Darkwood beach
A long sandy area called Darkwood Beach is one of the most beautiful and largest beaches on the southwest coast of Antigua. It is located 15 km from the capital of St. John Island. The beach is known as a quiet and sparsely populated place with beautiful panoramic views of the neighboring islands - Montserrat and Guadeloupe, as well as excellent conditions for swimming, sunbathing and scuba diving.
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Beach description
Darkwood Beach is a spacious wild beach surrounded by the turquoise sea on one side and hills with tropical forests on the other. Cruise ship passengers are its most frequent guests during low season, while high season sees many locals come here.
Darkwood Beach is perfect for all kinds of tourists thanks to its size, light beige soft sand, clear turquoise sea and the activities which you can partake in to spend your pastime. Visitors include:
- families with children;
- water sports enthusiasts;
- couples looking for romantic atmosphere.
The beach is very suitable for snorkeling due to it being surrounded by a reef and having a big shallow water area. Children and adults alike have the opportunity to encounter various specimen, like shells, tropical fish, barracudas etc. Further up the shoreline is a spot with flat sea bottom and smooth descent into water for swimming and sunbathing. There are also spots for diving and deep water fishing. During breezy days, when waves rise, Darkwood Beach is a great place to practice surfing. In the evening you can admire picturesque tropical sunsets and walk along the shore, covered partly by grass.
You can get to Darkwood Beach from St. John's by bus that goes from St. John's West train station, call a taxi or rent a car. The beach is located near the main highway, the bus stops right near the beach, and there's also a parking lot for cars nearby.
When is the best time to go?
The climate in Antigua is dry and warm year-round, but tropical hurricanes are possible from June to November. Therefore, it is better to choose a different time to visit the islands.
Video: Beach Darkwood
Infrastructure
The tourist infrastructure of Darkwood Beach, as well as the entire southwestern part of Antigua, is underdeveloped. However, in high season, some services are available for beach visitors to make their stay here quite comfortable:
- a small bar and restaurant where you can eat seafood, drink punch or beer;
- a kiosk selling coconuts, pineapples and other tropical fruits;
- rent of beach loungers and sports equipment;
- a changing room, a shower, a toilet.
The beach area has little natural shade, so for a passive beach holiday it is recommended to bring a parasol or choose a site specially equipped with stationary canopies.
Along the beach of this part of the island there are several comfortable hotels and villas where you can stay during your holiday. Closest to Darkwood Beach is the 4-star hotel Tamarind Hills with a swimming pool and comfortable rooms.
Weather in Darkwood
Best hotels of Darkwood
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There are no entertainment facilities on Darkwood Beach, so it’s quiet and rather boring in the evening. But 3 km from the beach is a small resort town Jolly Harbor, where restaurants and bars work until late at night. In the afternoon in the city you can visit:
- Taino's & Millennium Galleries;
- Art Tree Studio;
- the picturesque ruins of Sweets Windmill Ruins;
- Greencastle Hil Park.
Jolly Harbor also has a marina and a golf course at the Jolly Harbor Golf Course. In search of nightclubs and noisy parties it is better to go to St. John.
Other attractions near Darkwood Beach include the popular beaches of Turner's Beach and Ffryes Beach, which offer great tropical beach vacations.