Antigua - Boats And Catamarans

There is no shortage of boat and catamaran trips to be made around Antigua, with the emphasis - not, it must be said, everyone's cup of tea - normally on being part of a big crowd all having a fun time together. Most of the cruises charge a single price, including a meal and all the drinks you want, and the two main cruise companies, Kokomo and Wadadli Cats, offer virtually identical trips, travelling on large and comfortable catamarans. A more interesting and unusual eco-tour is offered by Adventure Antigua.

The most popular cruise sails right round Antigua, taking in some snorkelling and lunch at Green Island off the east coast. There is also a superb snorkelling trip to Cades Reef on the south coast, stopping off for lunch on one of the west coast beaches, and another to uninhabited Great Bird Island - where there's plenty of birdlife - off the northeast. Finally, there's a "triple destination" cruise on Sundays to English Harbour via Green Island, ending with a taxi ride up to the steel-band party on Shirley Heights and another taxi home.

Each of the trips is offered by Kokomo and Wadadli, and both will pick up passengers from a number of locations on the west coast. All are out from around 9am until 4pm, apart from the triple-destination tour (roughly 10am-sunset). The circumnavigation cruise costs US$75 per person, Cades Reef US$60 and the triple-destination cruise US$90, all prices including snorkelling gear, a buffet lunch and an open bar. Children under 12 are half-price

Boat operators

Adventure Antigua tel 268/727-3261 or 560-4672, . Owner Eli Fuller takes passengers by motorboat on a seven-hour ecotour of the northeast coast of the island, showing where the endangered hawksbill turtles lay their eggs, and through the mangrove swamps, to spot rays, frigate birds, osprey and turtles. There are several snorkelling opportunities, and lunch is served on a deserted beach. Cost is US$90 per person, and the trip goes out between two and five times a week, depending on demand.

Jolly Roger Pirate Cruises tel 268/462-2064, . Hearty party cruises, with rope-swinging and walking the plank for would-be pirates and limbo competitions and calypso dance classes for the rest. Around US$50 per person.

Kokomo Cats tel 268 / 462-7245, . Round the island trips (Tues, Thurs, Sat), Cades Reef (Fri), Great Bird Island (Wed) and a triple-destination cruise (Sun) on fast and comfortable catamarans. Kokomo also offers sunset cruises (Tues, Thurs, Sat) from Jolly Harbour on the west coast, out from 6.30pm to 9pm (US$40).

Wadadli Cats tel 268/462-4792. Offers circumnavigation cruises (Thurs, Sat), a sunset cruise (Sat US$40), a triple-destination cruise (Sun) and a trip to Cades Reef (Tues).