March 16, 2024
Snorkeling with the turtles are popular with underwater explorers and nature travelers Photo Credit UltraVilla

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA INVITES NATURE TRAVELERS TO  SWIM WITH THE TURTLES

Turtle Watching Is Popular with Adventure Seekers Visiting Antigua and Barbuda 
St. John’s, Antigua JULY 2022:  Coveted by nature travelers and underwater explorers,  swimming with turtles year-round and spotting nesting sea turtles waddling onto the beach from June to Oct. are environmentally-friendly activities with a big thumbs up from conservationists and turtle lovers.  Keep your eyes open to see the many species on the twin islands including  Green turtles, Hawksbill turtles, and Leatherback turtles.   A turtle’s playground, tour operators, and resorts offer excursions like scuba and diving trips to see the large creatures up-close-and-personal. https://visitantiguabarbuda.com/
Antigua and Barbuda welcome underwater explorers to get up-close-and-personal with Sea turtles Photo Credit Antigua Observer

Galleon Beach

This beach is the perfect spot to swim with turtles.  On the southern tip of the island and accessible only by car or water taxi, the clear water is where you’ll find families of swimming Hawksbill turtles. Tours run all year round, with guides taking guests to the primo turtle hangout hotspots. Besides swimming parallel to sea turtles and many species of tropical fish, you’ll also get the chance to explore one of the best shipwrecks in Antigua.
Galleon Beach on the south coast is where nature lovers can swim with the turtles Photo Credit Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority

Long Island

A six-minute boat road from the mainland, Long Island can best be described as a secluded oasis. The island is as much a refuge for people as it is for turtles. Long Island is home to one of the world’s primary preserves for Hawksbill Sea Turtles called the Jumby Bay Hawksbill Turtle Project. The project focuses on researching the endangered Hawksbill Turtle and aims to ensure their survival and recovery. This project has made Jumby Bay a haven for sea turtles, so if you decide to take a dip in the crystal-clear waters surrounding Long Island, you’re almost guaranteed to swim alongside the sea turtles.
Stingray City Antigua
Stingray City Antigua is the ultimate animal-lovers excursion. Don’t be fooled by the name: Stingray City isn’t just for those wanting to swim with stingrays.  Tours take nature spotters to a small offshore island where you can observe and feed the  Giant Aldabra Tortoise;  one of the planet’s oldest species growing to 600 pounds. www.stingraycityantigua.com/
Stingray City offers tours to a small offshore island to see the giant Aldabra tortoises Photo Credit Stingray City Antigua

Turtle-friendly Resorts 

For turtle-enthusiasts, there are resorts with options to catch a glimpse of sea turtles. The Pineapple Beach Club is an eco-friendly all-inclusive resort that offers turtle-watching excursions and other flora and fauna island tours. www.pineapplebeachclub.com/   Galley Bay Resort and Spa is a tranquil resort that prioritizes sustainable tourism including the creation of a turtle sanctuary on the property.   www.galleybayresort.com/
About Antigua and Barbuda
Antigua (pronounced An-tee’ga) and Barbuda (Bar-byew’da) is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea.  The largest of the Leeward Islands, Antigua comprises 108-square miles with rich history and spectacular topography that provides a variety of popular sightseeing opportunities. Barbuda, Antigua’s smaller sister island lies 27 miles northeast of Antigua and is just a 15-minute plane ride away. Barbuda is known for its untouched 17-mile stretch of pink sand beach and as the home of the largest Frigate Bird Sanctuary in the Western Hemisphere.
Hawksbill turtles call Antigua and Barbuda home with nesting season from June to October Photo Credit Roddy Grimes-Graeme

Find information on Antigua & Barbuda at: www.visitantiguabarbuda.com or follow us on