Antigua and Barbuda Day Trip Ideas

October 30, 2026

Antigua is small enough that most day trips are by boat to a nearby island or reef rather than long drives. The longest trip is Barbuda, and Montserrat is a different kind of journey that needs its own planning. Prices are quoted in US dollars, the local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$2.70 to US$1), and operators set their own fares, so confirm before you go.

Barbuda for the day

Sea Bridge Ferries crosses to Barbuda in about 90 minutes each way, with one-way adult fares from about US$65. The current schedule page lists the boat at Jolly Harbour Marina, at the dock in front of Sea Dream Restaurant, so phone +1 268 560 7989 to confirm the departure point. Antigua departures are around 6:30am (Sundays about 9am) and returns are at 3pm or 4pm, which leaves about six hours on the island. The card machine takes EC$ only, sailings are cancelled in rough weather, and seasickness tablets are sensible. You can also fly from V.C. Bird airport in about 20 minutes to Barbuda’s new airport, which opened in October 2024.

On the island, a licensed boatman from the Codrington jetty takes visitors into Codrington Lagoon National Park to see the frigatebird colony, about 2,500 pairs. Two Foot Bay National Park has caves, including Indian Cave with its two small petroglyphs and Darby Cave, a large sinkhole about 3.5 miles north-east of Codrington. The pink-sand beach at Low Bay has no facilities, so bring water, cash and sun protection. A Martello Tower stands in the south near the old ferry area.

Great Bird Island

Great Bird Island lies roughly 2.5 to 3 km off the north-east coast in North Sound. It is a refuge for the critically endangered Antiguan racer snake, though sightings are never guaranteed. Eco tours and catamarans go there, and snorkelling and a short walk are the usual stops.

Green Island

Green Island is an uninhabited islet near Nonsuch Bay on the east coast. You reach it only by boat, and snorkelling is the main reason to go.

Cades Reef

Cades Reef is a barrier reef off the south-west coast, a marine reserve for snorkelling and diving. It is reached by boat only, not from the beach.

Deep Bay and the wreck of the Andes

The Andes was a barque lost in 1905 while carrying pitch. It lies in shallow water, under about 30 feet, a short swim from Deep Bay Beach. Fort Barrington overlooks the bay from the headland.

Montserrat

Montserrat is not a standard day trip. A Montserrat-run ferry and Fly Montserrat and Winair flights of about 20 minutes serve the island, but the timetables are built around Montserrat departures, so a same-day return is not guaranteed. Check the ferry timetable at ferry.mniaccess.com before planning anything.

Safety on the water

Caribbean-side beaches are calmer than the Atlantic shores, and no beach is certain to have lifeguards. Hurricane season runs to 30 November.

The ferry schedule is on the Sea Bridge Ferries site , and the colony is described by the Caribbean Birding Trail . Compare boat tours on Viator .