Surfing in Antigua might not be the greatest in the Caribbean, but there are some neat left peelers on seriously gorgeous tropical beaches to score.
An introduction to surfing in Antigua
Like Barbados before it, the dual islands of Antigua and Barbuda are set out on the eastern edge of the Caribbean Sea. That gives them that all-important open ocean to the north and the west, which is where the swell will come from in the winter. Sadly, the geology of these white-sanded isles doesn’t really lend itself all that well to surfing, since many of the bays have a super-shallow drop off that cuts down sets to little more than a gurgle before they’re within striking distance of the shore.
That doesn’t happen ALL over the islands, though. About 6-8 surfable locations that are worth mentioning exist in all, most of them relying on windswells brought on by the SE trades in summer or – better yet, but rarer – winter groundswells from way up north. A lot of the time it will be a trade off between chasing mushburgers on pretty tropical sands or something better on jagged coral reef that’s often got a few cuts and bruises up its sleeve. The celeb here has to be the frontier break of Palmetto Point, a spinning point barrel that’s been in the spotlight because it might just disappear from the face of the Earth.
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in the Caribbean
Surfing in Antigua at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to surfing in Antigua?
Where is Antigua?
Antigua and Barbuda are just about as far northeast as you can go in the Caribbean before hitting the big, wide blue of the Atlantic Ocean. They’re officially a part of the Leeward islands, sat some 55 miles across the sea from St Kitts and Nevis and about 35 miles from Monserrat. Almost all travelers who come here arrive via the V.C. Bird International on the north side of Antigua – the largest and most populous of the two islands. Following hard-hitting Hurricane Irma in 2017, Barbuda remains largely deserted. The only way to get there is on a high-speed ferry from the main island, or in a helicopter transfer if you have the moolah to spare!
A guide to the Antigua surf spots
First, we’ll go through the various spots that adorn the northwest coast of Antigua island and then move south to see the waves that come when the SE trades blow in the summer months. Afterwards, we’ll hop across to largely unexplored Barbuda, the outlying isle of this two-island country, and it’s surprisingly AWESOME spot.
Lashings/Sand Haven
The spot known as Sand Haven would be a gem were it in the Dominican Republic, we’re certain about it. The beach faces straight on west-northwest into the top of the Atlantic. Sadly, this far out on the eastern end of the Caribbean Leewards, there’s a bit of a swell shadow cast by Anguilla and St Kitts. Still, there are some decent days in these parts, usually thanks to refracted NE swells that lose a lot of power as they bend through the neighbouring islands. It’s all sand underfoot apart from a fickle-as-hell left that peels off the point to the south, where it’s rockier.
Fort Barrington
There are a couple of golden days at the Fort Barrington headland directly east of St John. You can guarantee that the local crews will be on it like a cupcake if it happens because the wave is one of the longest and best lefts on the island. You’re looking at decent but mellow shoulders that peel for nearly 300 meters in all, right beneath the centuries-old fort. It’s a mix of sand reef bottom and the best conditions tend to be with NE winter swells.
Galley Bay
Intermediates and up on Galley Bay can get stuck into what are arguably the crème-de-la-crème of winter lefts here. They’re shallow as hell, so watch where you bail – the brain corals and whatnot below are just asking for iodine patches to be kept handy. The wave can be ever-so-slightly hollow and it’s quite fast when it all aligns. Look for SE-E offshores to find it at its best.
Turtle Bay
We’d say this is the best wave on the whole island. It 100% relies on SE trade windswells, which curve up through the south side of the Leewards to give hook-around sets that can bend off the headland that forms the western entrance to Deep Bay. As they do that, they’ll peel neatly into the inside of the beach to offer rides of 250 meters when it’s really working. The reef is real shallow here though, so watch where you lip out.
Half Moon Bay
Half Moon Bay also sucks in the E windswells that blow over the leeward side of Antigua come the summer months. Bigger days are best here since the sets need at least 8 foot to pass the reef and get curling into the main bay. They are prone to closeouts when they do that but there’s the occasional left that’s worth pursuing. The beach itself is a fine location – think a gorgeous arc of talcum-colored sand without a touch of development behind it save a rum bar or two.
Palmetto Point
There’s really only one wave worth mentioning on Barbuda and it’s the king of all the Antigua surfing spots and then some. Cue Palmetto Point, also known as Fuckallya (a moniker supposedly coined since there was pretty much NOTHING in the spot when the first surfers cruised through in back in 2001).
When pictures of the spinning barrel that curls into the point first emerged, people thought it was photoshopped. But it wasn’t and soon everyone and their dog wanted a piece. The secret finally broke when some of the initial trailblazers discovered that the spot was under threat from big-money developers looking to capitalize on cheap land grabs after the hurricane struck in 2017. They wanted to turn the whole point into a private beach for resort goers. Not good.
Legal undertakings are still going on, deciding as to whether this one will survive. But what’s certain is the quality of the break, which offers a fast and furious keg that runs in sections down the whole white-sand beach. Airs are very common and gettable, as are pits. Hurricane swells in the late summer seem to turn it on the best.
Where to stay when surfing in Antigua?
Antigua and Barbuda is now up there with the chicest spots in the Caribbean region. Hotels here tend to cost a pretty packet but will have the services to match – think infinity pools under the coconut palms and walking access to sugar-soft beaches. We’ve listed some that get you within striking distance of the Antigua surfing, because…well, because that’s what we’re all really here for, right?
St. James’s Club Resort – All Inclusive
Another all-inclusive icon of Antigua, the St. James’s Club Resort promises some serious frills: Four restaurants, six tennis courts, two private beaches. It’s unashamedly luxurious and the style of the suites is downright lovely – think a mix of Caribbean charms and colonial features. They organize windsurfing tours from the reception, so it’s certainly worth asking about surf trips. If not, Half Moon Bay is a little to the north and Turtle Bay is some 15 minutes’ drive to the west. You also get some half-decent left-right reef breaks that work on NW swells right infront of the hotel itself.
Hermitage Bay – All Inclusive
This one promises to give that full whack of Antigua and Barbuda luxury with good access to the peeling point and reef breaks of the western coast (Fort Barrington and Galley Bay are just down the road). You’ll have to peel yourself away from the stunning suites that mimic a top-quality Bali villa, though. Some even come with their very own private infinity pool perched on the jungle-dressed hillsides.
Summer Breeze
A charming little Caribbean villa with its own pool and cozy interiors, Summer Breeze can sleep up to five at one time. It’s also near to Fort Barrington’s left and other spots on the NW shoreline. We’d say it’s a good choice for families and couples who like their own space.
Step-by-step guide to planning your surfing in Antigua trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the surfing in Antigua…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp. Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Rent a car. If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step four: Enjoy!
When to surf in Antigua?
There’s no real best time to surf in Antigua and Barbuda. There’s always a chance you’ll be skunked here from day one to day departure. That’s just a risk you have to take to ride the clear blue waters of these parts. The most consistent days surely come courtesy of the trade windswells of May to August, but they don’t always set the place alight. Groundswells from the N-NE channel suffer due to the geography of the Caribbean but are the way to catch the north-shore lefts. The usually come in the opposite season of winter, from November to March.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
