V.C. Bird International Airport sits approximately 8 kilometers northeast of St. John's on Antigua. Barbuda Codrington Airport handles small aircraft between the two islands. LIAT and SVG Air operate the inter-island route several times daily with flight times of 15 minutes. The ferry M.V. Barbuda Express runs between Antigua and Barbuda roughly three days per week depending on season and sea conditions, taking approximately 90 minutes. Ferry schedules change frequently based on demand and weather.
Antigua has no public bus system in the metropolitan sense. Privately operated minibuses follow loosely defined routes radiating from St. John's to villages including All Saints, Liberta, and Parham. These vehicles lack fixed schedules. Passengers flag them down along roadsides. Fares run between 2.50 and 5 Eastern Caribbean dollars depending on distance. Minibuses reduce frequency after early afternoon and operate minimally on Sundays.
Rental cars require drivers to purchase a temporary Antiguan license costing 50 Eastern Caribbean dollars from rental agencies or police stations. Driving follows left-hand traffic patterns inherited from British colonial administration. The main road network on Antigua totals approximately 1,170 kilometers with roughly 380 kilometers paved. The Sir George Walter Highway connects the airport to St. John's. The All Saints Road and Old Road run along western coastal areas. Roads to inland villages and the eastern coast deteriorate in quality with potholes and narrow passages common outside main routes.
Taxis operate without meters. Drivers quote fixed prices before departure. The standard fare from V.C. Bird International Airport to St. John's hotels runs 15 to 25 US dollars. From the airport to English Harbour costs 50 to 65 US dollars. From St. John's to Shirley Heights costs 40 to 50 US dollars. Prices increase by approximately 50 percent after 22:00 and on Sundays. Drivers expect no additional tip if rates are agreed beforehand.
Barbuda covers 161 square kilometers with minimal paved roads. The main settlement Codrington holds roughly 97 percent of the island's approximately 1,500 residents. Vehicle rental options exist but inventory remains limited to several 4x4 vehicles. Most visitors to sites like the Frigate Bird Sanctuary hire taxi drivers who own suitable vehicles for unpaved tracks. No ride-hailing applications operate reliably on either island.
Water taxis service locations including Green Island and Great Bird Island from departure points near St. John's and Jolly Harbour. These operate on demand rather than fixed schedules. Round-trip costs range from 25 to 60 US dollars per person depending on destination and group size. Catamarans and day-sail operators provide scheduled service to offshore locations with advance booking required during peak season.
Antigua and Barbuda sits within the hurricane belt. The official Atlantic hurricane season spans June 1 through November 30. Hurricane Luis struck in September 1995 with sustained winds of 220 kilometers per hour causing extensive damage. Hurricane Irma passed near Antigua on September 6 2017 before devastating Barbuda with sustained winds of 295 kilometers per hour. Approximately 95 percent of Barbuda's structures suffered damage and the entire population evacuated to Antigua. Rebuilding continued through 2019.
Rainfall increases significantly from September through November. The capital St. John's receives an average annual precipitation of approximately 1,140 millimeters with October typically recording the highest monthly totals near 150 millimeters. December through April constitutes the dry season with monthly rainfall often below 65 millimeters. Trade winds from the east provide consistent breezes year-round averaging 20 to 30 kilometers per hour.
Air temperature variation remains minimal. Daytime highs range from 28 to 30 degrees Celsius in January and February increasing to 30 to 31 degrees Celsius in August and September. Nighttime lows rarely drop below 23 degrees Celsius. Water temperature in coastal areas fluctuates between 26 degrees Celsius in winter months and 29 degrees Celsius in late summer.
Tourism peaks from mid-December through April coinciding with winter in North American and European source markets. Antigua Sailing Week occurs in late April or early May and has run annually since 1967. The event attracts approximately 100 racing yachts and several thousand spectators. Antigua Carnival runs from late July through the first Tuesday in August. The festival originated in 1957 to commemorate emancipation in 1834. Events include J'ouvert morning processions starting around 04:00, steel pan competitions, calypso contests, and street parades.
Hotel occupancy rates from mid-December through March often exceed 85 percent at resort properties. Advance booking of three to six months becomes necessary for preferred accommodations during this window. Shoulder periods in May and November offer reduced rates while maintaining predominantly dry weather. June through October represents low season with room rates dropping 30 to 50 percent from winter levels but carrying increased rainfall and heat.