Antigua

Antigua is one of the most entrancing Caribbean isles, a place where sugar mills dot the landscape, where the British heritage is immense and smart yachts bob in secluded harbours.  Antigua also boasts an incredible 365 beaches — one for every day of the year.

The island is circled by little bays lined with tree-covered hills. Yachts are everywhere and with the island small enough to sail around in a day, this is a great place to charter or hire one. Antigua Sailing Week in late April is rated one of the world’s top three regattas. You can even sail across to sister island Barbuda and its Frigate Bird Sanctuary. There are also deep-sea fishing charters (catch large tuna and marlin) and speedboat trips. Antigua also has beautiful coral reefs that are wonderful to dive or snorkel. Another experience is to swim with the fish at Stingray City, a special stingray reserve.

Hire a car and head up to the old lookout point of Shirley Heights, visit Betty’s Hope Sugar Plantation, dating back to the 1670s, and take Fig Tree Drive from the central plain up into the volcanic hills, passing through rainforest and banana, coconut and mango groves before dropping down to the coast.

The capital, St John’s, is dominated by the white baroquetowers of St John’s Cathedral. There’s a farmers’ market and plenty of shops and boutiques. You might also catch a cricket match at Antigua Recreation Ground — Antigua is passionate about the game and produced names such as Sir Vivian Richards.

Other attractions include off-road Land Rover adventures, day-long kayak tours, helicopter flights, mountain biking and catamaran cruises.

On the unspoilt east coast, is Devil’s Bridge National Park, home to a stunning rock formation where waves spurt though a natural blowhole.

Nightlife is laid-back and fun. One of the high points — literally — is the Sunday party at Shirley Heights, with barbecue, rum punch and steel bands as the sun sets over English Harbour. Meanwhile, the biggest party of all is the 10-day carnival from late July to early August.

— The Daily Telegraph