Not a nudist
resort, but if solitude and escape from the hustle and bustle are what you are
looking for, then this is it!
A secluded nude beach awaits, just a short
walk from the property |
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U.S. Citizens: Passports are
required for international air travel to all destinations outside the
USA.
Hawksbill Beach Resort is for those of you who need
to get away from it all and "vege" out. There are no discos and or organized
group activities--it's got more of a British/European flavor than a typical,
  all inclusive,
go-go type of Caribbean resort. What it does have is peace and quiet with a
secluded nude beach a short walk from the property. It's not for everyone--just
those of you who need a little solitude. The resort is somewhat refined but it
is not a nudist resort.
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 The
resort, located on Hawksbill Beach, is about 5 miles west of the Antiguan
capital of St. Johns, the only major settlement of the island, other than
Nelson's Dockyard on the south side of the island.
Antigua can be
reached from the US via daily flights from New York and Miami. International
flights service the island from Europe. Taxis and car rentals are available in
town and at the airport. The V.C Bird International Airport is a few minutes
from St. Johns.
U.S. Citizens: Passports
are required for international air travel to all destinations outside the
USA.
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Resort offers non-motorized water sports, tennis and ping
pong plus beautiful beaches and water. Rooms feature mini bar, ceiling fans,
safe, hairdryers,
balcony or patio. Boat rentals, sailing, windsurfing and water skiing are also
available as options. There are no discos or loud music sources at the resort.
St. John's is about 5 miles away for shopping, dining and night life.
NOTE: Please take care of your valuables, cash, airline tickets and
passports while on vacation. Some vacation destinations are considered "third
world" countries and experience petty theft. Recommendation: Do not take
precious jewelry unless you wear it all times; keep your cash, valuables,
watches, travel documentation and cameras with you and don't expect your
in-room safe to be "safe." Just a word of caution to make sure you remember to
practice common sense with your valuables while you're on vacation.
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The restaurants feature both European and local cuisine at
the main building and snack shop on the regular beach. When you visit the nude
beach, take along drinks and snacks since there are no permanent facilities
there.
There are two bars and two restaurants--a pair in the main
building and a pair on the beach. Meal plans are available as well.
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Room prices can range from $150-$200/night, without meals.
Prices vary seasonally and are subject to change without notice. Special
seasonal sales also offer great bargains especially during low season (summer
and fall dates).
Meals plans can be added from about $50/person/day.
Breakfast and dinner plans can also be added. Bar drinks are extra.
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The resort attracts a more subdued, quiet crowd from late
30s to 60s with a few children present.
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Hawksbill Beach Resort has 112 rooms, with separate beach
front and ocean view cottages plus hotel buildings mixed throughout the 37 acre
tropical property that faces west into the Caribbean. There are 4 beaches with
a clothing-optional one a short distance from the resort.
 You must take a
walk of a couple of hundred yards to reach the nude beach. There are no other
structures on the nude beach so it is secluded and private. The beach is both
wide and long--at least 200 meters in length and fifty meters deep. Make sure
you wear shoes or sandals since it is a short hike from the resort's fence.
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 In and around the former British
Nelson's Dockyard (closed in 1899) and Shirley Heights on the south end of the
island, some of the most spectacular sights include vantage points overlooking
English Harbour. A rental car is recommended so you can explore as long as you
like. See these three great vantage points.
Fort Shirley and its
National Park--the island most southerly point, with Montserrat 21 miles away
with Guadeloupe in the distance beyond.
Dow's Hill Historical Centre,
another terrific vantage point near Shirley Heights, where you can see the
dockyard and harbor below.
Also, near both, is the Blockhouse, a former
military fortification with another great vantage point of the island, Mamora
Bay and the Caribbean sea beyond.
At Nelson's dockyard, see the
Admiral's House and lots of former structures of the its operations, now
housing various tourism activities including H.Q. (Headquarters) Bar &
Restaurant, the Admiral Inn, The Copper & Lumber Inn, the admiral's kitchen
(now a bakery), the gallery (now a bar & boutique).
Don't miss
seeing the harbour at sea level on the Apply water taxi, a fun 20 minute tour
by boat that gives you an up close and personal view of the whole area. Some of
the sites are over 300 years old, attesting to the fact that the great
seafaring nations, mainly the British, coveted this spot in the Caribbean for
its perfect anchorage for safety from pirates and weather. Nearby are
Catherine's Cafe for a little taste of the French, plus Clarence House and, at
the east entrance to the harbour, the Pillars of Hercules, an enormous
pillar-like formation caused by wind erosion.
To bring you up to date,
don't miss admiring one of the finest fleets of private yachts in the
Caribbean. If you don't own or charter one, at least you can make believe you
belong there in English Harbour, the world's only working Georgian
dockyard!
For great grub, bar hopping and booty shakin, try some of
these (List subject to change without notice):
Visit English Harbour,
one of the Caribbean's best natural harbors, established by the British navy in
1745, where Nelson's dockyard offers a hot spot on the south end of the island.
Falmouth Harbour is also nearby....both of which the yachties love. Good
beaches, great fun and some find hiking trails, too.
Look are for
these: Galley Bar, The Mad Mongoose, Yacht Club Marina Restaurant, Jackee's
Quick Stop (cheap with a local flavor), the Admiral's Inn, The Inn at English
Harbour, and Antigua Yacht Club Marina.
For a great excuse to skip
church and shake your bootie with the best on the island, carve out some time
to see and visit Shirly Heights on Sunday afternoon. High above the harbor,
Shirley Heights was once a strategic look out point but on Sunday's, you can be
on the look out for some fun for the night. You can see both Englisha and
Falmouth Harbors and Montserrat in the distance. Up close starting every Sunday
at 430 PM (or thereabouts...it's island time), live music begins along with
libations, open bar and BBQ. Make sure you get there for photos and sunset
around 5:30-6:30 PM depending upon the time of year. For the maddest crush of
the year, time your visit during the last week in April, with the last Sunday
highlighting Antigua Sailing Week. We've been there then and it's a hoot.....as
long as you have a place to stay.
With thanks to Caribbean Travel
& Life:
When visiting English Harbor or Falmouth Harbor, join
the crowd at the Galley Bar for the evening happy hour around 5 PM or for live
jazz on Sunday afternoon from about 4 PM. Also, the Mad Mongoose is another
place to start the evening with happy hour from around 4 PM, island time. Watch
the big yachts sail by at the Yacht Club Marina Restaurant while chowing down
on Italian specialties. Rub elbows with some of the yacht crew at Jackee's
Quick Stop, the spot for cheap and cheerful local food and drink. Stop in to
see the Admiral's Inn, a historic building that includes former British offers'
quarters and a sail loft from years gone by. Beach lovers will like The Inn at
English Harbor on Freeman's Bay. The Antigua Yacht Club Marina features more
stylish digs, too. If you want to be that close to the yachties for the annual
April yacht Sailing week, choose one of these resorts…way in advance for
the last Sunday each in April each year.
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The nude beach is adequately isolated so you don't
get any gawkers or non-registered guests. |
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Some of the worst roads we've seen in almost 30
Caribbean destinations we've visited, surpassed perhaps only by St. Lucia.
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The local people are gentile, warm and friendly.
Always smile, introduce yourself and make conversation. Ask permission if you
want their photograph. |
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Great weather most of the time, but avoid the hot summer
during hurricane season.
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Wish the nude beach had a snack bar for drinks and
food.
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• View the Photo
Album
We have a limited number of photos of Hawksbill Beach
Resort... what you see here, along with a few more in the photo album. We would
love to have your photos of this resort. If you have any, please go to our
Contribute Trip Report /
Photographs page.
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Check out what some recent
visitors have reported about the Hawksbill Beach Resort. You can contribute
to this section - all you have to do is go to our
Contribute Trip Report /
Photographs page.
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