Do you like to party on the sand? Are you looking for safe, shallow waters for your children to play in? Do you want to explore the depths of the ocean? Antigua has a beach for every day of the year. There are also historical sites, delicious Caribbean cuisine and a lively cultural scene.
The sleepy sister island of Barbuda is more relaxed and less touristy. The panoramic view of Shirley Heights or the fascinating history of the Cathedral of St. John are particularly beautiful, especially because these places are mostly overlooked by the sunbathers on the beaches. In this way, the hidden charm of these islands can be discovered in a relaxed way.
Best travel time
In Antigua and Barbuda, according to physicscat, the dry season begins in January. Although there are sometimes periods of drought, the sun creates a very pleasant Caribbean climate. Since this is the main travel season, you should book well in advance.
Antigua and Barbuda is often overlooked by spring vacationers, so it’s perfect for avoiding the crowds. However, the number of tourists cruising to the islands does not decrease until the end of April, which means that hotel prices remain relatively expensive.
Hotels tend to offer package deals at bargain prices from June onwards. Many of the smaller hotels close for at least part of the period between August and October. July through November is also hurricane season. Although Antigua doesn’t get too much rain, you should pack your umbrella to be on the safe side.
The best time to travel to Antigua and Barbuda is from March to June , the time shortly after the main season. Prices are hardly cheaper, but it’s not so crowded anymore. The time between July and November is also a very good time to travel , because even if this is actually the hurricane season, it rains relatively little on these two islands, the weather is still very pleasantly warm and the prices are significantly lower than during the Peak season.
Optimal travel time after months
January
January is one of the coolest months with a pleasant maximum temperature of 27 ° C. It is also one of the driest months and, as a result, a very popular travel time for visitors. We therefore recommend that you book as early as possible.
February
Average temperatures rise by a few degrees in February. This is one of the most popular months to travel. We therefore recommend booking as early as possible.
March April
In March and April the weather is similar to February. Aside from the days around Easter, Antigua and Barbuda is a little less busy than February. Even so, it is advisable to book in advance.
May
The average temperatures in May are 1-2 ° C warmer than in the previous months. Even if the average rainfall increases, you should take into account that this is usually only due to short, heavy showers. The number of rainy days and the number of hours of sunshine is roughly the same as at the beginning of the year. Prices are much lower at this point than in the first quarter of the year, making May a cheap time to travel.
June August
These are the hottest months with average highs of 30-31 ° C and lows of 23-24 ° C. The chance of short, heavy tropical showers increases, but the hours of sunshine and the number of rainy days match those earlier in the year. The official hurricane season is July through November, and while the risk is very small, you can encounter some tropical storms. However, lower prices make it a cheap time to travel, and you may see turtles nesting on the beaches.
September – November
Attractive offers make the prices a fraction of those offered in the high season. Precipitation is highest at this time, but usually consists of relatively short showers. Although there are heavy tropical showers, there are still plenty of hours of sunshine. The turtle breeding season lasts until November and the island landscape becomes lush with lush green vegetation and beautiful tropical flowers. The official hurricane season is between July and November, and while the risk of hurricanes is very low, tropical storms can occur.
December
December is drier and slightly cooler than previous months, but the island has regained its lush and colorful vegetation after the rain. Christmas is a very popular time to travel with many people booking up to a year in advance.
Climate in St. John’s
The maximum temperature in Antigua and Barbuda is 31 ° C. In January, February and March the thermometer rises to a maximum of 28 ° C. The summer (June to September) with average 31 ° C hot . In the winter months it is around 28 ° C very warm . During the day, the annual mean temperature in Antigua and Barbuda is a warm 29.6 ° C.
At night it gets coldest with 21 ° C in January, February and March. The thermometer rarely falls below 24 ° C in August. While the nights in summer are averages of pleasantly warm 23 ° C, the thermometer drops to a pleasantly warm 21 ° C between November and March. The temperature at night averages a pleasant 22.3 ° C throughout the year.
The water temperature is up to 28 ° C, in February the sea has a maximum of 25 ° C. In the summer months from June to September the water is very warm with an average of 28 ° C. Between November and March the values are a very warm 26 ° C. Over the year, the sea has an average temperature of 26.9 ° C.
With 16 rainy days, October and December are the rainiest months of the year. The April is the driest month of the year . From June to September Antigua and Barbuda is relatively humid with an average of around 14 rainy days each, and winter (November to March) is also relatively humid with 14 rainy days. Rain falls on an annual average of 13.5 days per month.
Getting there
VC Bird International Airport , located in the northeast corner of Antigua, is the entry point for visitors arriving by plane. There are direct flights and connections from North America via San Juan and St. Maarten, as well as several weekly flights from Europe. Scheduled and charter flights are available for connections to the neighboring islands.
The Barbuda Express is a ferry that transports passengers in almost all weather conditions at high speed and with a journey time of around 90 minutes. The catamaran sails five days a week.
Culture
Since Antigua and Barbuda are in the tropics, we recommend casual cotton clothing. If you want to eat in one of the posh restaurants, men should pack a shirt, tie and jacket and women should pack a chic dress. It usually gets cooler at night, so it’s definitely worth taking a sweater with you. The wearing of camouflage clothing (also for children) and the wearing of objects made of camouflage material is prohibited by law. These are confiscated and not returned.
The biggest event of the year is Carnival , which coincides with Emancipation Day (abolition of slavery) on the island. Emancipation Day is always the first Monday in August, the carnival starts about a week before.
Food and drink
Local specialties include pepperpot, a hearty vegetable and meat stew that is usually served with mushrooms (cornmeal and okra dumplings). Another specialty is goat water, a spicy goat stew that is widespread on many Caribbean islands. Fresh seafood is also an important part of the local cuisine. The day’s catch usually consists of lobster, red snapper or gold mackerel. There is plenty of fresh fruit on Antigua and Barbuda, and the black pineapple from Antigua is known throughout the Caribbean for its exceptionally sweet taste. As in the entire region, beer and rum are the most popular alcoholic drinks. The holiday resorts offer a wide range of international and local cuisine.
Language
The official language of Antigua and Barbuda is English. There is also a widespread Creole that combines English and West African influences. In addition, around 10,000 Spanish-speaking people live on the islands.
Tip
Tipping is voluntary and should be based on the service offered. However, in hotels and restaurants, a 10% service charge is typically added to your bill.
Money and currency
The currency of Antigua and Barbuda is the East Caribbean Dollar (EC $ or XCD). US dollars are widely accepted on the island, although you can usually get the EC dollar exchange rate at a less favorable exchange rate. Credit cards are accepted almost everywhere. When cashing traveller’s checks, we recommend that you cash them in US dollars rather than euros, as this will avoid additional exchange rate fees.
