Falmouth Harbour,Antigua cruise port guide

With 365 beaches to choose from, it's said that Antigua has a sandy escape for every day of the year. The sheltered twin bays of English Harbour hold an ever-alluring appeal and draw a beauty-seeking flotilla of yachts to drop anchor in their calm waters. Strap on scuba gear, crunch through paths of dense jungle, or soar up above to volcanic peaks in a helicopter - the choice is yours. Whether you seek adventure, or simply want to take it easy with a paperback and the song of the waves – a beautiful island of sun, sea, and sand lies before you. As the name implies, there's an unrestrained British Colonial influence here, and Horatio Nelson's name is imprinted deep into Falmouth's story. Walk in his footsteps at Nelson's Dockyards - the gorgeously restored, working Georgian dockyard. The colonial spirit is an evocative throwback to this important 17th-century Royal Navy base. Museums tell the story of the British exploits in the West Indies, and the life of Nelson - who lived here for three years. Clarence House is also close by, and the 200-year-old residence continues to draw visits from British royals to this day. This being Antigua, there's no shortage of jaw-dropping beaches and bathing opportunities. Take to pearly-white sands or explore the Pillars of Hercules – a set of smooth, rounded columns of rock that plunge dramatically into the waters below. Pigeon Point Beach is a ravishing amalgam of blues and pristine white sands, where turtles and stingrays glide through patches of coral reefs. Enjoy the best views of the naturally coddled bays of English Harbour by rising to Shirley Heights. Sunset is thrilling from this elevated vantage point, as reds and pinks spill across the skies.