Our second port of call on our 2022 Caribbean Cruise was St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. While St. John is the largest city and the seat of the government, technically, no capital city exists. Antigua and Barbuda is a beautiful sovereign country located in the West Indies, consisting of two main islands—Antigua and Barbuda—and over 50 smaller ones. With a total area of 170 square miles (about 440 square kilometers), it is one of the smallest countries in the Caribbean, yet it offers an abundance of natural beauty and rich history.
Antigua and Barbuda’s stunning landscapes, vibrant culture, and welcoming people make it a must-visit destination for travelers seeking a Caribbean paradise. Whether you explore the historic sites, bask on the pristine beaches, or immerse yourself in the local traditions, there’s something for everyone in this enchanting archipelago.
For more background on Antigua and Barbuda, see our Global Grub post, where we made a traditional meal from Antigua and Barbuda at home.
To get a taste of the various attractions on Antigua Island, we decided to take a guided “Let’s Take a Selfie” tour. The tour took us to the top photographic locations.
Our first stop was St. John’s Cathedral, also known as the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, is an iconic Anglican church located on a hilltop. The cathedral, which serves as the seat of the Diocese of North Eastern Caribbean and Aruba, has a rich history and impressive architecture and is actually on its third iteration. Originally consecrated in 1683, it has been rebuilt twice due to earthquakes in 1683 and 1745. The current structure was completed in 1848.
Our next stop was supposed to be Betty’s Hope plantation, but we pulled up to locked gates and could only view one of the windmills from the road. Betty’s Hope is a historical sugarcane plantation, established in 1650. It flourished as the first large-scale sugar plantation in Antigua until 1944. Today, it serves as an open-air museum, showcasing twin windmills, the Great House ruins, and other historic structures.
Next, we headed to Devil’s Bridge on the eastern coast. Devil’s Bridge is a natural rock arch that is surrounded by natural blowholes that shoot water and spray from the waves. It is said that many slaves jumped from Devil’s Bridge in an attempt to swim back to Africa and lost their lives.
We made a quick stop by Long Bay Beach where we could take off our shoes and walk in the sand and water for a few minutes.
Back on the bus to head to Fort James. Fort James is a historic fort located at the entrance of St. John’s Harbor. Built in the early 1700s by the British to guard against French invasions, the fort is named after King James II of England. Besides the ruins of the fort and cannon installations, it offers an excellent view of the surrounding harbor.
The plan was for a short stop at Sand Haven Runaway Beach, then back to town to visit the shops. We were more in the mood for beach time than shopping for souvenirs, so we made a deal with the bus driver to come back and pick us up a few hours later and drop us off at the cruise terminal. He had pointed out his house on the way to the beach, so we knew he lived local.
We enjoyed a few cold Caribs and a couple Pain Killers at Mystic Beach Bar and Betsy relaxed in the sun with a beach massage! The owners’ dog made herself at home and guarded our beach chairs for us while we took a swim in the ocean.
We boarded the ship in time to grab a couple of drinks and enjoy the sunset while pulling out of the port.
