bank where you can change your money when you arrive.
Barbuda is part of a three-island state with Antigua and Redonda in the northeastern Caribbean. In Barbuda you will see an island that is unspoilt by tourism. It is renowned for its beaches which are natural, sprinkled with pink sand, and miles long. Return to the home page for another look at Low Bay.
Click here for a satellite view of Barbuda taken from the Google Earth software.
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.
The population of 1500 live in the village of Codrington. There are only four hotels on the island; the exclusive and expensive K Club where Princess Diana spent several of her holidays; the membership only very private Coco Point Lodge; the secluded North Beach; and The Beach House, recently opened. There are several small guest houses in the village, ranging from single rooms to self-catering cottages.
Village life is unaffected by tourism 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.
Here we offer information about reaching Barbuda by
plane or
boat, and about a
bank where you can change your money when you arrive.
There are no international flights to Barbuda; the international visitor has to travel to the sister island of Antigua first. A number of international carriers from North America, UK, and the Caribbean have flights to Antigua. Carib Aviation is the only airline to fly to Barbuda; LIAT no longer has flights.
Carib Aviation has two scheduled daily flights from the V C Bird International Airport. At present (1 May 2004) the approximate times of the daily flights are given below. Remember that these times are subject to change at short notice. The plane is a DHC-6 Twin Otter with a seating capacity of 19 people.
| airport | check-in time | departure | arrival |
|---|---|---|---|
| from Antigua to Barbuda | 7.00 am | 8.00 am | 8.15 am |
| 4.00 pm | 5.00 pm | 5.15 pm | |
| from Barbuda to Antigua | 7.00 am | 8.25 am | 8.40 pm |
| 4.00 pm | 5.25 pm | 5.40 pm |
The tickets can be booked through travel agents in Antigua or at the Carib Aviation desk at the international airport. The fare is EC$193 (US$74) return. The web designer has tried to buy these tickets in the UK without success.
Carib Aviation is unable to join the web site at the moment. However, they can be contacted at 268 462 3147; Carib personnel prefer to receive phone calls to email.
The Barbuda Express has started a ferry service between Barbuda and Antigua, while small cargo boats make the return trip to Antigua twice a week.
In October 2004 the Barbuda Express started a ferry service between Barbuda and Antigua with a catamaran. The catamaran makes the trip seven days a week. For an up-to-date schedule visit the Barbuda Express web site at www.antiguaferries.com or contact Nathalie Nedd in Barbuda on 268 460 0059.
Once you have arrived in Barbuda you will be able to complete local and international transactions at the Antigua Commercial Bank near Codrington Airport. The bank opens on Mondays from 9 am to 4 pm, on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8 am to 4 pm, and on Fridays from 8 am to 3 pm. The bank closes on public holidays.