Fort James Beach

A short distance west of St John’s Fort James Beach boasts a run of one kilometre of soft white sand. Situated on a relatively straight part of the Antiguan west coast, it faces directly out into the Caribbean Sea.

Locals often gather for a game of beach volleyball or cricket, while many foreign visitors arrive directly from the cruise ships mooring a St John’s cruise terminal. A broad expanse of gently sloping sand backed by native trees, it has places to eat and drink nestled at both ends, with shade provided by a mix of palms and umbrellas. Sun loungers are also available.

Although a busy beach, its length means it is rarely overcrowded. There is a good amount of parking, and other amenities include fresh-water showers for freshening up after a dip in the warm waves.

Water sports equipment, including stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and snorkelling gear can be hired from the Beachlimerz restaurant. The beach can be explored on horseback, while the surrounding away is accessible by Segway as well as on foot.