World Antigua And Barbuda Codrington

Back on Caribbean Time

Beach - The Definitive Example Dec 6, 2008

When most people think of the Caribbean they think of beaches - pure white sand, swaying palm trees, turquoise waters.

The reality is that you have to look around to find a great beach. Saba, for instance, has only one beach, which is known as the "disappearing beach" since it does just that. Then there's Orient Beach on St Martin - which might be nice if you could just screen out the hordes of Cruise Ship visitors, the tacky souvenir shacks, the tasteless beach bars, and the topless geezers. Yep - Geezers should not go topless. It is just wrong.

I have been to fine beaches on Puerto Rico, St Barth's, St Martin, and Antigua. But they are all a bit disappointing if your reference point is those posters on the Travel Agency's walls.

Then there's Barbuda. The sister island of Antigua has fewer than 2000 inhabitants and very little development. The highest point on the island is just a few meters. What is does have is one magnificent beach that stretches for miles down its western edge. The sand is white, soft, and clean; the water is warm and azure; the palms may be a bit sparse, but what a great beach!

May you find your beach, wherever that turns out to be.