How are the beaches of Antigua compared to other Caribbean islands? Are they white, powdery sands with turquoise clear water? HOw is the snorkling? My fiance and I are getting married in the Caribbean next summer, and I am having a heck of a time trying to narrow it down to 2 islands (one for the wedding and one for the honeymoon.) Thanks so much!

stayed at jumby bay in november. beach is gorgeous and the water looks beautiful but visibility was 20ish feet; could be better at other times? but there's alot of critters if you can see them!

Thanks! Anyone else? I know there are a TON of beaches on Antigua, but how are they compared to the rest of the Caribbean?

Beaches in Antigua are right there among the top of Caribbean's beaches !We've stayed at Hawksbill resort which is on three beaches(one is the only clothing-optional beach of the island -gorgeous beach ! vast ,uncrowded ,very quiet-no beach bar , no music , secluded and romantic , -not tacky!) - spectacular beaches with beautiful , scenic surroundings , a very special location I must say- But we didn't care for the food and drinks at the hotel(bland and pricey).Also we found most of the staff are unfriendly.The guests are 99 percent Europeans -British Dutch ,French ,met some very nice people.

Antigua has beautiful beaches. The sand is soft and powder-like and th water is very calm and warm. It is not completely clear and has many different shades of blue but to me it's breathtaking.

Congrats and enjoy your trip!

I have been to Dickensons Bay. It was breath taking goegeous. We rented jet ski's a had a great time. This is where the Sandals Resort is located. I liked it very much. Also Turks and Cacios is another nice beach. (provo)

Most of the beaches on Antigua are stunning in their beauty--soft white sand, beautiful turquoise water, lots of offshore reefs for good snorkeling--but they're not the endless stretches of sand that you envision with, say, Anguilla or Provo.

Dickenson Bay, the most developed stretch of beach on the island, is a lovely beach, but I prefer the more secluded ones. As another poster stated, the HAwksbill resorts's FOUR beaches are all lovely and the clothing optional one is long and very secluded (as it should be, in my opinion). I didn't find the snorkeling to be very interesting off of these beaches, however.

Half-Moon Bay on the eastern side of Antigua is also stunning. It's about 1/2 mile long, with gentle surf in the middle and calm water on each end. The day I spent there I saw only a handful of other people. Darkwood Beach and Ffryes Beach are also beautiful, with Darkwood having some very good snorkeling.

Re:ejcrowe-Thanks for correcting me on the FOUR not three beaches of Hawksbill's.It's been only a couple years when we were there ,but we really just used that "one" special beach , you know ? Agreed with you on the snorkeling part ,not the best. If the food there were more exciting , we wouldn't mind to be on Hawksbill's beach again!

Yes, my partner and I stayed on that one special beach most of the time, too. It was labeled beach #4 on the hotel map, which is why I happened to recall that there were four of them. No offense meant, I assure you.

When you were there, was a large white rock placed on the beach to note where it was best to enter the water? A very thoughtful touch, in my opinion...