Location
Antigua & Barbuda lies 17 degrees north of the equator, approximately 1,425 miles south-east of Miami and 4,076 miles south-west of the United Kingdom. These fine islands, with a combined area of 170 sq. miles, form part of the Leeward Islands in the North Eastern Caribbean. They are strategically located in the centre of the Caribbean islands, with neighbouring islands Montserrat to the southwest, St. Kitts and Nevis to the northwest, St. Maarten to the north and Guadeloupe to the south.
Washed almost exclusively by the Caribbean Sea, Antigua’s 108 sq. miles are encircled by 95 miles of indented coastline while Barbuda’s 62 sq. miles are surrounded by reefs, with a large lagoon on the northwest side. The islands are best known for their 365 fine white and pink sandy beaches.
Climate and Geography
Antigua & Barbuda has a near perfect climate. The weather is mildly tropical with low humidity year-round. Temperatures generally range from the mid-70s in the winter to the mid-eighties in the summer. Annual rainfall averages only 45 inches; making it the sunniest of the Eastern Caribbean Islands and the northeast trade winds are nearly constant, flagging only in September.
HOW TO GET HERE
From USA:
- American Airlines flies daily from Miami and daily from JFK, New York.
- United Airlines flies up to ten (10) times per week from Newark.
- US Airways flies weekly from Charlotte, North Carolina.
- Delta Airlines flies from Atlanta and from New York.
- JetBlue Airlines will offer a three times a week direct service from JFK, New York.
- Seaborne Airlines flies four times a week direct from Puerto Rico (starting December, 13).
From Canada:
- Air Canada flies three (3) times a week from Toronto and once weekly from Montreal.
- WestJet Airlines flies twice weekly from Toronto.
From Europe:
- British Airways flies daily from London Gatwick, while Virgin Atlantic also flies four (4) times weekly from London Gatwick.
- Thomas Cook Airlines flies once weekly from Manchester, Condor once weekly from Frankfurt, Germany and Alitalia
once weekly from Milan and Malpensa.
From Caribbean:
- LIAT Airline has thirty (30) daily flights throughout the Caribbean region.
- Caribbean Airlines has twice weekly flights.
- Seaborne Airlines flies four times a week direct from Puerto Rico (starting December, 13).
Tourism
Tourism dominates the national economy and is the most important source of foreign exchange and foreign direct investment in Antigua & Barbuda. It underpins the country’s economic growth accounting for more than two thirds of GDP, 40 percent of investment and more than half of the island’s employment opportunities.
