Christmas in Antigua!

Christmas is slowly but surely creeping up on us! The supermarkets are playing Christmas songs, town is becoming a mad shopping frenzy and the marina is filling up with decorated boats! 

Morris Bay, Antigua

One of the best things about being in the Caribbean for Christmas is having the option to have your Christmas turkey on the beach! With sand in your toes, salt in your hair and an amazing view of the bright blue seas. Or if you're on one of Horizon Yacht Charters boat then what better way than to anchor off a secluded bay and enjoy the peace and tranquility on your Christmas vacation! There's nothing better than the Christmas atmosphere here in Antigua. The sun is always shining, everyone is happy, and the sweet smells of roast Turkey are coming from almost every kitchen! 

If you plan to be here over the Christmas Festivities then there are plenty of options for you! Perhaps you're on a boat you've chartered from us at Horizon!? You could head over to English and Falmouth Harbor. Nelsons Dockyard marina is a great place to stay as you are in a beautiful secluded lagoon marina which offers all of the facilities you may need over the holidays. There are bars and restaurants just a 5/10 minute walk away! Shops and a beach all within reach. I know this year I will be a 'champagne party' in Falmouth Harbor on Christmas Day around 12 o'clock! It's family day this year so this is a great excuse to go and drink champagne with friends before heading home to eat LOTS of turkey with the family! (Hopefully some apple pie too.. is that a festive desert!?).  

Photo taken by Andre Phillip at Darkwood Beach

Christmas is also a perfect excuse to relax on the beach on your Christmas vacation whilst the sun goes down with a cool, refreshing cocktail in hand! There's normally a 'lime' somewhere that one of our friends has organized. This normally means a lot of inflatables floating around in the sea, packed out coolers and lots of food and music! The most popular beach option for us is Darkwood. The water is always crystal clear and the beach is big enough for the ball games! It is also the perfect spot to sit and watch the sun go down - we've even seen the famous green flash there a couple of times! The sand is perfect for making sandmen.. much warmer than making snowmen.. no gloves needed! Another perfect place would be in Jolly Harbor on the mile long, white sand beach. Perfect if you're on a boat because you can grab a mooring buoy in the marina, dinghy to shore and walk down to South Beach which is where you will find Castaways, the beach bar and restaurant. They always have fantastic music and the bar man Keiron is always making amazing cocktails! 

Castaways - Jolly Harbor, Antigua

Everyone loves giving presents at Christmas as much as opening them! Well, I know I do! St. Johns is Antiguas city and the best place to pick up that silver bracelet for your mum or that standard, 'T-shirt' for your Dad! St. Johns has the shops where you can get both of these things. One of the best jewelry shops is owned by an English lady who makes her own jewelry out of shells. She sells the perfect charm bracelets, earrings and necklaces along with pictures and cute little collectables. You will find Silver Chelles in Heritage Quay behind C&C's wine bar and opposite the delectable home-made ice cream shop (give that a go too it's delicious!). In the main part of Heritage quay is a Sunseekers where you can get that t-shirt for your Dad! They also do board shorts, flip flops and bikinis too as well as anything else you might need for the beach! Right next door there is a jewelry shop where you can get your Pandora Charms and the like! You can't go wrong with those ;) I would also definitely recommend nipping up to Makai too which is a lovely little swimwear shop. The sell big name brands such as San Lorenzo and KC. My favorite shop and definitely worth a look at.

Lone dolphin in Five Island Harbor

If you're on a sailing vacation in the Caribbean then Antigua is the perfect place for sailing and Christmas is the best time for it too! We will have the 'Christmas winds' which normally blow from the East at around 15-20 knots. Turtle spotting is one of the best things to do whilst you're sailing! On the odd, lucky occasion you may even spot dolphins. The last time we saw one was when we were sailing through Five Islands. He was just a dolphin on his own but he stayed with us for a long time! I'm sure this is also the same dolphin who comes past our villa in the mornings to eat the fish in the marina!..

I'm sure that if you're in the Caribbean for Christmas then you will have an amazing time no matter what you do! Enjoy those mince pies with sandy feet, salty hair and wonderful ocean views! Happy Christmas!

Morris Bay - Antigua