Barbuda is part of a three-island state with Antigua and Redonda in the north-eastern Caribbean. In Barbuda you will see an island that is unspoilt by tourism. It is renowned for its beaches which are natural, miles long and sprinkled with pink sand.
Barbuda has the deep blue Atlantic on one side with wild beaches full of driftwood and shells and the calm Caribbean sea on the other, perfect for swimming and snorkeling, with plenty of opportunities to see turtles and many varieties of tropical fish undisturbed in the turquoise water.
The beauty of Barbuda is in its natural, peaceful way of life. It is not for visitors who are looking for sophisticated nightlife, it is a place where you relax, slow down and make your own entertainment in Burbuda.
There are only two hotels open at the moment on the island of Barbuda; the membership only and indeed very private Coco Point Lodge and the Lighthouse Bay Resort, more recently opened. There are several small guest houses in the village, ranging from single rooms to self-catering cottages.
The population of 1500 live in the village of Codrington. Village life is unaffected by tourism in Barbuda and if you are a guest here you will soon be part of the social life of the local people. Barbudans are helpful and friendly people and welcome visitors to their island.
Barbuda, 15 miles long and 8 miles wide, is mostly very rocky and flat. Much of the island is covered in bush and there are unmarked roads and tracks to the beaches. It is possible to cycle almost as easily as driving, as speed is of no importance here.
The bush hides all kinds of wildlife, including deer and boar, land turtles and guinea fowl, and the occasional wild cat. There are feral cattle, horses, and donkeys wandering about and in the village sheep and goats roam freely, returning to their pens at night. There are several salt ponds where it is possible to see a great variety of bird life, and in the lagoon the most spectacular of all the birds – the rare Magnificent Frigate Bird has a colony of approximately 2000 birds, one of the largest colonies in the world.
Barbuda is a haven for birdwatchers who come to see the frigate birds but can also expect to see many other rare species including ospreys, whistling ducks, tropic birds and the Barbuda Warbler, known locally as the Christmas Bird, and the only one of its kind in the world.
At the start of 2009, abcNews.com featured Barbuda in the Weekend Window slot on their Good Morning America programme. The video features Senator Mackenzie Frank, Jackie Beazer-Joseph, and Calvin Gore, guide at the Frigate Bird sanctuary. A full transcript of the video is available, and a selection of pictures from around the island too.
holiday in barbuda
It is difficult to find information about holidays on Barbuda, this is because there is very little tourism. Barbuda will not be offered as part of a package except perhaps as a day trip. If you want to stay on Barbuda you will find most of the information you need here and by contacting guest houses and hotels direct you should find what you need to know.
You can book your flights as an independent traveller and there are several flights a week from the US and UK that go to Antigua. If you need more advice contact us and we will be happy to help you plan your stay.
caribbean guide books
Once you have got here, you’ll need to find your way around. There are many books about the Caribbean in general, and a few include information about Barbuda.
how to get here
by plane
There are no international flights to Barbuda, visitors must travel to the sister island of Antigua first. A number of international carriers from the US, the UK and the Caribbean have flights to Antigua. In most cases you would need to stay at least one night in Antigua unless you can afford to charter a flight which is sometimes cost effective if there are five or more people with a lot of luggage, and a plane available.
SVG airlines (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) are the current carrier, tel: +1-(268)-562-7183. The ticket price as at March 2011 is EC$253 return. This is approximately US$96.
Scheduled daily flights leave from from the V.C. Bird International Airport on Antigua to go to Barbuda:
Antigua
- Morning
-
- 1st flight: Departure time 7:45
- 2nd flight: Departure time: 8:45
- Afternoon
-
- Departure time: 5:15
Barbuda
- Morning
-
- 1st flight: Departure time 8:15
- 2nd flight: Departure time 9:15
- Afternoon
-
- Departure time: 5:45
by boat
The ferry is sometimes preferred by Barbudans because of the capacity to carry shopping and luggage on board.
barbuda express
The Barbuda Express is the ferry service between Barbuda and Antigua and it leaves from the centre of St. Johns, while small cargo boats make the return trip to Antigua twice a week.
For Reservations & Tours call (268)-560-7989, or e-mail barbudaexpress@yahoo.com. For an up-to-date schedule visit the Barbuda Express web site at www.antiguaferries.com.
cargo and container freight
Other village supplies get to Barbuda on small cargo boats that make the return trip to Antigua twice a week usually leaving on Friday and one other day, depending on the weather. Ocean Venture Freight Services can be contacted on (+1) 773-2699, 720-6046 or 764-0649.