Antigua and Barbuda have long been known for their exclusive
resorts and private-country-club atmosphere. But you don't
have to be a member to enjoy their finest amenity: miles of
gorgeous beach. The powdery sand is lapped by calm turquoise
water and cooled by constant trade winds.
Wealthy sun worshipers began visiting Antigua and Barbuda
(pronounced an-TEE-gah and bar-BEW-dah) more than two decades
ago, but today they are joined by cruise-ship passengers,
yachters, honeymooners and other travelers of all income levels.
They all find plenty to do-scuba diving and snorkeling, deep-sea
fishing and sailing, cricket-if they need to do something.
Most of the time, the beach is enough.
The Antiguan terrain rises gently and consists of rolling
hills (the highest point is Boggy Peak, 1,319 ft/402 m high)
that turn emerald green during the rainy season. At other
times, though, the island, which covers 108 sq mi/280 sq km,
is rather scruffy-looking. Barbuda, a flat coral island of
62 sq mi/100 sq km, with a large lagoon on one side, has a
tiny population and is much sleepier. But it also has miles
of beautiful pink and white sand beaches and excellent snorkeling.
The two islands share a central government.
When Christopher Columbus arrived in 1493, Antigua and Barbuda
were inhabited by the cannibalistic Caribs. Today, the island
nation is inhabited primarily by the descendants of black
African slaves brought to Antigua to work on sugar plantations.
Antigua and Barbuda are two of the few Caribbean Islands
that were not subjected to numerous changes of government.
Except for a brief period of French rule, they were held by
the English from the early 1600s until they achieved independence
in 1981. They remain part of the British Commonwealth. Prime
Minister Vere Bird (known as "Papa Bird") left office
in 1993, after 50 years of political leadership, amid allegations
of involvement in arms-trade deals. His son Lester Bird was
selected as the new prime minister.
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