Spotlight: Caribbean - Antigua

Spotlight: Antigua is the main island of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. It is one of the Leeward Islands located in the eastern Caribbean. It covers a land area of 281 km² with a population of 80,161. The capital is St. John's, a port city on the north-west side of the island. Also known as Waladli by the native population ("our own"), Antigua means "ancient" in Spanish, and was named for Santa Maria de la Antigua - the Virgin of the Old Cathedral in Sevilla, Spain. The economy is based on tourism. The original inhabitants were the Guanahatabey, who were later joined by Arawaks and Caribs. Columbus was the first European visitor, arriving on the island in 1493. In 1632, Sir Christopher Codrington, and Englishman, established the first European settlement in Antigua. He developed the island into a profitable sugar colony, helping the island gain prominence as Britain's "Gateway to the Caribbean." In 1981, Antigua, with Barbuda and Redonda as dependencies, severed ties with Britain, becoming and independent state in the Commonwealth of Nations, 

Antigua musician making a living

Location: Antigua is located among the Lesser Antilles in the Eastern Caribbean Sea.

Cost: The Canopy Tour (zipline) excursion is $99/adult, $89/child. The photo package is $30/person.

Time: The Canopy Tour excursion is approximately 3 1/2 hours.

Description: The Canopy Tour takes you on a series of 13 ziplines, 2 suspension bridges, and a tree house as you get a view of the Antiguan rainforest from the tree tops. Trained rangers assist you in moving from one zipline to the next to ensure a fun, yet safe, circuit of the route. The ziplines range from 52 feet to 328 feet in length. Once finished with the course, you are awarded a certificate of bravery. Honestly, of the various shore excursions we went on during our cruise, this was our favorite.

     The harbor at St. John's was one of the most beautiful that we saw. It had views of a beautiful cathedral, the ruins of an old fort that protected the harbor, and a wide variety of boats.

old fort on the hill

St. John's Cathedral

Rating: 4 1/2 stars (out of 5)

Things You Should Know: - Keep an eye out for hornets. Two people in our group got stung.
- You can take pictures before and after going on the zipline course, but are not allowed to bring any cameras, phones, etc. on the ziplines. Therefore, if you want pictures of you ziplining, you will have to buy their photo package. Typically, we never buy picture packages at entertainment venues due to the cost, but this time we felt it was worth it. It included a series of shots for each person as well as a video clip.

- Make sure you bring your Sea Pass card and photo ID, sun screen, close-toed shoes, and sunglasses.- If you have pre-existing back, neck, knee, or shoulder injuries, heart or respiratory illness, you may want to consult your physician before signing up for this tour. If you are pregnant, you shouldn't do this tour.
- Throughout the Caribbean, you can pick up inexpensive souvenirs at places like Vendors Square - a small market near the harbor in St. John's.

Nearby: Barbuda, Montserrat, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Guadeloupe