Galleon Beach

Arching around Freeman’s Bay on Antigua’s folding southern coast, Galleon Beach is relatively well protected from rough seas by the Pillars of Hercules rock formation and the peninsula of land that stretches out between English Harbour and Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. It is named after the ships that used to moor here – evident by the huge rusting anchor that lies in the shallows in the middle of the beach.

Accessible by car and water taxi, Galleon Beach is made up of soft yellow sand. Popular with visitors seeking out private rental accommodation, rock star Eric Clapton has a home not far away.

The sands of Galleon Beach slip into warm blue waters well-known locally for their snorkelling, with hawksbill turtles spotted fairly regularly on the reef just offshore.

Other water sports available include kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. There are also two short hikes mapped out, the Jones Valley Trail and the Lookout Trail, both of which take in Shirley Heights viewpoint.

There’s a bar-restaurant for refreshments and sun lounger rentals too.