Your Antigua CME conference.

Antigua after your study day

Study days finish at 2:00 PM Antigua time. For an easy afternoon, choose one outing near your study setting: a swim at one of the island’s beaches, a visit to St. John’s Cathedral, or a walk through the historic buildings at English Harbour. Leave time for getting there and for the sun; the tourism board describes a sea that is warm all year.

Travel, accommodation and attraction admission are arranged separately. Your conference follows your specialty and interests; the island is simply the setting you choose for it. This guide covers the island of Antigua in Antigua and Barbuda, not the town of Antigua in Guatemala.

English Harbour and the Dockyard

Nelson’s Dockyard National Park sits at English Harbour. It is part of the Antigua Naval Dockyard and Related Archaeological Sites, a UNESCO World Heritage inscription from 2016. The authority’s heritage pages describe a project that recovers and commemorates the names and lives of the enslaved and free Africans who laboured in the Dockyard.

The park authority lists several places to see: Clarence House, Fort Berkeley, the Blockhouse, Monk’s Hill, the Dow’s Hill Interpretation Center and Shirley Heights. Fort Berkeley dates to 1704, is the oldest fortification in English Harbour, and is reached along a short nature trail. Shirley Heights began as a military lookout in the 1770s and 1780s, where sentries watched for ships approaching English Harbour, and it still looks over English Harbour and the Dockyard. The authority lists Monday to Saturday opening days for these sites, so check current hours against your 2:00 PM finish before you set out.

Hills, mangroves and views in the park

The Dow’s Hill Interpretation Center sits high above English Harbour and looks over the park. Its fortifications were begun in 1789, and the hill is named after Archibald Dow, who became Dockyard Storekeeper in 1771. The authority describes the park’s land as running from Carlisle Bay to Memora Bay, with its center at English Harbour.

The southern hills are the remains of long-extinct volcanoes, and Sugar Loaf Mountain rises over 1,000 feet. Volcanic traces along the coast include the Pillars of Hercules, Carpenter’s Rock and Snapper Point. Pelicans and frigate birds feed in the harbours, and herons and egrets live in the mangrove wetlands, which include Ordinance Bay.

Which beach?

The tourism board counts 365 beaches, one for every day of the year. Jolly Beach on the west coast is about a mile of powder-white sand with restaurants and water sports nearby. Jabberwock Beach, on the northeast coast, is a long white-sand stretch popular for surfing and windsurfing, with palm trees and picnic tables.

Long Bay on the east coast has fine white sand and is described as good for snorkeling. Carlisle Bay Beach on the south coast, near Old Road, has clear water and tropical fish. Hermitage Bay in the far west is secluded, and the board recommends reaching it by off-road vehicle. Choose a beach close to where you stay, and check how you will get there before you set out.

St. John’s, churches and hills

St. John’s Cathedral is a national monument known for its high ceiling. The Government House Museum is described by the tourism board as one of the country’s most significant historic landmarks. Parham Anglican Church is one of the oldest churches in the region, built in colonial times.

For a change of scene, Potworks Dam is a man-made lake nearly 2 km long and 1 km wide, and Boggy Peak, at 402 meters, is the island’s highest point. The board also lists guided hiking and trekking tours, some of them suited to non-athletes. Barbuda lies 28 miles away and is known for its frigatebird colony; boats run there, so treat it as a day outing and check the operator’s schedule rather than fitting it around a 2:00 PM finish.

When to visit Antigua

Antigua’s national parks authority describes the driest, coolest weather as running from December to March and the wettest from September to November. The tourism board adds that warm trade winds refresh the island day and night. December through April is a useful starting point for planning; use the local forecast when you plan outdoor time.

Getting to Antigua and your study setting

V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU) is the arrival point shown in this guide. The tourism board lists non-stop flights from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and several Caribbean islands, and cruise ships also call. The island covers about 108 square miles, and the board does not state a drive time from the airport, so check ground transport for your address.

The map shows straight-line distances from Shift’s designated center. These are orientation distances, not driving distances or travel-time estimates. Check your exact address against the conference’s check-in area before booking.