Antigua
All the signs pointed towards Antigua. The island had warm, steady winds, a complex coastline of safe harbors, and a protective, nearly unbroken wall of coral reef. It would make a perfect place to hide a fleet. And so in 1784 the legendary Admiral Horatio Nelson sailed to Antigua and established Great Britain's most important 
Caribbean base. Little did he know that over 200 years later the same unique characteristics that attracted the Royal Navy would transform Antigua and Barbuda in one of the Caribbean's premier tourist destinations.
The signs are still there, they just point to different things. The Trade Winds that once blew British men-of-war safely into English Harbour now fuel one of the world's foremost maritime events, Sailing Week. The expansive, winding coastline that made Antigua difficult for outsiders to navigate is where today's trekkers encounter a tremendous wealth of secluded, powdery soft beaches. The coral reefs, once the bane of marauding enemy ships, now attract snorkelers and scuba divers from all over the world. And the fascinating little island of Barbuda -- once a scavenger's paradise because so many ships wrecked on its reefs -- is now home to one of the region's most significant bird sanctuaries.
Location:
Antigua (pronounced An-tee'ga) and Barbuda are located in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, roughly 17 degrees north of the equator. To the south are the islands of Montserrat and Guadaloupe, and to the north and west are Nevis, St. Kitts, St. Barts, and St. Martin.
Antigua, the largest of the English-speaking Leeward Islands, is about 14 miles long and 11 miles wide, encompassing 108 square miles. Its highest point is Boggy Peak (1319 ft.), located in the southwestern corner of the island. Barbuda, a flat coral island with an area of only 68 square miles, lies approximately 30 miles due north. The nation also includes the tiny (0.6 square mile) uninhabited island of Redonda, now a nature preserve. The current population for the nation is approximately 68,000 and its capital is St. John's on Antigua.
Climate:
Temperatures generally range from the mid-seventies in the winter to the mid-eighties in the summer. Annual rainfall averages only 45 inches, making it the sunniest of the Eastern Caribbean Islands, and the northeast trade winds are nearly constant, flagging only in September. Low humidity year-round.
Antigua's Attractions
Shirley Heights
Sea View Farm Village
Antiguan folk pottery dates back at least to the early 18th century, when slaves fashioned cooking vessels from local clay. Today, folk pottery is fashioned in a number of places around Antigua, but the center of this cottage industry is Sea View Farm Village. The clay is collected from pits located nearby, and the wares are fired in an open fire under layers of green grass in the yards of the potters' houses. Folk pottery can be purchased at outlets in the village as well as at a number of stores around the island. Buyers should be aware that Antiguan folk pottery breaks rather easily in cold environments.
Harmony Hall Art Gallery
Harmony Hall, in Brown's Bay at Nonsuch Bay, is the center of the Antiguan arts community. Exhibits change throughout the year, but the annual highlights are the Antigua Artist's Exhibition and the Craft Fair, both in November. The sugar mill tower around which Harmony Hall is built has been converted to a bar and provides its patrons with one of the island's best panoramic views, including a fine prospect of Nonsuch Bay.
Museum of Antigua and Barbuda
This charming museum tells the story of Antigua and Barbuda from its geological birth through the present day. A cool oasis in the middle of St. John's, the museum contains a wide variety of fascinating objects and exhibits, ranging from a life-size replica of an Arawak dwelling to the bat of Viv Richards, one of the greatest cricket players of all time.
Most Antiguans are of African lineage, descendants of slaves brought to the island centuries ago to labor in the sugarcane fields. However, Antigua's history of habitation extends as far back as two and a half millenia before Christ. The first settlements, dating from about 2400 B.C., were those of the Siboney (an Arawak word meaning "stone-people"), peripatetic Meso-Indians whose beautifully crafted shell and stone tools have been found at dozens of sites around the island. Long after the Siboney had moved on, Antigua was settled by the pastoral, agricultural Arawaks (35-1100 A.D.), who were then displaced by the Caribs--an aggressive people who ranged all over the Caribbean. The earliest European contact with the island was made by Christopher Columbus during his second Caribbean voyage (1493), who sighted the island in passing and named it after Santa Maria la Antigua, the miracle-working saint of Seville. European settlement, however, didn't occur for over a century, largely because of Antigua's dearth of fresh water and abundance of determined Carib resistance. Finally, in 1632, a group of Englishmen from St. Kitts established a successful settlement, and in 1684, with Codrington's arrival, the island entered the sugar era.
By the end of the eighteenth century Antigua had become an important strategic port as well as a valuable commercial colony. Known as the "gateway to the Caribbean," it was situated in a position that offered control over the major sailing routes to and from the region's rich island colonies. Most of the island's historical sites, from its many ruined fortifications to the impeccably-restored architecture of English Harbourtown, are reminders of colonial efforts to ensure its safety from invasion.
Horatio Nelson arrived in 1784 at the head of the Squadron of the Leeward Islands to develop the British naval facilities at English Harbour and to enforce stringent commercial shipping laws. The first of these two tasks resulted in construction of Nelson's Dockyard, one of Antigua's finest physical assets; the second resulted in a rather hostile attitude toward the young captain. Nelson spent almost all of his time in the cramped quarters of his ship, declaring the island to be a "vile place" and a "dreadful hole." Serving under Nelson at the time was the future King William IV, for whom the altogether more pleasant accommodation of Clarence House was built.
It was during William's reign, in 1834, that Britain abolished slavery in the empire. Alone among the British Caribbean colonies, Antigua instituted immediate full emancipation rather than a four-year 'apprenticeship,' or waiting period; today, Antigua's Carnival festivities commemorate the earliest abolition of slavery in the British Caribbean.
IMPORTANT TRAVEL NOTICE
All travelers, including U.S. citizens, to and from the Caribbean, Central and South America and Bermuda will be required starting December 31, 2006, to have a PASSPORT or other accepted document that establishes the bearer's identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States. For information visit the U.S. State Department's website: www.travel.state.govfor more information.
Tipping/Gratuities:
Same as in the US; 10-15% depending on the service. Some restaurants & hotels will automatically add a 10% gratuity. If in doubt, just ask. Give porters and bellhops 50 cents per bag, taxi drivers 10-15% of the fare.
Telephones:
Calling the U.S. is easy from Antigua and Barbuda. Most hotels offer USA Direct calling service, or can connect you with a U.S. operator for calling home.
Taxes:
Antigua & Barbuda has a US$20.00 airport departure tax, a room tax of 8.5% and service charge of 10% (in lieu of tipping).
Electricity:
Part of the island is 110 volts, the remainder is 220 volts. Most hotels have both voltages available.
Appropriate Attire:
Informal, but conservative. Beach attire is appropriate for the beach but not town, shops or restaurants. Some hotels and restaurants stipulate jacket and tie for men and dresses for women in the evening.
Time Zone:
Atlantic Standard Time, one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time and the same as Eastern Daylight Time. GMT -4.
Currency/Money:
Official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar which is fixed to the US dollar. Recent exchange rate was US$1.00 = EC$2.65. US currency, travelers checks and major credit cards are welcome everywhere.
Banks:
Antigua and Barbuda Development Bank, Antigua and Barbuda Investment, Bank Antigua Commercial Bank, Bank of Antigua, Bank of Nova Scotia, Barclays Bank PLC, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, Caribbean Corporation Bank, Royal Bank of Canada, Swiss American National Bank of Antigua. Banking hours are Monday through Thursday from 8:00am to 1:00pm and again from 3:00pm to 5:00pm; Friday from 8:00am to 12:00pm, and 3:00pm to 5:00pm.
Medical Facilities:
There are several general practitioners and specialists on the island, a hospital and a private clinic. No vaccinations are required unless the visitor is arriving from an endemic area. Recompression chambers are available by air ambulance at nearby Saba and in St. Thomas. Pharmaceutical services are widely available.
Passports & Immigration:
U.S. , Canadian and U.K. nationals require proof of citizenship--a valid passport, original or certified birth certificate. U.S. residents and others should contact the nearest tourist office for entry requirements.
Click here for Visa Information.
Traveling with Pets
The following guidelines must be followed when importing any animal into Antigua & Barbuda:
An import permit must be obtained from the Chief Veterinary Officer before the importation of all animals. In order to obtain this permit, the intended animal must first be micro-chipped and its blood tested for Rabies Titer at an approved laboratory. The result of such tests must then be forwarded to:
The Acting Chief Veterinary Officer
PO Box 1282
St. Johns, Antigua Tel/Fax: (268) 460-1759
The Kansas State University Rabies Laboratory is an approved Lab that uses the Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization Test (FAVN). The FAVN consists of a of a three-fold serum dilution series and is used to detect rabies virus neutralizing antibody after vaccination, and is required by many rabies free countries in order for dogs and cats to qualify for a reduced QUARANTINE PERIOD.
Specimen Requirement:
1 ml serum without preservatives; spun and separated from the clot.
Microchip identification must be implanted prior to sample draw.
NOTE: A waiting period of at least 114-21 days between rabies vaccination and sample draw is advised.
Processing Time:
The test is initiated each week on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Results can be expected in the mail 10 – 14 days after the set-up date. Fax and/or phone results will only be granted upon request. KSU receives packages 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. However, the lab is only open Monday through Friday and samples will not be dated until they reach our lab.
Shipping Information:
Serum should be packed in a leak-proof container with absorbent material. This should then be placed inside a container with dry ice or ice packs. An overnight or next day carrier is recommended since regular mail can take up to two weeks.
Cost:
$35.00 by check, money order or credit card made payable to FAVN. Payment must be included at time of submission. A delay in testing may occur if payment is not included. For credit card payment, please contact the lab.
Send Samples to:
Attn: Dr. Deborah J. Briggs, FAVN
Kansas State University Rabies Laboratory
1800 Denison Ave. Mosier Hall
Manhattan, Kansas 66506-5606
Tel: (785) 532-4483 Fax: 785) 532-4474 Email: rabies@vet.ksu.edu
ADDITIONAL HINTS for TRAVELING WITH PETS:
· Always seek the advice of your veterinarian before flying any pet.
· Please check with your airlines for list of requirements i.e. proof of vaccinations, a current health certificate, etc.
· Airlines have specific requirements designed to ensure your pet's safety. Make sure that the kennel in which the animal is confined is approved for air travel.
· ALWAYS leave a collar on your pet that has a tag with your name, your address and your pet’s name on it.
Shopping Hours:
Monday thru Saturday 8:00am to noon and 1:00pm-5:00pm.
Personal Safety:
Antigua & Barbuda are relatively crime free, but exercise normal precautions; i.e. don't leave valuables unattended in rental cars or on the beach.
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