Antigua With Kids – 15 Amazing Things To Do By A Local
What are the best things to do in Antigua with kids?
This is our top topic to talk about as a digital nomad family that lives in Antigua every winter. We’d go so far as to class ourselves and local experts on the subject of things to do with kids in Antigua! We’ve also spent a lot of time sailing around Antigua with our kids, and would encourage you to give it a go too if you have a chance!
Every year we make sure that we explore the island and find out all of the new fun things to see and do. We love it Antigua as it has so many beaches to visit and new experiences to try. This is what makes Antigua such a great island for kids to visit.
We are always up for new adventures and trying new experiences. To help you on your vacation we’ve listed our 15 of the best things to do in Antigua with kids.
A Quick Guide To Things To Do In Antigua With Kids
Best beaches for kids: Pigeon Beach & Galleon Beach
Amazing for active kids: Swimming with stingrays, zip lining through the rainforest, water sports & hiking to Shirley Heights.
A little bit of history for kids: Shirley Heights Lookout, St Johns town & Nelson’s Dockyard.
Perfect for younger kids: Paddling with pigs, checking out beaches, giant tortoises at Laviscount Island and Antigua Donkey Sanctuary.
1. Check Out The Beaches In Antigua With Kids
The island has a reputed 365 beaches to choose from, that’s a beach for every day of the year! With so many to choose from, you’ll rarely find the beaches to be too crowded. Don’t worry, there are also off the beaten track beaches for those looking for something a little more remote.
It’s great because every beach is open to the public, even the ones in front of the posh hotels. And most of them have parasols and loungers for hire. Lots of them have water sports on offer such as snorkelling gear and stand up paddle boards for hire.
A few of our family favourites are:
Pigeon Beach
It’s great as it has plenty of tree shade (trees that our kids love climbing), shallow water, as well as a small play area. It’s got two cafes to choose from (we can highly recommend the banana coladas from Bumpkins!) and plenty of on-beach parking.
You’ll find lots of other kids here for yours to play with if you need a break from entertaining them!
You just need to be aware that there isn’t a shop nearby, so you’ll need to make sure that you come with plenty of water and snacks!
Galleon Beach
It has some great snorkelling that you access from the beach at the far end. If you’re lucky then you’ll see some turtles from the shore (it’s one of our boys favourite turtle spots). You can hire snorkel gear and paddle boards from the beach.
Parking can be a little tricky so my advice is to get there early. There’s great restaurant on the beach called Loose Cannon (best burger on the island in our opinion!). If you book a table then you get free parking in the large car park near it.
Again, like Pigeon Beach, there aren’t any shops for water and snacks so make sure to bring plenty with you!
2. Swim With Stingrays In Antigua With Kids
This is one of our top things to do in Antigua with kids. You don’t need to be able to swim to go as you’re in shallow water.
Swimming with stingrays has been a massive hit with us since we first came to the island in 2022. Our toddler is obsessed with them, and kids of all ages can join this activity (under 5’s are free!)
We have an annual trip out to see the stingrays as it’s such a hit with us. If you’ve got very young kids then you may want to prep them before you go so they know what to expect. There’s a great Blippi episode with stingrays in.
What happens when you get to Stingray City?
When you get to Stingray City you’ll get a briefing on what to expect. Including safety advice such as the “stingray shuffle” to make sure you don’t stand on one. And you’ll be given your equipment which includes a buoyancy aid and snorkel gear.
A very comfortable speedboat will then drive you out to a floating pontoon where they park up to let you off. From the pontoon you can slip into the water and start to make use of the “stingray shuffle” that you just learnt.
Swimming With The Stingrays
When you’re in the water you’ll have lots of time to swim with the stingrays as the glide past you. There are also guides on hand with buckets of squid so that you can also have a go at feeding them. Watch you don’t get your fingers sucked in……which happened to our friend once!
The stingrays are beautiful to watch as they gracefully glide around right next to you! With your snorkelling gear on you can swim along with them.
You can also have a chance to hold one, which is an amazing experience. Your guide will explain to you how to hold them carefully and keep them in the water (it’s important that they stay wet).
Interesting fact for you – the rope you see is to keep you in and stop YOU from wandering off. It’s not, as some people think, to keep the stingrays in, haha! The stingrays are free to come and go as they please. They come in at set times because they know they’ll get fed!
Top tip from a local: The best months to go are March and April. At other times there can be some small waves which aren’t ideal for smaller kids.
3. Go Snorkelling Or Scuba Diving In Antigua With Kids
Another big hit on our list of things to do with kids in Antigua is snorkelling! Lots of the beaches have calm and shallow waters which is perfect for teaching kids of all ages to snorkel. Cameron has been snorkelling in Antigua since he was two years old.
There are some fantastic beaches that have snorkelling spots nearby and you can get to them simply by walking into the water. A few of our top choices are:
- Galleon Bay – there are shipwrecks at the far end by the Pillars of Hercules.
- Long Bay Beach – a shallow reef that you can swim to from the beach on the right-hand side.
- Deep Bay – a shipwreck that you can swim to.
There are lots of fantastic spots only really accessible by boat in the north of the island. These include Great Bird Island and Cades Reef. Lots of boat tour operators offer these as part of their experience. We’d recommend Adventure Antigua – Eli’s Original Eco Tour.
If there are two of you, then one could scuba dive whilst the other can take the kids snorkelling. If you want to combine snorkelling and scuba diving, which we have done before, then we highly recommend heading out with Soul Immersions Dive Centre. The top spots we’ve been to with them are Pillars of Hercules and Windward. We saw rays and turtles both times!
4. Try Out Some Water Sports
No visit to Antigua would be the same without giving some water sports a go. Lots of the resorts include free water sports as part of their all-inclusive offering. We’ve taken a Hobbie Cat out at Blue Waters before which was lots of fun!
With so much on offer, I’ve broken it down into the main four water sports that you’ll find on the island.
Stand Up Paddle Boarding and Kayaking
If you want to have a paddle and splash around then most beaches have paddle boards and kayaks for hire. If you’re staying in an all-inclusive resort then it’s likely that they will have them there too.
For the more adventurous there are some great tours on the island that take you kayaking to some fantastic snorkelling spots. One that we’d recommend is South Coast Horizons!
Sailing
As I mentioned before, if you’re staying at a resort that has dinghy sailing boats then this is a great time to give it a go! As avid sailors ourselves and with Carl being a yacht captain, sailing is one of our favourite things to do.
If you want to give dinghy sailing a go and don’t have them where you are staying, then The National Sailing Academy hires out dinghies and offers beginner courses. We go there with both of our kids as we’re trying to teach them to sail!
Other options for sailing are to use a tour or charter company and try out yacht sailing. Some of the tours are more orientated to you relaxing onboard whilst they’re sailing the boat for you. However, if you’re like us and looking for something a bit more “hands-on on” then a day charter might be for you.
Most of the charter companies can be found around the English Harbour area. We’ve tried (and enjoyed) sailing with On Deck, they offer charters starting from half-day local trips through to 7-day island adventures.
Kite Surfing
Our son is obsessed with learning to kite surf since he went out to Green Island with us. It’s further fuelled by his grandparents living on the beach in the UK near a major kitesurfing spot called Hill Head.
If you’re looking to learn to kite surf or wing foil then 40Knots Kitesurfing School is located on the North Shore of Green Island. They are happy to teach children and have a special programme just for kids. Our eldest is just 3 years old, however, we’ve started him already on a power kite which he loves to do!
Another option is to head to Jabberwock and there is a school there called Kitesurf Antigua. It’s easier to get to as it’s on the main island and there’s plenty of parking. Just remember to bring water and snacks as there isn’t a shop nearby.
5. Dance The Evening Away at Shirley Heights Lookout
The party kicks off every Thursday and Sunday from 4 pm at Shirley Heights Lookout. This is a fabulous evening out that will deliver a fun dash of Caribbean flavour to your stay. It’s a MUST on everyone’s list (with or without kids!) when they visit Antigua.
To start with there’s a local steel band that plays as you arrive, our kids love to dance to it. You can take in the view and maybe have a rum punch or two. Watch out, the punch is very strong and has been known to “make” even non-dancers want to dance, haha!
The view from the lookout is incredible, it’s got to be the best on the island. You can look out over Nelson’s Dockyard and when the sunsets the sky lights up a host of wonderful colours. Have your camera ready!
Once the sun has set, the band come on playing an eclectic mix of Caribbean music and international pop tunes. Our kids really enjoy the dancing and you’ll see lots of families having a wonderful time on the dance floor. There are even clackers and musical instruments you can buy to play along to the music with.
Top tip from a local: Order your food earlier rather than later so you don’t have to wait in a long queue for food – no one likes hangry kids! After sunset, the queue for food tokens becomes very long. We order ours with our first round of drinks.
6. Fly Through The Rainforest On A Zip Line
If your kids are adventurous and love a little adrenaline then zip lining through the rainforest could be just what you need. They’ll take children from four years old and upwards. Our three-year-old can’t wait until he’s big enough.
Antigua Rainforest Zipline Tours can be found along Fig Drive. The drive along Fig Drive itself is stunning and one of the coolest parts of getting to the zip lines.
If you are travelling with little kids in Antigua and want to give this a go then they’ll need to make sure that your child fits the harness. And if they’re under 5 years old then they’ll need to ride the zip line with one of the park rangers.
There are 12 zip lines and an aerial challenge course. They sell different tour packages ranging starting from 6 zip lines only which they recommend as a good starting point for those of us with kids. It’s ACCT authorised, meaning it’s passed standards in installation, operation and inspection
We’ve been before as adults (without kids) and it is an amazing experience to fly through the rainforest. The scenery is beautiful to look at and the adrenaline kicks in having you whoop as you fly!
After you finish you can enjoy a drink on the verandah and watch other people zipping along the lines.
7. Meet The Local Donkeys In Antigua With Kids
Antigua’s Donkey Sanctuary, operated by Antigua & Barbuda Humane Society, currently shelters over 150 friendly donkeys.
It’s a great activity to do with kids in Antigua as not only do they get to brush the donkey but you’re also supporting a local charity at the same time. Entrance to see the animals is via a donation box in the gift shop. In exchange for your donation, they’ll give you a brush to stroke the donkeys with.
We enjoy visiting because you can learn the names of the donkeys (they each wear a named collar). And you can check out the information boards to learn more about their story and how they ended up at the sanctuary.
Before you leave you can stop in the gift shop and buy a t-shirt or sponsor a donkey to help support their work. Did you know that US$30 can feed a donkey for a year!
Top tip from a local: It’s very centrally located, so it’s worth checking out as part of a day out. We usually pop in to say hi to the donkeys on our way to Half Moon Bay or Stingray City.
8. Take A Boat Trip Around The Island
There’s no better way, in our minds, of getting a feeling for Antigua than by taking a boat tour around the island. It’s a great way to some pretty amazing reefs and beaches that you just can’t reach by car.
Most boat tours come with an option to snorkel. The tours are all slightly unique in their own way – some are sailboats, others are high speed and some are eco-orientated. There are also party boats if you fancy a bit more energy and rum punch in your tour!
Adventure Antigua offers a great selection of fast boat tours. Their Xtreme Circumnav is great as it includes Stingray City, Nelsons Dockyard & snorkelling at Pillars of Hercules.
If you’re keen to have a ride on a sailboat then Wadalicats makes a great choice.
9. Eat Ice Cream at Sweet-T’s
How has an ice cream parlour made it onto our list? I’ll tell you why – they have really delicious ice cream plus they have a play area on site for little kids. Plus, who doesn’t want to eat at least one ice cream a day when you’re visiting Antigua?
10. Visit Devil’s Bridge
If you’ve hired a car during your stay then it’s well worth taking an hour out of your day to see Devil’s Bridge. Your first question before you visit might be, is it an actual bridge? Yes it is! It is a natural curved arch carved out by the sea over thousands of years.
It was formed as part of the Antigua formation, a geological division of the flat north-eastern part of Antigua. The bridge developed when a soft part of the limestone was eroded by the action of Atlantic breakers over countless centuries.
Waves continue to break over the arch forcing water out through the naturally occurring blow holes below.
The reason that we love going to Devil’s Bridge Antigua is to go to the Antigua and Barbuda International Kite Festival. It happens every year on Easter Monday and is free to visit.
For the festival, they tether massive kites to the ground in all shapes and sizes. It’s a great day out for kids of all ages as there are lots of activities and food stalls there. Be sure to arrive there early as it does get busy and parking spaces soon fill up.
11. Watch A Cricket Match In Antigua With Kids
This is a new one on our regular list of things to do with kids in Antigua. But wow, was it a winner! Watching cricket in Antigua is an experience that is much more than the game itself.
Sir Vivian Richards Stadium was built in 2007 and can hold up to 10,000 spectators. The stadium is named after former West Indies cricket captain Viv Richards
There’s lots of loud music and singing (think steel bands and drummers). People wearing fancy dress, yes we saw some carnival outfits. Then add in an impromptu game of spectator cricket on the mounds and then you’re watching cricket the Antiguan way!
If you happen to be on the island when there is a match then it’s a fantastic experience for all of the family. Fixtures and ticket information are available here.
Top tip from a local: The best tickets to get are ones on the mound – there’s usually plenty of shade there all day long and space for kids to roam free. Alongside the mounds are lots of local food stalls offering a wide variety of food and drinks.
12. Learn About Historical Nelson’s Dockyard
A must-do stop on any island tour is a visit to Nelson’s Dockyard.
Nestled in English Harbour this dockyard was named after Horacio Nelson who lived there before he won the battle of Trafalgar. It’s a great chance for kids to learn about the local history and it’s still in use today.
There’s a museum, shops and many places to choose from to have lunch. We love nothing more than eating our lunch and people-watching as there are lots of yachts at the dock coming and going to keep you entertained. It’s also the end of the Talisker Atlantic Rowing Challenge so if you hear the yacht horns go off they might be welcoming a crew into shore.
There are often events at the dockyard such as Antigua Sailing Week at the end of April.
It’s part of Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, with over 12 miles of nature trails which we often hike with our kids. One of the best (and shorter ones), is the Middle Ground trail which takes you out to the fort and long to Pigeon Beach. Perfect for a quick dip if you’re feeling hot!
13. Explore St John’s In Antigua With Kids
St John’s is the colourful coastal capital of Antigua. It’s a lively place to spend a couple of hours taking in the history of the docks along with a spot of shopping. We tend to head there with the boys, have a wander and finish off with an ice cream.
Wandering around the dock area and people-watching is so much fun. It’s super cool hearing what our kids spot and see when we’re there.
To begin with, you’ll probably want to start your walk around Heritage Quay. It’s the brightly coloured main shopping street, and you’ll usually see at least one cruise docked at the end.
Then round the corner you’ll find Redcliffe Quay which is also brightly coloured and hundreds of years old. Our favourite ice cream place, Fred’s Belgian Waffles can be found there.
14. Paddle With Pigs
Yes, you read that right. If you’ve been to the Bahamas then you’ll know all about Pig Island, and now Antigua has its very own pig beach!
One of the things that you can do here on the island is paddle with pigs. Pig’s Paradise bring their little piglets to Seaforth Beach where you have a chance to swim with the pigs and bottle feed them their milk.
It’s a quirky idea if you’re looking for something totally different to try out when you’re visiting the island!
15. Laviscount Island Giant Tortoises
This incredible island is so much fun to visit with kids in Antigua. It’s near to Stingray City and it is home to hundreds of local tortoises. What really brings people to Laviscount Island is the chance to feed the Giant Tortoises. Which live there as part of a breeding programme.
We had such a fun hour there then we visited and combined it with a visit to see the stingrays. You can choose to spend the whole day there, however, there probably isn’t enough to keep kids amused for a full day.
Why Visit Antigua With Kids?
Why not? We really cannot think of one good reason not to visit Antigua with kids. With so much on offer, there’s something for everyone, and that’s kids included.
Sun, sea, sand, and (if you ask our toddler), turtles are some of the many reasons to visit Antigua with kids. Having spent more than 12 months over the last 3 years living on the island, we can happily say that Antigua is an incredible place to explore and enjoy as a family.
If you’re visiting with a baby then you might want to check out our baby-specific post here.
Here are some of our top reasons to visit Antigua with kids:
🏝️There’s plenty of sunshine all year round so no need to pack wet weather gear
🏝️ The water is warm so you can leave your wetsuits at home, even babies won’t find the water cold
🏝️ There are lots of kids friendly beaches to visit
🏝️ You can snorkel with turtles (our toddlers favourite)
🏝️ The food is fantastic with plenty of kid friendly options available
🏝️ You’re surrounded by nature, our kids love to watch the lizards, grasshoppers and birds and more
🏝️ The locals love children and it’s super family friendly
🏝️ There are activities for all ages, even our baby has been to Stingray City!
🏝️ Lots of the resorts have kids clubs to help keep them entertained
🏝️ And the list goes on…….
We love it out here and can’t think of a better place to spend a winter vacation.
Where To Stay In Antigua With Kids
There are lots of cool places to stay in Antigua with kids. The two that we really recommend are Carlisle Bay and St James Club.
They both have fantastic kids’ clubs, lots of water sports equipment and beautiful beaches to enjoy. They’re also both all-inclusive with great food options available
FAQ’s
When is the best month to visit Antigua?
December is the best month, in our opinion, as it’s Christmas and lots of extra events happen during December. However, this does make it a more expensive month to visit the island as there tend to be a lot more visitors!
Is Antigua safe to visit with kids?
Yes! We’ve spent the last 3 winters living to Antigua with our kids and we’ve never had any issues or problems. In fact, it’s one of the safest islands in the Caribbean!
What is the best way to travel around Antigua with kids?
We have a car out in Antigua as it’s a lot easier to get around and to carry all of the things that you need when you have kids. If you can, then we’d recommend getting a car rental for the extra flexibility. However, there are also lots of fun tours that you can take if you don’t want to have a rental car.
Where to stay in Antigua with kids?
There are 8 all inclusive resorts for families in Antigua. Each one has a fantastic selection of facilities in offer to suit different families and their needs. Our favourite is St. James Club Antigua.
Final Thoughts on Best Things To Do In Antigua With Kids
We absolutely love it here! There are so many cool things to do with kids in Antigua.
Whether you’re after a choice of beaches, history or outdoor activities – the island has it all. And with tonnes of local Caribbean character on offer, it feels like more than just a vacation, it’s an experience.
