April +29 ° C, May-June +30 ° C, July-October +31 ° C, November-December +29 ° C.

The islands of Antigua and Barbuda are located in the path of tropical hurricanes. The strongest of them sweep here between June and November. The most favorable time for visiting the islands are the winter months.

Antigua and Barbuda hotels

The hotel base of Antigua is very similar to other Caribbean countries (except Cuba and Dominican Republic only). There are no big hotels on the island, they are all medium-sized (about 200 rooms), most are all-inclusive. There are hotels of different levels (with the corresponding difference in price). The whole hotel fund of the island is getting old enough.

Money

The country's monetary unit is the East Caribbean Dollar (XCD). Current course: 1 USD = 2.7 XCD, 1 EUR = 0.293 XCD.

Credit cards and traveler's checks are accepted for payment in virtually all hotels, restaurants and shops. Banks work from Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 17:00, the break is from 13:00 to 15:00, on Fridays from 8:00 to 17:00 with a break from 12:00 to 15:00. American dollars are accepted in the country everywhere.

It is customary to give 10-15% of tea, depending on the level of service. To a taxi driver is usually left 10%, to the porters - 50 cents per bag or suitcase.

Before paying for credit card purchases, it is imperative to know the currency in which the payment is accepted, since converting the XCD into "heavy currency" may prove to be a bad bill.

Shopping and shops

A good selection of goods in the stores of Duty-Free: jewelry, precious stones, including famous Colombian emeralds, watches - all at fairly favorable prices. Shops work from 8:00 to 12:00 and from 13:00 to 17:00.

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The photo of the Father of the nation Sir Vere Cornwall Bird Sr. who managed to hold power from 1960 to 1994, both with the British, and already with independence, and after himself for another 10 years made the premiere his own son.

The freshness of Caribbean Sea, the golden beaches, the royal beauty of Antigua and Barbuda cities attracts millions of tourists. These islands are an ideal choice for those who want a peaceful and lively holiday. The well-developed tourist and transportation system allows you to enjoy every moment of stay in Antigua and Barbuda.

PRACTICAL GUIDE FOR TRAVELING TO ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA