Antigua and Barbuda Travel Guide

Introduction to Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a Caribbean island country, located in the Lessor Antilles Archipelago, about 17 degrees north of the equator. Most of its inhabitants are of West African descent and some are also of British or Portuguese descent. For more facts and general information about Antigua and Barbuda see the Wikipedia Introduction to Antigua and the Antigua, the CIA's Antigua and Barbuda World Fact Book and the BBC's Antigua and Barbuda Country Profile.

Antigua and Barbuda Visitor Information

For information about attractions, activities, events, lodging and dining in Antigua and Barbuda see the official Web site of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourist Office and the Antigua and Barbuda Government's Visitor Guide. For information about attractions and historic sites see the Web site of the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda.

Brief History of Antigua and Barbuda

First inhabitants were the Siboney who some believe settled in the islands as early as 2400 BC. Later the Arawaks arrived from Venezuela. The English began colonizing the islands 1932. In 1674, Sir Christopher Codrington established a large sugar estate on Antigua and he leased Barbuda to raise provisions for his plantation. Barbuda's only town - Codrington - is named after him. Antigua and Barbuda became an independent nation on November 1, 1981.

Facts About Antigua and Barbuda

- Capital: St John's, Antigua
- Population: About 85,000
- Official Language: English
- Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
- Largest Religion: Anglican
- Agriculture: cotton, pineapple, vegetables, livestock
- Visitors Per Year: about 240,000
- Popular Spectator Sport: Cricket
- Internet Country Code: AG
- Telephone Calling Code: +1-268
- Drives: on the left

Administrative Divisions and Largest Towns

The nation of Antigua and Barbuda is divided into six parishes, all on the island of Antigua, and two dependencies, the islands of Barbuda and Redonda. The six parishes, ordered by population from largest to smallest, with capital cities in parentheses, are Saint John (St. John's), Saint Paul (Falmouth), Saint Mary (Bolans), Saint George (Piggots), Saint Peter (Parham), and Saint Philip (Carlisle). The capital of the dependency of Barbuda is Codrington and the dependency of Redonda does not have a capitol town.

About Antigua Island

About Barbuda Island