Turtle Cottage

Antigua’s breathtaking landscapes and crystal-clear waters are sure to awaken the imaginations of visitors young and old. While the fantastic facilities at Blue Waters and Turtle Cottage’s idyllic oceanfront location may tempt younger visitors to stay close to home, the beautiful island around you lies waiting to be discovered.

A popular destination for watersports, sea kayaking and kitesurfing lessons are widely available along Antigua’s coastline. Boat tours are also possible, including day tours to Antigua’s sister island, Barbuda. Some ninety minutes across the water, one of the highlights of a trip to Barbuda is a visit to the Frigate Bird Sanctuary, which is home to thousands of exotic red-throated birds. Back in Antigua, you can visit the island’s wonderful donkey sanctuary, where children are encouraged to feed the friendly animals.

A day spent hiking around Nelson’s Dockyard is another great way to get closer to nature. Ascend to the stunning panoramic views of Shirley Heights on a quiet weekday afternoon, for a scenic hike that everyone will remember. This is a relatively easy hike but do make sure to wear comfortable walking shoes and pack plenty of water. You will find handy trail maps available to download online.
For an introduction to a truly important facet of Antiguan culture, why not take everyone to watch a local cricket match? The island is devoted to its national sport, which is played everywhere, though official matches tend to take place on weekends. Later, drive to St. John’s, where older children will enjoy the colourful vibrancy of the island’s capital. Here, families can visit any of the local restaurants to sample some of the island’s delicacies.

Drive inland towards Fig Tree Drive and within forty minutes you will reach the incredible Antigua Rainforest Canopy Park, where a day of ziplining and rainforest adventure awaits. There are a range of fun and friendly eco-activities available here, with options to suit all age groups. With knowledgeable instructors to guide you at every step along the way, you will cross suspension bridges and rope obstacles whilst ziplining your way above the tree-tops and crisscrossing a stunning gorge. Not for the faint-hearted, this exhilarating day out varies in intensity, with ziplines throughout the rainforest at various heights and lengths. Don’t forget to take a break in the magical twin tree houses tucked away in the dense rainforest!

Back at Blue Waters, the resort’s Kids Club is open all year round, available each weekday for children aged between five and twelve. Here, the experienced and enthusiastic staff will supervise whilst the kids enjoy a wide variety of fun activities, from arts and crafts to sports days, with pizza and movie nights or dance parties come the evening time. For older children, an afternoon spent swimming and snorkelling along the resort’s beach coves is always popular. Later on, children aged twelve and over can pay a visit to the resort’s dedicated games room, featuring a pool table, table tennis and plenty of board games.