Activities Across Antigua and Barbuda

October 30, 2026

Think of Antigua activities in four groups: time on the water, guided time on foot, an evening out and a few animal stops. Barbuda, 48 km north, is a separate and quieter option for a full day. Where a price is given it is in US dollars, which operators and resellers often use alongside the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$2.70 to US$1).

On the water

Stingray City Antigua. A boat from Seatons Village on the north-east coast takes you to a sandbar where the water reaches about waist height. Guides hand out squid to attract the rays, and you touch them only as the guide shows you. Never raise a ray above the surface. Resellers advertise about US$100 to US$150 including a transfer, and about US$150 for a pairing with Laviscount Island and its Aldabra tortoises.

Eli’s Original Eco Tour. A day of five to six hours with two snorkel stops and a beach stop at Great Bird Island, advertised by resellers at about US$125.

Kitesurfing. Jabberwock Beach on the north-east side and Nonsuch Bay are the places to learn or ride, mostly from about November to April. Nonsuch Bay has a school for kite and wing foil. Dickenson Bay has flat, sheltered water and is not set up for kiting or surfing.

On foot

Wallings Nature Reserve. The reserve is at John Hughes in St. Mary’s, and each trail needs a ranger. Adult prices per person are US$25 for the easy 3-mile Button Pond loop, US$30 for the 5-mile Signal Hill walk and US$50 for the hard 14-mile Rendezvous Bay hike, which takes about 5 hours. Child prices are US$15, US$20 and US$30. Call 268 727 0218 to book.

Rainforest canopy tour. On Fig Tree Drive past John Hughes, with zip lines, suspension bridges and rope obstacles. Sessions leave Monday to Saturday at 9am, 10am and 11am. Reseller prices start near US$99 and reach about US$158.

An evening out

Shirley Heights. The Sunday gathering above English Harbour begins around 4pm with steel pan and moves to a live band, finishing about 9:30pm. Allow about US$10 a head for entry, plus what you spend on food and rum punch. On Thursdays the same lookout runs a barbecue night called Reggae Heights. It is closed Mondays.

Animals

Antigua Donkey Sanctuary. The Humane Society looks after about 150 donkeys at Bethesda. There is no entry charge, though donations are welcome. Open Tuesday to Saturday, 10am to 3pm, and 268 461 4957 is the number to ring ahead.

Sea conditions and seasons

The west and south-west coasts face the Caribbean and are calmer, while the Atlantic coast to the east has heavy surf. Lifeguards and flags are not guaranteed on any beach. Hurricane season is 1 June to 30 November, and the high season is mid-December to mid-April.

Trail rules are published by the Wallings Nature Reserve , and the Thursday and Sunday nights are described by Shirley Heights Lookout . For zip line departures see Antigua Rainforest . Tour search: GetYourGuide .