Antigua is world-famous for its 365 beaches – one for every day of the year. Barbuda may not offer a new beach for each day, but its beaches are some of the best in the world and where often, the only footprints found are your own. On the Caribbean side, expect swaying coconut trees and spectacular beaches fringed with coral reefs teeming with kaleidoscopic sea life. On its wilder Atlantic side, you will discover deserted beaches littered with picturesque driftwood and shells, with rolling waves crashing onto the shore.
Most of the beaches have stunning powdery-soft white sands, but it is the striking pink-sand beaches that make Barbuda stand out from the crowd.
Most of the beaches have stunning powdery-soft white sands, but it is the striking pink-sand beaches that make Barbuda stand out from the crowd. The famous eleven-mile-long beach and the aptly named Pink Beach aren’t just idyllic paradises but are jaw-droppingly striking due to the pink tinge to the shoreline. The rosy hue isn’t always visible, however, as it comes from tiny shells deposited on the shoreline by surging waves, which, like everything in nature, is unpredictable. So, if you want to see this incredible phenomenon, you are best to come between October and January when the colour is at its deepest.
For a woman who had the whole world at her feet, it is telling that Barbuda was Princess Diana’s favourite hideaway. Escaping the chaos of her daily life, she found the solace and privacy she craved on this serene island, away from the world’s press and prying eyes. In 2011, to mark what would have been the late princess’s 50th birthday, the breathtaking Coco Point Beach and Access Beach were renamed Princess Diana Beach. This ultra-secluded, crescent-shaped beach, located in the far south of the island, has the whitest of white sand and the most picture-perfect turquoise seas.
For a woman who had the whole world at her feet, it is telling that Barbuda was Princess Diana’s favourite hideaway.
Other beaches on the island cater for the more adventurous. Palmetto Point’s wind and waves make it ideal for surfing aficionados, whilst Low Bay draws kite surfers in the know. After relaxing and swimming at the beautiful Two Foot Bay, you can climb up to explore the caves adorned with prehistoric petroglyphs drawn by the Arawaks or Siboney, the ancient inhabitants of the islands.
Some beaches are perfect for snorkelling among the turtles and brightly coloured marine life in the offshore vibrant coral reefs. Others are ideal for idling away the hours while nature-watching. For beachcombers, the Atlantic side of the island is a mecca for discovering the ocean’s treasures that have washed up along the endless deserted coastline.
Barbuda and its beaches are not for anyone seeking organised tourist activities or nightlife, but for those who are interested in natural beauty, peace and serenity, Barbuda is the ultimate paradise.