Antigua is the larger of the two main islands that make up Antigua and Barbuda. It is a beautiful get away and many tourist enjoy the really energetic island culture but also the peace and tranquility that the surrounding seas bring.
Cities
Other destinations
Understand
Granted independence from the UK in 1981, Antigua has since built itself up as a tourist hotspot and rivals St Barts, Barbados and Jamaica in the Caribbean.
Talk
English is spoken everywhere on the island, along with local dialects.
Get in
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.
Both LIAT and Caribbean Star have hubs in Antigua, operating flights to various destinations in the Eastern Caribbean.
The following international airlines serve the airport:
BWIA (London Heathrow, New York JFK, Toronto, Kingston, Barbados, Trinidad)
To the US: American Airlines/American Eagle (San Juan, Puerto Rico), Continental Airlines (Newark, NJ), Delta Airlines (Atlanta, GA), US Airways (Charlotte, NC), Caribbean Sun (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
To Canada: Air Canada (Toronto, ON)
To Europe: British Airways (London Gatwick), BMI (Manchester), Condor (Frankfurt, Germany), Virgin Atlantic (London Gatwick).
You can also connect to Paris (Air France) and Amsterdam (KLM) via St Maarten
By cruise ship
Many tourist come to Antigua and Barbuda via cruise ships such as Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises. Excursionist enjoy themselves in St. John's the port where the dock. There is a duty free shopping Center right by the dock and also a lot to eat and see. From Italian cuisine, to Antiguan.
Get around
By car
Cars may be hired from numerous places around the island. Contact your hotel for more information. However, there is a 30 mph speed limit on the island, so driving can be a tad tedious.
By taxi
Taxis are fairly cheap in Antigua, and as the road surfaces can be a bit patchy in places, they will take you along the best routes.
See
Itineraries
Do
Eat
Being an island, sea food is understandably very popular here. There is also a nice variety of tropical fruits that grow on the island. The national dish is called Fungi (pronounced Foun-gee) and Saltfish. Besides the local dishes almost every major type of cuisine can be found on the island. e.g. Italian, Mexican, American, British, Jamaican etc. Just ask locals for directions.
Drink
A host of local drinks exist in the Antigua. From Pineapple, Guava, Morby, Seamoss, Passion Fruit and Hibiscus to imported drinks Coco Cola, Pepsi, etc. exist. All varities of water exist even local brands. Many beers can be found in Antigua from Local (Wadadli, English Harbour rum), to regional (Carib Beer) to international, (Smirnoff and Heineken) can be purchased at any local bar. Rum is by far the most popular spirit, best served as a "Rum Punch".
Stay safe
Antigua is a relatively safe place but like all places in the world standard rules exist. Do not travel alone at night. Stay in well lit places. Do not carry around more money than is absolutely necessary. Do not accept anything from strangers, not even car rides. It may be best to avoid street urchins who beg for money or politely refuse them and in the unlikely event of anything contact the police force.
Get out
:For more detailed information on Antigua as a political entity, see Antigua and Barbuda.
Antigua (pronounced /ænˈtiːgə/) is an island in the Caribbean, part of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. It is also known as Wadadli, which means approximately "our own". The island has a population of about 68,000 and is 54 miles in circumference, with an area of 108 square miles.
Over 24,000 people live in the capital of St. John's, at 17° 6' N. and 61° 45' W. Other leading population settlements are All Saints (3,412) and Liberta (2,239), according to the 2001 Census. The capital is situated in the northwest, near to V.C. Bird International Airport, and has a deep harbour which is able to accommodate large cruise ships.
English Harbour on the southeastern coast is famed as a "hurricane hole" (protected shelter during violent storms) and the site of a restored British colonial naval station. The latter is called "Nelson's Dockyard". Nelson was at the time a Captain and in correspondence made it clear he would prefer not to be there, but rather facing the French. Today English Harbour and the neighbouring village of Falmouth are an internationally famous yachting and sailing destination and provisioning centre. At the end of April and beginning of May Antigua Sailing Week, an annual world-class regatta started in 1967, brings many sailing vessels and sailors to the island to race and party.
Geography
The high rocky coast is indented by many bays and arms of the sea, several of which form excellent harbours. The surface is comparatively flat, and there is no central range of mountains as in most other Caribbean islands, but among the hills in the southwest an elevation of 1,319 feet (402 m) feet is attained on Boggy Peak. Owing to the absence of rivers, the paucity of springs, and the almost complete deforestation, Antigua is subject to frequent droughts, and although the average rainfall is 45.6 inches, the variations from year to year are great. The problem is partly solved by desalination of sea water.
Economy
Antigua's economy has become increasingly reliant upon tourism, and it markets itself as a luxury Caribbean escape. Many hotels and resorts are located around the coastline, and the island's single airport is serviced by several major airlines including Virgin Atlantic, British Airways, US Airways, American Airlines, Continental, Delta Air Lines, BWIA and Air Canada. The only regular service to Barbuda flies from VC Bird Airport. The United States Air Force maintains the small Antigua Air Station adjacent to the airport.
The country's official currency is the East Caribbean Dollar. However, many prices in tourist oriented businesses are shown in US dollars. The EC dollar is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of $1 US = $2.67 EC.
History of Antigua
Antigua was first inhabited by the Siboney, which means "stone people" in the Arawak language, whose settlements date at least to 2400 BC. The Siboney were extremely skilled with their hands, and were great craftsmen. They were skilled at making such things as jewelry and stone tools. The Arawaks—who originated in Venezuela, and gradually migrated up the chain of islands now called the Lesser Antilles—succeeded the Siboney. The Arawaks brought farming to the island, cultivating crops of pineapples, peppers, corn, sweet potatoes, guava, cotton, and tobacco. The Carib people drove the Arawaks from neighbouring islands but apparently did not settle on either Antigua or Barbuda.
Antigua was stumbled upon by accident in 1493 by Christopher Columbus, who is said to have named it after a church in Seville, Spain, called Santa Maria la Antigua. It remained, however, virtually uninhabited until 1632, when a body of English settlers took possession of it. This settlement was abandoned following attacks by Carib Indians. In 1663 another English settlement was effected under the direction of Lord Willoughby, to whom the entire island was granted by Charles II of England. It was ravaged by the French in 1666, but was soon after reconquered by the British and formally restored to them by the Treaty of Breda. In 1674, Sir Christopher Codrington arrived on Antigua, bringing with him the newest techniques in sugarcane farming. Over the next half century, sugarcane dominated the island's economy, and by the 18th century, there were more than 150 sugarcane processing windmills on the island. Antigua remained under British control until 1981, when Antigua and Barbuda gained independence. The government is a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state and two elected houses, the upper one called the Senate.
Sport
The major Antiguan sport is cricket. Antigua is the location of a 2007 Cricket World Cup site, on a new Recreation Ground constructed on an old cane field in the north of the island. Sir Vivian ("Viv") Richards is one of the most famous Antiguans, who played for, and captained, the West Indies team.
Internet hosting
Antigua is a recognized centre for online gambling companies. Antigua was one of the first nations to legalize, license and regulate online gaming. Some countries, most notably the United States, argue that because the gaming transaction is initiated in their jurisdictions that the act of online wagering is illegal. This argument has been repudiated by the World Trade Organization. However in 2006 the United States Congress voted to approve the Unlawful Internet Gaming Act which criminalizes the operations of offshore gaming operators which take wagers from American-based gamblers.
It is worth noting that the United States Congress placed exemptions into the bill to protect American based providers of internet-based gaming services and has only criminalized the activities of internet-gaming companies located outside of its borders.
Slysoft, a vendor of CD- and DVD-copying software designed to overcome anti-copy technologies is also operated from Antigua.
Notable residents
Positive and negatives in Antigua
Positive
Negative
Social & Cultural Impacts
See also
