Barbuda

Barbuda is a flat Caribbean island north of Antigua with long stretches of white sand beaches and coral reefs along the coast. The only settlement, Codrington, sits beside a large lagoon on the western side of the island.

British settlers claimed the island in the 17th century and the Codrington family received a land lease for almost two centuries. The island joined Antigua in 1981 for independence as a single state.

Fishing families in Codrington sell their catch in the early morning directly from the beach under open skies. Many residents still practice the same boatbuilding methods their ancestors passed down through several generations.

A small plane or ferry from Antigua brings visitors to the island, with the crossing taking around one hour depending on weather conditions. Most accommodations are in or near Codrington and should be booked ahead.

The lagoon west of Codrington hosts thousands of frigate birds during breeding season, when males inflate their bright red throat pouches. Visitors can take shallow boats through mangrove channels to watch the birds up close.

Location: Antigua and Barbuda

Capital city: Codrington

Elevation above the sea: 122 m

Part of: Leeward Islands, Lesser Antilles, Windward Islands

Website: http://antigua-barbuda.org/Agbar01.htm

GPS coordinates: 17.64000,-61.81000

Latest update: December 12, 2025 23:04