| Antigua, the largest of the English-speaking | | | | As well as the beaches, inlets and almost |
| Leeward Islands in the eastern Caribbean, | | | | constant balmy northeast trade winds, the |
| measures about 22 by 18 km and encompasses | | | | temperature fluctuates only mildly from the |
| about 275 square km. Antigua is also the name | | | | mid-20s Celsius in winter to the low 30s in |
| of a nation that includes two other islands: | | | | summer. Annual rainfall averages only 114 cm, |
| Barbuda, about 50 km due north, a flat coral | | | | making it the sunniest of the eastern |
| island only 174 square km in area; and the | | | | Caribbean Islands, with low humidity all year |
| tiny (1.5 square km) uninhabited island of | | | | round. Its romantic, with lots of secret |
| Redonda, now a nature preserve and bird | | | | places, and hence the most popular |
| sanctuary. | | | | destination for weddings in the last two |
| | | | years, and there are said to be 365 white and |
| Down in the southwestern corner of Antigua is | | | | pink sand beaches, one for every day of the |
| Boggy Peak (4,020 metres), which sounds like | | | | year. |
| a contradiction in terms but is the name of | | | | |
| the highest point. The capital of this small | | | | For tourists with a taste for culture and |
| nation, which is home to some 68,000 people, | | | | history, there are the charms of St John's |
| is St John's, on Antigua. | | | | itself, with its narrow streets and heavy |
| | | | stone cathedral; the restored Georgian |
| NELSON HATED IT, MILLIONAIRES LOVE IT | | | | warehouses and working marina of Nelson's |
| | | | Dockyard; and English Harbour, now the centre |
| Well, for one thing it has a remarkable | | | | of a national park crossed by walking trails |
| history. In 1784 the then unknown but now | | | | along the hilltop battlements. |
| legendary Admiral Horatio Nelson decided that | | | | |
| the island, with its warm, steady winds, its | | | | Active holidaymakers have other delights in |
| lacy coastline indented with safe harbours, | | | | store. The expansive, winding coastline is |
| bays and inlets, and its protective rim of | | | | where trekkers can encounter a wealth of |
| coral reef almost encircling the island, | | | | secluded, powdery soft beaches. Snorkellers |
| would be the perfect place to hide a fleet | | | | and scuba divers home in on the wonderful |
| and so he established what became Great | | | | coral reefs. During Sailing Week, you can |
| Britain's most important Caribbean base. He | | | | watch, sign up as a deck hand or of course |
| was not happy here. Nelson, poor man, hated | | | | join in the sailing yourself. Explore the |
| the place, calling it an 'infernal hole', | | | | underground caves at Indian Town, rumoured to |
| declaring English Harbour 'vile' and decrying | | | | extend all the way to Guadeloupe. |
| the uncouth and unpatriotic behaviour of the | | | | |
| English inhabitants. The mosquitoes plagued | | | | There's an annual carnival, mouth-watering |
| him and he succumbed to the fever during his | | | | Caribbean food, the largest casino in the |
| three-year stay, before finally escaping back | | | | eastern Caribbean, duty-free shopping, |
| to England with an expat English wife whom he | | | | natural wonders including rainforest, the |
| married in Nevis. | | | | Frigate Bird Sanctuary and Devil's Bridge and |
| | | | much more. Accommodation ranges from the |
| Little could Nelson imagine that over 200 | | | | budget to the ultra-chic, super-luxurious |
| years later the same characteristics that | | | | Carlisle Bay, where prices start from £416 |
| attracted the Royal Navy would make Antigua | | | | per night for a double room. |
| and Barbuda one of the Caribbean's favourite | | | | |
| tourist destinations, ranked as Best Island | | | | BEST TIME TO GO |
| for Celeb Spotting by Caribbean Travel & Life | | | | |
| magazine. Eric Clapton and Giorgio Armani own | | | | Mercifully low, in spite of the glories the |
| properties here, Keith Richards and Posh and | | | | islands have to offer. The rugged terrain |
| Becks have holidayed here, and each April the | | | | makes overdevelopment unlikely and the roads, |
| Sailing Week attracts American tycoons such | | | | where they exist, are charmingly bad; many of |
| as Bill Gates, along with droves of Hollywood | | | | the scores of beaches are unreachable by |
| stars. | | | | road. So here's a paradise that looks like |
| | | | staying so for a while yet. The best time to |
| EXPLORE, ADV ENTURE AND ROMANCE | | | | go is during Sailing Week, but be sure to |
| | | | book well ahead. |