Antigua's east coast: Half Moon Bay, Devil's Bridge and Stingray City

Why go

This is the side of Antigua most visitors only glimpse on a day tour, and it deserves more. The roads pass through villages, cane fields gone wild and ruined sugar mills, and the coast changes from sheltered reef lagoons to wave battered cliffs. It is ideal for travellers who want scenery and a sense of the island's past alongside beach time.

Half Moon Bay

**Half Moon Bay** is a wide crescent of pale, pink tinged sand protected as part of a national park. The Atlantic can be lively here, especially at the open end, so swim where the water is calm, usually toward the northern side where the reef shelters it, and take care with currents. Facilities are simple, which is part of its charm.

Long Bay and Devil's Bridge

**Long Bay** is a reef sheltered bay with very calm, shallow water, one of the best places on the island for young children. Nearby, at Indian Town Point, **Devil's Bridge** is a natural limestone arch shaped by the sea, with blowholes that spout when waves roll in. It is dramatic, but the rocks are sharp and waves are powerful: stay well back from the edge and never stand on the arch in rough seas.

Betty's Hope

**Betty's Hope** near Pares was Antigua's first large sugar plantation, run by the Codrington family from the seventeenth century. One of its twin windmills has been restored, and the site explains how enslaved Africans worked the estates that made the island rich. It is quiet and thought provoking, and a good stop on any east coast tour.

The North Sound

Off the northeast coast, the **North Sound** is a protected marine area of mangroves, reefs and small islands. From the Seatons area you can visit **Stingray City**, a shallow sandy pen where you stand and snorkel among southern stingrays, a favourite with families. **Paddles Kayak Eco Adventure** runs guided kayak trips through the mangroves. Boat trips go to **Great Bird Island**, a tiny protected island with a hilltop lookout and a home to the rare Antiguan racer snake, one of the world's rarest snakes.

Other stops

**Green Castle Hill** near Jennings has odd volcanic rock formations and wide views. **Harmony Hall** at Nonsuch Bay is a restored estate with a restaurant and gallery in season. **Nonsuch Bay** itself is a big sheltered lagoon popular for sailing and kitesurfing lessons.

Practical tips

Buses on the east side are less frequent, so most visitors take an organised trip or hire a taxi for the day, agreeing the route, stops, fare and currency in advance. Bring water, sunscreen, a hat and water shoes for rocky coves. Sargassum seaweed sometimes builds up on Atlantic beaches in summer months, so ask locally for the latest conditions.

Where to stay

The east coast has fewer hotels, but they are peaceful: villas and apartments around Nonsuch Bay, and resorts near Long Bay. Many travellers simply visit for the day from a west coast or English Harbour base. Use our places to visit list to plan stops and the free trip planner to fit the east coast into your week.