For two people, Antigua works best as a slow trip: a few well-chosen meals, a sunset on the water and a beach you can reach without a crowd. The high season runs from mid-December to mid-April. Resorts normally list their rates in US dollars, while local prices use the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$2.70 to US$1). Cliff-top dining at Sheer Rocks Sheer Rocks is a Mediterranean-style restaurant on a cliff near Valley Church, attached to Cocobay Resort but open to the public outside the resort’s all-inclusive plan.

Most attraction tours in Antigua are either on the water or around English Harbour, with Barbuda as the one long outing. Cruise passengers will meet many of these as shore excursions, and independent visitors can often book the same tours directly or through a reseller. Prices below are in US dollars and are advertised figures, so confirm them when you book. The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$2.70 to US$1).

A longer stay on Antigua is built around a base rather than a route. The island measures about 281 square kilometres, so there are no multi-day circuits to follow. The practical approach is to choose a base, add day outings and, if you want, one night on Barbuda. Prices are in US dollars, and the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$2.70 to US$1) is the local currency. One night on Barbuda The ferry to Barbuda takes about 90 minutes in each direction, and a one-way adult fare begins at about US$65.

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.