365 Beaches — One for Every Day of the Year
Antigua is famous for having 365 beaches — “one for every day of the year” — on a main island of just 281 km². The country (Antigua plus the smaller, flatter island of Barbuda) is a popular Caribbean yacht-chartering and honeymoon destination.
The country has a surprising naval history — Nelson’s Dockyard at English Harbour was the British Royal Navy’s most important Caribbean base in the late 18th century. Admiral Horatio Nelson was based there in the 1780s. The dockyard is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Barbuda was devastated by Hurricane Irma in September 2017 — the entire population had to be evacuated (the first time an entire Caribbean island has been completely depopulated by a hurricane in centuries). Reconstruction has been contentious, with conflicts over land tenure (Barbudans traditionally held land in common, not individually) and Chinese-led resort development.
The island plays an outsized role in cricket — being home to legendary batter Vivian Richards (considered one of cricket’s greatest ever) — and runs one of the Caribbean’s prominent citizenship-by-investment programs, selling passports to foreigners for $100,000+.
A Brief History
Arawak, then Carib peoples. British colony from 1632. Independence 1981. Westminster constitutional monarchy.
Geography and Climate
Antigua and Barbuda covers 442 km² across its two main islands. Relatively flat. Climate: tropical, hurricane-prone.
Culture, Language and Religion
English is official. Religion: approximately 77% Christian (mostly Anglican).
The Economy
Antigua and Barbuda has an upper-middle-income economy (~$2 billion GDP). Tourism dominates; citizenship-by-investment is significant.
UNESCO Sites
Antigua and Barbuda has 1 UNESCO World Heritage Site: Antigua Naval Dockyard and Related Archaeological Sites.
Travel Guide
Entry: Visa-free for most Western nationalities.
Surprising Facts
- Antigua has 365 beaches — “one for every day of the year”.
- Nelson’s Dockyard — where Admiral Nelson served in the 1780s — is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Barbuda was entirely evacuated after Hurricane Irma in September 2017.
- Vivian Richards — from Antigua — is widely considered one of cricket’s all-time greatest batters.
- Antigua sells citizenship to foreign investors — a significant revenue source.
- Barbudans traditionally held land in common — a communal tenure system rare in the Caribbean.
Sources and References
See the frontmatter for cited sources.