St Johns, Antigua cruise port guide
Just 3 hours from Miami is Antigua, the sister island of Barbuda, together making the sovereign island country in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea. Sparkling like twin emeralds, they are tropical gems in the turquoise sea.
Year-round sunshine, a bounty of natural beauty and miles of pristine beaches, make Antigua and Barbuda one of the most desirable destinations in the Caribbean. They are different from each other, Antigua is the island that draws the majority of visitors, proclaiming it has “a beach for every day of the year,” and its sleepy sister, Barbuda is blessed with pinkish sands on the beaches. Antigua’s exceptional geography and tropical mountains create a natural beauty that encourages exploration of the island’s rainforests, tropical gardens and breathtaking views all around.
Antigua’s fascinating past is revealed in its capital city, St. John’s, build by British traders. It is the largest city and port on the island of Antigua. It can fit four ships at a time, that’s why it gets so busy at times. Most of the ships dock at Heritage Quay, a place that has almost all the attractions nearby, with no need of other transportation means.
Other ships dock in the neighborhood, at Redcliffe Quay, surrounded by old Georgian buildings, now cafes and boutiques. When it is crowded, some ships dock at the Deep Water Harbour Terminal, which is 1.5 km away from St. John’s, so people often take a taxi from there.
Places to visit nearby:
Museum of Antigua and Barbuda is housed in the cool shade of the old colonial Court House, constructed in 1747 on the site f the first city market and is the oldest building still in the use in the city. It is a display for the Arawak and colonial artefacts recovered on archaeological digs on the islands. Life-sized Arawak house replica is one of the features of this rich museum, along with the models of sugar plantations, the famous Viv Richard’s cricket bat, etc., the story of Antigua is all here to touch and enjoy.
Fort James is a fort at the entrance to the harbor of St. John’s and is built by the British to guard St. John’s harbor. There can be seen: a gunpowder magazine, several cannons and the foundation of the fort’s wall. But the most attractive is the stunning view of the surrounding harbor.
Betty’s Hope was a sugarcane plantation in Antigua and the first large-scale sugar plantation to operate in Antigua. It belonged to the Cordington family from 1674 until 1944. It is named by the owner’s daughter.
Saint John’s Cathedral is an Anglican church perched on a hilltop in St. John’s. It consists of two white twin towers, built on a fossilized reef, in 1845. The imposing iron gates are displaying Biblical statues of St. John the Divine and St. John the Baptist.
Forth Barrington-even though this fort is in ruin, it is interesting for its commanding view of St, John's Harbour as well as its historical value. Build in 1779 and manned up until 1850, still can be seen are the dungeon-like interior as well as the powder magazine.
Antigua Rain Forest Canopy-an adventurer’s delights with this unique eco-tour through Antigua’s lush rainforest.
The Botanical Garden is also located in St. John’s with several acres of extension. It houses native plants of Antigua, for their preservation, as well as plants of economic interest in crops on the island. There, also live some animals.
Sandy Island is a lighthouse located on a small island about 5km off the coast leading the way to St. John’s harbor.