Details About Barbuda

Attractions

• Barbuda is one of the best beach destinations in the Caribbean; it has unspoilt beaches on all sides of the island. Usually you will be alone on the beach, except on the hotel beaches. Hotel beaches are open to all visitors as long as non-guests keep to the waterline.
• One of the main tourist attractions is the Magnificent Frigate Bird Sanctuary, situated in the Codrington Lagoon. It is a forty-minute boat ride and is a spectacular sight even for non-bird watchers. In the mating season from September to April this rare bird displays a huge red breast to attract a female mate and they lay one egg on a nest, built precariously on the mangrove. These birds cannot walk or swim; they soar high in the clouds and live solely on fish, which they often steal from other birds, giving them their local name Man'o'war. They have few predators here and this nesting site is one of the most important in the world for these endangered birds.
• At Two Foot Bay and in other areas of the island there are huge caves to explore. In one are ancient cave drawings and in others it is possible to climb right through to the top of the Highlands and see for miles. Other caves go underground and underwater and require expert knowledge to explore them. Darby Cave is an extraordinary example of a sink hole and popular with visitors. It takes approximately 45 minutes to walk there from Highland House.

Adventures

• Around the coast of Barbuda there are many wrecks from different periods of the island's history. There are experienced divers on the island who can guide visitors to the wrecks and it is possible to hire scuba diving equipment. Wrecks are often in dangerous water and it is important to seek local advice before attempting to explore them.
• As there are many fishermen and women on the island it is always possible to go fishing, either out at sea or in the calm lagoon water. Many people have boats and will take visitors for fishing trips, bringing home barracuda, shark, tuna, and other types of local fish. Catching lobster is also relatively easy as they are a specialty of the island and can be caught by hand or in specially crafted fish pots.

Shopping

There are several variety stores selling all kinds of essential household items and clothes, many of them have gifts and T-shirts. There is a small shop where local handicrafts are for sale to visitors and an Artcafe where visitors are welcome to read information about the island, buy a map, or seek advice. This is the residence of the artist, Claire Frank, who specialises in hand-painted silk pictures and cards.

Currency

Official currency is the Eastern Caribbean (EC) dollar which is fixed to the US dollar.