a barbudaful welcome

Two Foot Bay on the Atlantic coast(Chris Doyle)Pure sea, pure sand

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.

View a map or aerial photos of the island.

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. 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.

There are only two hotels on the island that are open at the moment; the membership only, very private Coco Point Lodge and Lighthouse Bay Resort, more recently opened. There are several small guest houses in the village, ranging from single rooms to self-catering cottages.

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.

a Barbudan donkey (Claire Frank) a Barbudan goat (Fiona Jack) Wild horses grazing in the scrub (Claire Frank)

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.

a hummingbied on its nest (Claire Frank) the rare and indigenous Barbuda Warbler (Claire Frank) Frigate birds roosting (Claire Frank)

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.