Barbuda is one of the best beach destinations in the
Caribbean. It has unspoilt beaches on all sides of the island. It is very rare to be on
the beach with anyone else - except on the hotel beaches and these are open to all
visitors as long as you keep to the waterline and keep your distance from the rich and
famous! Most of the beaches have no facilities so it is important to remember to take
water and shade or find a place to keep out of the sun for some of the time. In some
destinations it is said when you have seen one beach you have seen them all, but in
Barbuda each beach is different, better than the last and interesting enough to keep even
the most cynical holidaymaker happy for hours.
The beaches can have dangerous currents at certain times of the year but there are
also areas which are perfect for children or non-swimmers, with shallow water and rock
pools filled with tiny fish and crabs. There are aerial displays provided by pelicans
diving close to the beach and everywhere you swim you will see fish darting about in the
water. On holiday weekends the beaches fill up with Barbudans who take picnics very
seriously and bring loud music, food and truck loads of people to spend the day in the
sea. In some of the cave areas people camp for several nights, catching and cooking fish,
deer, and land turtle which can be shared by everyone, especially visitors. At Two Foot
Bay and in other areas of the island there are huge caves to explore. In some there are
ancient cave drawings and in others it is
possible to climb right through to the top of the Highland and see for miles. Others go
underground and underwater and require more expert knowledge of how to explore them.
A few miles from Highland there is the Darby Cave Sinkhole. After an easy 40-minute
trek with a guide through the bush you suddenly come across a huge hole in the ground.
With the tops of tall trees at eye level it is an amazing natural sinkhole. In very dry
weather the salt ponds sparkle with crystalline sea salt |
which is still harvested here. A bush safari will delight bird
watchers and nature lovers, who may want to stop for a picnic in the shade and a swim in
the sea.
Around the coast of Barbuda there are many wrecks from different periods of the island's
history. There are experienced divers on the island who can guide visitors to the wrecks
and it is possible to hire scuba diving equipment. The wrecks are often in dangerous water
and it is important to seek local advice before attempting to explore them. As there are
many fishermen and women on the island it is always possible to go fishing, either out at
sea or in the calm lagoon water. Many people have boats and will take fishing trips out in
them, bringing home barracuda, shark, tuna and other types of local fish. Catching lobster
is also relatively easy as they are a speciality of the island and can be caught by hand
or in specially crafted fish pots. One of the main tourist attractions is the Magnificent
Frigate Bird Sanctuary, situated in the Codrington Lagoon, a 40-minute boat ride across
the water. It is a spectacular sight even for non-bird watchers. In the mating season from
September to April this rare bird displays a huge red breast to attract a female mate and
they lay one egg on a nest built precariously on the mangrove. These birds cannot walk or
swim; they soar high in the clouds and live solely on fish which they often steal from
other birds, giving them their local name Man o'war. They have few predators here and this
nesting site is one of the most important in the world for these endangered birds.
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