Antigua and Barbuda - The places of your holidays on a sailing yacht and catamaran

Antigua and Barbuda are two islands located in the Caribbean Sea. Together with other minor islands, such as Green, Guiana Island, Long Island and Redonda, they form an island country of Central America.

This archipelago boasts a flat land, where the highest peak is represented by the Boggy Peak in Antigua, that only reaches 399 meters above sea level. The weather is characterized by tropical climate, with sunny days during which it is possible to have downpours or short storms.

These islands were discovered by Cristopher Columbus in 1493. He started the colonization process, that was followed by the English occupation, starting from 1632. The English developed an economy based on the plantations of tobacco and sugar, and imposed their language. Only on November 1, 1981 could Antigua and Barbuda declare independence from the United Kingdom.

Nowadays, the agricoltural production does not represent the main economical resource of the country any more. Indeed, the main sector of its economy is tourism, accounting for over half of the gross domestic product. Tourism is higly developed because the country hosts several luxury resorts, but it also boasts natural beauties, amazing landscapes and a rich historical and cultural heritage.

The landscapes of Antigua and Barbuda are characterized by lush and breath-taking vegetation. The rain forests feature endemic trees, such as gum trees, mahogany, lianas and several colourful flowers. Moreover, the skies are studded by many and many different species of multi-coloured birds, while sea bottoms, extremely colorful and suitable for scuba diving, are rich in beautiful tropical fish. Finally, the pictoresque beaches provide heavenly seascapes, thanks to their long sweeps of white sand lapped by a crystal-clear sea, where it is possible to practice every kind of water sports.

Worth visiting are the Cathedral of St. John's built in 1683; the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda, where it is possible to admire artifacts belonging to the pre-historic age and the open-air market of St. John's in order to breathe in the most genuine local atmosphere.