Antigua Exclusive History and Culture Tour

Excluive Culture History Tour Shore Excursion Antigua Nelson's Dockyard Shirley's Heights
Excursion Highlights:
  • Experience the rich history of Antigua with our exclusive small-group South Coast Tour
  • Enjoy personalized visits to notable sites like Nelson's Dockyard
  • Visit English Harbour, the historic 18th-century British Navy headquarters
  • Enjoy breathtaking views of the Caribbean from Shirley's Heights and the observation decks at Dow's Hill Interpretation Center
  • Walk through lush rainforests and visit a pineapple farm on an unforgettable tour
Price: $78.00
Choose Options My Cruise Itinerary
Summary
Shore Excursion Size ? Small
Shore Excursion Type Scenic, Cultural, Beach
Shore Excursion Duration 3 Hours 30 Minutes
Activity Level ? Easy
Shore Excursion Leaves From ? An approximately 3 to 5 minute walk from the cruise ship pier.
Food/Beverage Provided Not Included
Recommended Dress We recommend wearing comfortable clothes and sensible walking shoes or sneakers. Sunglasses and sunscreen are also suggested.
Restrictions The minimum age to participate is 2 years old. Guests must be able to walk over paved, gravel, cobblestone, and packed dirt surfaces, many of which are uneven and on an incline. This tour is not wheelchair accessible.

Exclusive Antigua Culture and History Tour

Enjoy this exclusive small group tour to Antigua's beautiful and historic South Coast. With a maximum of only 12 people, you will enjoy more personalized visits to sites such as Nelson's Dockyard, Dow Hill Interpretation Center, and Shirley's Heights.

English Harbour, Antigua's historic district, is focused on the 15 square miles of Nelson's Dockyard National Park. Developed as a base for the British Navy in the great age of sail, the harbor served as the headquarters of the fleet of the Leeward Islands during the late 18th century.

Although the dockyard was greatly expanded at that time by Horatio Nelson, it was gradually abandoned in the nineteenth century and was closed in 1889. Today Nelson's Dockyard has been completely restored, and it is now the only Georgian dockyard in the world.

Further above the harbor, at Shirley's Heights, are the partially-restored fortifications of the harbor's colonial observation post; the view from Shirley Heights extends out over the harbor and far across the Caribbean to neighboring islands.

Dow's Hill Interpretation Center is a place visitors can watch an impressive multimedia presentation of Antigua's history from its initial settlement to independence. Observation decks at Dow's Hill provide another fine view of the harbor and the ruined fortifications of Fort Berkeley, located on the far side of the bay.

Enjoy a lovely day with us as we travel the beautiful Southern Coast of the Island through the lush and natural rain forest. Smell the fresh fruits as we stop at the Pineapple Farm. Feel relaxed and comfortable in an air-conditioned bus on this small group tour of Antigua.

Please Note: The National park entrance fee ($15 US per person) is not included and must be paid on the day of the tour. Dow's Hill Interpretations Centre will be closed 9/4/23 - 11/5/23 for renovations and maintenance. Nelson's Dockyard will remain open for tours and access to Shirley Heights will continue as normal.

4.5 Stars4.6 / 5  |  65 ReviewsReview This Tour
Antigua
June 05, 2023
We have a guide to ourselves. He was very good and gave us lots of detailed information about the island. He took us to many interesting places and even did a detour on the way back to show us some more sights. This was the best tour of our holiday and we could not fault it.
Reviewer: Pam
5 Stars
Amazing Tour!
May 14, 2023
Our tour guide Tumba took us on a wonderful tour of Antigua, the small group of six of us enjoyed his insights and conversation as we saw almost the entirety of southern Antigua. Nelson's dockyard is definitely a place my wife and I would love to explore more in the future. If you're looking for a good tour absolutely select this one over the busy overly expensive crowded shore excursions provided by the cruise lines.
Reviewer: Tim
5 Stars
Antigua Exclusive History and Culture Tour
March 13, 2023
We had an excellent time exploring Antigua, our guide was very knowledgeable and was verifying the guide at our stop at Nelson's Dockyard was good and did not just leave us to fend for ourselves. The guide offered showed us different plants native to the island and let us sample some of the islands fruits.
Reviewer: Colleen Mackenzie
5 Stars
review pf Antiqua tour
March 04, 2023
Our tour guide and driver Toomba was very nice, very knowlegable about the area. We really enjoyed our tour with him.
Reviewer: Jeff Barkey
5 Stars
Good tour
February 25, 2023
Tour guide was great. He gave us good insight about living in Antigua. Tour itself took us to many attractions spread around the island. I especially enjoyed the Nelson dockyard and Shirley heights.
Reviewer: Charlie Gawthrop
4 Stars
Antigua shore excursion
January 04, 2022
Nice excursion, that turned into a private trip with our guide and just the 2 of us. Very engaging guide showed us the highlights of the island and talked about the history, people and culture throughout the trip. Well organized and efficient touring of Antigua.
Reviewer: Ray Rumsey
5 Stars