Introduction
Of Antigua’s 365 beaches, the long, powdery strand along Jolly Harbour is one of the most beautiful on the island, which is perhaps why several of the largest all-inclusive resorts can be found there. The area is one of Antigua’s busiest and most developed, with myriad watersports outfitters, and even a few good independent beach bars and restaurants. It’s easy enough to escape to a relatively undiscovered bay if you crave solitude, but basing yourself at Jolly Harbour will give you ready access to most of the island’s activities and even some duty-free shopping. Located between St John’s in the northwest and English Harbour in the south, Jolly Harbour’s location is an agreeable point that’s still not too isolated.
Who goes there?
The Jolly Beach area draws a wide range of British and American holidaymakers, including families and singles. Resorts are a mix of large all-inclusives (which draw the majority of visitors) and smaller hotels.
Where in the world?
Antigua is largest of the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, roughly midway between St Maarten and Guadeloupe. The island’s international airport is east of the capital, St John’s. Jolly Harbour is a well-developed resort area on the island’s west coast, south of the capital, St John’s. The airport is about 15km (9 miles) northeast of Jolly Beach.
When to go?
Antigua enjoys a very pleasant tropical climate which remains warm and relatively dry throughout the year. Tropical storms and hurricanes may occur between June and November.
Beach
Jolly Beach is a fine stretch of powdery soft sand, but if you are willing to travel a few kilometres south, Darkwood Beach is almost deserted during the week (though popular with locals on weekends), and Johnson’s Point/Crab Hill beaches, a bit further south, are even nicer, with calm water for swimming and even a few good beach bars for refreshments.
Beyond the beach
Antigua is one of the Caribbean’s major sailing centres, so trips out on the waves to more isolated snorkelling spots from the Jolly Harbour marina are a good option. One of the island’s two golf courses, the Jolly Harbour Golf Course, is located here. The BBR Sportive Complex offers tennis courts if your resort doesn’t have one. To the south, Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour is one of the Caribbean’s best-preserved historic districts and the only Georgian-era dockyard still in use; in addition to a museum, it’s filled with shops and restaurants.
Family fun
Larger resorts have organised activities for children, but most of the best activities for children will require some travel. A rainforest canopy zip-line tour, on Fig Tree Drive in the southern end of the island, will please both kids and adults. ‘Stingray City Antigua’, in Seaton’s Village, offers an opportunity to interact with stingrays in safe and controlled conditions.
Retail therapy
The Jolly Harbour Marina has some good shops, including an outlet of Quin Farara for duty-free tobacco and liquor, but most of the island’s shopping opportunities are concentrated in St John’s, or at Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour. Duty-free bargains abound in the shops of St John’s Heritage Quay, though the most charming of the island’s stores can be found in Redcliffe Quay, also in St John’s. Cedars Pottery in Buckley and Rhythm of Blue Gallery in English Harbour are two locally owned shops that produce their own high-quality wares.
A night on the town
The Jolly Beach area has the best of the island’s three casinos, the Grand Princess; its Liquid disco is one of the island’s hot spots. The King’s Casino is north, in St John’s. Castaways is another popular (and sometimes raucous) beach bar in Jolly Harbour, but most nightlife is concentrated in the English Harbour area, where the best bars, pubs, and discos can be found. Sunday-afternoon barbecues at Shirley Heights Lookout start in the afternoon but continue well into the night with reggae and steel-pan bands, drawing a mix of both locals and visitors.
Eating out
Antigua’s gastronomic speciality is lobster, with red snapper and occasionally other fish running a close second when available. The growth of all-inclusive properties has brought a decline in the number of independent restaurants, but a proper British breakfast is available at most resorts. Still, there are a few standout establishments, particularly upscale restaurants at some of the island’s posh resorts and even a few stand-alone restaurants, especially in St John’s or Dickenson Bay.
Getting around
Island bus routes don’t come into the Jolly Harbour area, so you’ll need to rent a car if you plan to dine outside of your resort or do a lot of independent touring. Organised tours are a popular means to see the island, and taxis (with fixed rates) will do for a few trips, though costs will mount quickly if you plan to tour or dine out often.
Exploring further afield
Harmony Hall, in Brown’s Mill, is a former sugar plantation, now a gallery and restaurant. Though isolated, it’s a fun place to head to for an afternoon’s outing. After a superb lunch, you can explore the grounds, see the exhibits, and even spend time at the beach. The property has a boat that can take you out to Green Island, which has good snorkelling right from shore.
Splashing out
Caribbean Helicopters, based right in Jolly Harbour, will give you a bird’s-eye view of the island’s dramatic scenery that is more enjoyable than what you’ll see from the backseat of a car or tour bus. On a trip of 15 to 45 minutes, you’ll be able to look down on the rainforest, Antigua’s myriad cays, or even the still simmering volcano on nearby Montserrat. These trips are expensive but unforgettable.
Flying in
V C Bird International Airport, St John’s (ANU)
