Antigua and Barbuda is a small island nation in the Caribbean, settled by various groups before being colonized by the British. The country gained independence in 1981 and is known for its beaches and historic sites. Flights and cruise ships regularly arrive in St. John’s.
Antigua and Barbuda is a small island nation in the Caribbean. It covers 171 square miles (442 square km), making it a little larger than Washington, DC. It is located near Trinidad, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Barts, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and a number of other small states or island dependencies.
Antigua and Barbuda were first settled in the 3rd millennium BC by a group commonly referred to as the Archaic people. Sometime in the 3rd century BC the islands were settled by Arawak-speaking people. In the 15th century they were finally settled by the Caribs.
At the end of the 15th century, Europeans, through Christopher Columbus, made contact with the islands of Antigua and Barbuda. The Spanish initially tried to settle the islands, but resistance from the Caribbean eventually made it undesirable, and limited contact occurred for about the next century.
In the early 17th century the British colonized the islands, turning them into plantations of sugar and tobacco, as well as other Caribbean crops. The British shifted Antigua and Barbuda’s economy further towards sugarcane over the next century, importing African slaves to work the land. In 17 the slaves were freed, but the lack of infrastructure to support them kept them in extremely poor condition for the next century.
From the 1950s onward, Antigua and Barbuda was displaced along the path to eventual independence. General elections were held and a number of national parties formed, mostly along labor lines, reflecting the country’s need for economic and labor reforms. In 1981 the country was declared independent, as a member of the Commonwealth of Nations with Queen Elizabeth II as monarch.
Antigua and Barbuda is famous for its 365 beaches, one for every day of the year. While actually understanding the truth of this statement might be a little tricky, there is no denying that these islands have many beaches and that they serve as one of the main tourist attractions in the country. Everyone has their favorites, and the best of the best remain closely guarded secrets, but within a couple of hours any traveler could easily have found a gorgeous beach to spend the day in, confident in the knowledge that a new beach awaits the next day. .
For history buffs, English Harbor is Antigua’s big hot spot. Filled with 18th-century ruins, a series of forts and lovingly restored colonial buildings, English Harbor is easily ideal for a day’s wandering. Nelson’s Dockyard, dating back to the 18th century when Antigua and Barbuda served as a key location for Lord Nelson’s navy, is another great historic site, now protected as a national park.
Moving on to nearby Barbuda, you can enjoy some of the best bird watching in the Caribbean. Barbuda is home to the largest colony in the region, which is home to the region’s strange frigatebirds, as well as petroglyphs dating back to American Indian settlement of the islands.
Flights arrive daily in St. John’s from hubs in the United States and the Caribbean, as well as from London. Cruise ships regularly dock at St. John’s and there is a constant stream of yachts arriving or departing.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
