Antigua is a great spot for kiteboarding and travel due to its scenic location and beautiful coastline. Antigua’s windy season is from late November until June/July and boasts 365 beaches. We get gentle trade winds, which usually blow a solid 15-20 knots from the east, making Jabberwock Beach, the main kiteboarding spot, a desirable onshore location for kiteboarding, foiling and wingsurfing. There are many things to do to stay active and outdoors on the no-wind days, such as hikes, swimming with stingrays and even jet ski tours. Antigua offers plenty of different restaurants, from the local more authentic food stops to 5-star cuisine restaurants. If you’re lucky and you’re here during an incoming swell, there is often some surfing too. Antigua has a sister island called Barbuda, another dream-like kite location where you can kite in crystal clear, flat blue water off the south coast, and it also has one of the longest pink sand beaches. Here you’ll find fresh, locally caught lobster and even a tour of the frigate bird sanctuary.
IDEAL DISCIPLINES:
Kiteboarding | Foilboarding | Wingsurfing
CLOSEST AIRPORT:
V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU).
DISTANCE TO LOCATION:
Jabberwok Beach is 5 minutes from the airport.
TRANSPORT TO LOCATION:
Taxis are around $20-40, but it’s highly recommended to rent a car if you are looking to explore the island. Car rental can range anywhere from $35-65 a day.
BEST SEASON:
Late November through July is the best kiteboarding season.
WIND RANGE:
During the high season, we average between 12-20 knots.
WATER TEMPERATURE:
It’s always pretty warm, so boardshorts and swimsuits are sufficient, but from December through February, you might want a 2mm top if you’re going to be in the water for a long time.
OFF-SEASON:
August through September is the kiteboarding off-season.
LOCAL RULES/SAFETY HAZARDS:
Always make sure to talk to a local on the beach before heading out as there are a few reefs scattered across Jabberwock’s bay, which aren’t a big deal once you know where they are, yet you wouldn’t want to get stuck on one.
LODGING RECOMMENDATIONS:
The ideal accommodations are located in the north part of the island and close to Jabberwock Beach. Budget travelers should check out Top House or the Ocean Vista Apartment (both found on Airbnb). Medium budget lodging options include Dutchman’s Bay Cottages, located within a 5-minute drive from Jabberwock Beach. You can also kite off of the beach in front of the cottages, and they come with a fully equipped kitchen, bedroom and bathroom. Right next door there is a fantastic farm to table restaurant too. You can also check out Ocean Point Hotel and Hodges Bay Hotel for mid-priced rooms. For higher-end accommodations, check out Hodges Bay, a 5-minute drive from Jabberwock on the island’s north side. It’s an all-inclusive 5-star resort with a spa, private beach, and an incredible restaurant.
LOCAL CUISINE:
Antigua has a culturally local dish of saltfish and pepper pot; however, you’ll find local seafood such as mahi mahi, tuna, or wahoo in many restaurants. The average meal out will cost you about $20-30 per person unless you seek out the local restaurants to find a meal for around $10 per person.
LOCAL SHOPS/SCHOOLS:
Kelsick Kiteboarding www.KelsickKiteboarding.com
Kitesurf Antigua www.KitesurfAntigua.com
40 Knots www.40Knots.net
LOCAL RESOURCES:
www.weather.com/en-BB/weather/today/ The weather channel offers hourly readings and is often the most reliable
www.windguru.cz/52075 Wind Guru is fairly reliable but can often overread the wind
www.windy.com/?17.050,-61.800,5 Accurate readings, but pulls data from the airport
WHY JAKE KELSICK RECOMMENDS THIS SPOT:
“Growing up in Antigua as a sponsored kiteboarder and now operating Kelsick Kiteboarding School with professional coach Megan Grant, Jabberwock is one of the best beaches around, perfect for beginner to advanced level riders with tons of warm and insanely picturesque riding spots to explore.”
THE ONE THING EVERYONE MUST DO:
Experience the kiting in the North Sound, or do a downwinder down to Jabberwock Beach. There are many flat spots to explore and crystal clear blue water on the way downwind.
NON-WIND ACTIVITIES:
Explore Antigua’s multitude of beaches. Checkout Shirley Heights Lookout, especially on a Sunday evening as they often have a band playing. Visit the stingrays at Stingray City or signup with Jetski Antigua for a jet ski tour of the west coast.
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