The Beaches of Antigua

With 365 beaches, Antigua is known for having a beach for every day of the year. The warm, calm waters of the Caribbean allow vacationers to make a splash in the protected salty sea. On Barbuda, the beaches are mostly marked by salmon-colored sands, and some of this small island's beaches are facing the more turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

All of the beaches on both Antigua and Barbuda are open to the public, though some of the more isolated beaches may be a little difficult to reach. However, some of these hard-to-reach beaches are among the island's most beautiful, making the journey well worth the effort. Before venturing to these secluded shores, be sure to get a good map and explicit directions.

The beaches on Antigua can generally be categorized by the region of the island on which they're located.

• Northwest: Travelers who want to enjoy the ultimate beach-resort experience may find that the accommodations on the northwest shores are perfect for their island vacation, as it is one of the most developed regions.  There are a couple of beaches, such as Hermitage Bay, conveniently close to St. John's, which is great news for those vacationing in the country's capital. These beaches are popular with both locals and tourists, where sailing is a prevalent past time. Hawksbill, on the northwest coast, has an arrangement of four crescent-moon-shaped beaches on its shores, one of which is a clothing optional beach.

• South and Southwest: The southwest region of Antigua is adorned with emerald green hills, and its coastline is generally less developed than the shores near St. John's in the north. A rugged road meanders along the southwest coast passing the beaches around Johnson's Point, as well as several others. On the south central coast of Antigua, you'll find a few secluded tranquil beaches, which may be hard to reach but offer the perfect place to relax with plenty of sand, surf, and sunshine.

• East: Half Moon Bay, which is now a national park, is located on the southeast shores of Antigua. The beaches here often encounter particularly rough surf, drawing surfers and wake boarders to the area. Heading farther east, you'll find Long Bay, which is another excellent choice for beach goers with children because of its calm waters, which are protected by a coral reef formation.

• Barbuda: The beaches on Barbuda have smooth sands that are a gorgeous shade of pink, along with traditional white-sand beaches. The waters here are superbly calm because they're protected by barrier reefs. You'll find that Barbuda's blushing sands are mostly situated on the southwestern shores and continue along the coastline uninterrupted for about 10 miles. Along the east coast, the Atlantic waters tend to get pretty rough, so the sands here are better for beach combing and exploration than for swimming. In July of 2011, Barbuda named one of the beaches along the island's southern end after the late Princess Diana.  Diana visited the beach in April of 1997, and died that same year.  The dedication of the beach occured on what would have been her 50th birthday.

While vacationing on Antigua and Barbuda, you definitely won't be at a loss for beaches. Your biggest dilemma will be choosing the beach that best suits your tastes, and perhaps reaching one of the more isolated shores. To learn a bit more about the individual beach choices you'll find on this set of island, browse the list of links below.