DISCOVERING THE BEAUTY OF ANTIGUA

In a nutshell

A trip upon the discovery of Antigua's history and culture, its breathtaking views, his historic fortresses as well as its more modern side.

Main stops

• St. John's, All Saints and Liberta
• Nelson's Dockyard National Park
• Dow's Hill Interpretation Centre
• Shirley Heights Lookout
• Nelson's Dockyard, arsenal
• Rum punch tasting in a typical bar

The programme

• On-board our minibus, passing by the busy capital of St. John's, we will cross the entire island and the small villages of All Saints and Liberta to arrive, on the southern coast, at Nelson's Dockyard National Park. This 15 hectare park, with great panoramic and natural beauty, upholds significant cultural and maritime heritage (including the only Georgian port in the world). We will make three stops: at Dow's Hill Interpretation Centre in Shirley Heights, at Shirley Heights Lookout and at Nelson's Dockyard.
• Our first stop will take us to the Dow's Hill Interpretation Centre, a modern visitor's centre built amidst the ruins of an 18th Century English military fortress; inside, using an interesting multimedia presentation, we can discover Antigua's history, from the first settlements right up to independence.
• Then, the trip will lead us to Shirley Heights Lookout, an exceptional panoramic point from where we can take some photos of the entire southern coast: from the underlying English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour right up to, on clear days, the nearby islands of Montserrat (to the south-east) and Guadeloupe (to the south).
• Our third stop will be Nelson's Dockyard, the largest historic site on the island which is also the major tourist attraction in Antigua. Selected for its strategic position, this shipyard was made into a British Marine base in 1725. After being abandoned in the 19th century, the shipyard was restored in the mid-20th century and renamed 'Nelson's Dockyard' in honour of the English Admiral and hero of the Napoleonic wars.
• At this stage, we have the option to briefly visit the historic arsenal, after which, we will have some free time to explore the numerous original buildings, which have been restored and restructured to their old splendour, which today, house art galleries, boutiques, artisan workshops, museums, restaurants and small hotels.
• At the end of the trip, before returning to the ship, we will enjoy a refreshing Antiguan rum punch in one of the intimate and picturesque bars of Nelson's Dockyard.

Good to know

• We recommend that you book early because only a limited number of places are available.
• There is limited availability of English-language guides. Ship personnel will provide assistance where possible.