Although every Sandals all-inclusive resort has tons of complimentary activities onsite, you’ll probably also want to explore what the area has to offer. That’s where Sandals excursions come in. They cost extra but are super easy to arrange through the resort.
You can book Sandals excursions online via the Sandals website after you’ve made your reservation, or once you get to the resort. If there’s something you really want to do, we recommend booking it in advance just to be safe.
But what excursions does Sandals offer? They are different at each Sandals resort. In this article we’ll discuss Sandals Antigua excursions, so read on to learn more.
Excursions at Sandals Grande Antigua
Antigua is one of the two major islands that make up the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda. This spectacular Caribbean paradise is very popular with honeymooners and beach lovers; it’s famous for having 365 beaches, so you could visit a different one every day for a year! Antigua also has a vibrant cultural scene and historic sites, so there’s plenty to do off the beach.
Since there are so many things to do near Sandals Grande Antigua, you’ll have a wide variety of excursions to choose from. They are all managed by Island Routes, but you book and pay through Sandals.
Sandals Antigua excursions include shopping, Jeep tours around Antigua’s top sites, ziplining in the rainforest, hiking, deep sea fishing, cultural tours, sunset cruises, horseback riding on the beach, and more.
Let’s take a look at some of the Sandals Antigua excursions in more detail.
Fort Barrington E-Bike Sightseeing
You’ll ride electric beach cruiser bikes around beautiful Antigua on an off-the-beaten path adventure, stopping to check out local historic and cultural sites such as national monuments, the old fort, and others.
Pillars of Hercules Hiking Tour
Immerse yourself in Antigua’s coastal scenery on this hiking tour, which takes you on Shirley Heights’ Lookout Trail past Galleon Beach and historic Nelson’s Dockyard, then the British naval occupation site and Mermaid Basin. You end at the amazing Pillars of Hercules, a limestone rock formation that has been carved by the waves into columns.
Laviscount and Hell’s Gate Island Tour
This boat tour takes you first to the small private island of Laviscount, a natural paradise with red mangroves, indigenous tortoises, Macaw parrots, and the rare Lesser Antillean Iguana. Here you’ll have an authentic Antiguan lunch and relax, then head to Hell’s Gate for snorkeling the gorgeous coral formations. You’ll also get to explore a rocky bridge, limestone caves, and a natural Jacuzzi.
Mount Obama Hiking
A more challenging Sandals Antigua excursion is this hike up Antigua’s highest mountain (1319 feet). Along the way you’ll experience beautiful nature like giant bamboo clusters and amazing views of St. Kitts and Montserrat.
Antigua Rainforest Zipline and Eco-Kayak Experience
For adventurous couples, head (in 4×4 Jeeps) into Antigua’s rain forest for ziplining hundreds of feet up in the air. Then continue to the southwest coast, where you’ll take a short boat ride through North Sound Marine Park. Once you reach the kayak boarding platform, a guide will take you kayaking through local mangroves, then to Great Bird Island for lunch, swimming, and snorkeling.
Historical Island Bike Ride and Sunset Experience
Bike along the coastline to sites like Mckinnons Salt Pond and the historic Fort James, learning about the island’s ecosystem and rich history. You’ll end at the perfect spot to watch the sun set over the ocean.
Deep Sea Sport Fishing
Couples who love to fish will enjoy this Sandals Antigua excursion. Head out into the ocean on a 31” Betram fishing boat and be taken to prime spots for Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, Blue Marlin, Tuna, and Sailfish.
Seafood Lunch Catamaran Cruise
For a relaxing excursion in Antigua, enjoy this catamaran cruise along the island’s coast. You will stop at a variety of beaches, then enjoy an incredible lunch of grilled lobster (when in season) and sparkling wine.
A Taste of Antigua
Foodies will love this Sandals Antigua excursion, which takes you across the island to learn about local history, culture, and architecture while enjoying samples of the unique Antiguan cuisine.
Antigua Buggy Explorer
Take this off-road Dune Buggy adventure through inland fields, swamps, and hills on to the lovely coastal spot of Batsy Wall. You’ll have amazing sea views and may be able to see Montserrat, St. Kitts, and Redonda. End at a hidden beach, where you can relax, swim, and enjoy light refreshments.
Shirley Heights Sunset Party
This romantic Sandals Antigua excursion takes you to Shirley Heights for panoramic island and sunset views. Dance to the rhythm of a steel drum band and enjoy local food and drink (not included).
Sunset Catamaran Cruise
One of the most popular Sandals Antigua excursions is this cruise along the island’s coast. Enjoy relaxing on the sundeck, tropical drinks and snacks, and Caribbean music as you watch the sun set over the Caribbean.
Sandals Antigua reviews mention the catamaran cruises as especially fun and romantic.
We did the Nicole’s Table cooking class, which was awesome. We also took the Antigua Safari and Stingray City tour, which was fun. After a 4×4 tour of the island and some historic sites, we had a Caribbean lunch at Betty’s Hope Plantation, then went via boat to Stingray City where you can pet and feed the stingrays, as well as swim and snorkel along the reef.
You can also go on excursions with local guide companies or through online vendors like Get Your Guide and Viator.
In between excursions, you’ll have lots of onsite Sandals Antigua activities to choose from. These include complimentary watersports like scuba diving, snorkeling, canoeing, kayaking, Hobie Cat sailing, windsurfing, and paddleboarding plus complimentary land activities like day and night tennis, beach volleyball, croquet, bocce ball, table tennis, pool, and board games.
Work out in the state-of-the-art fitness center and take exercise classes, or indulge at the spa (for an extra fee). And of course, you can lounge on the beautiful beach, relax by any of the pools, soak in a whirlpool, or enjoy tropical cocktails at a bar.
There’s also daily and nightly entertainment including live bands, a piano bar, beach parties, game nights, Carnival nights, talent nights, live shows, and charity casino nights.
Now that you’ve read all about Sandals Antigua excursions, what do you think? Are you ready to book your trip? Let us know in the comments! And if this doesn’t sound like the perfect Sandals resort for you, we have full reviews of every Sandals resort as well as articles like the best Sandals for golfing, best Sandals for snorkeling, best Sandals for honeymoons, and an overview of all the Sandals resorts.
He is an expert travel advisor and enthusiast. He has traveled extensively in the USA, Central America, South America, and Europe. He has visited every Sandals Resort and is one of a select few Diamond Elite members of the Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club.
Dan graduated from Johnson & Wales University with an associate degree in Culinary Arts. Later he graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies with a focus on people and culture.
