Luxury Island Platinum Tour Antigua: Private, History & Culture

Summary

Private Antigua Tour: Nelson's Dockyard, Shirley Heights & Devil's Bridge

You’ll explore Antigua’s history at Nelson’s Dockyard and Shirley Heights, see wild coastline at Devil’s Bridge, enjoy local food and drinks—all in private comfort with your own guide and driver.

What’s the experience like?

We kicked off our day at Nelson’s Dockyard National Park. Walking through the old stone arches, you can almost hear the echoes of British sailors from the 1700s. Our guide, Marcia, pointed out the original naval bakery—still smells faintly of yeast if you get close enough. There’s a tiny café by the water where I grabbed a cold local juice (passionfruit—tart and sweet). The breeze here carries a hint of salt and engine oil from the boats bobbing nearby.

Next up was Shirley Heights. The drive winds up through Saint Mary parish—windows down, you catch whiffs of mango and coconut from roadside stalls. At the top, we stood where English soldiers once watched for enemy ships. The view stretches forever; you see English Harbor laid out below like a map. Marcia shared stories about signal fires and how they’d spot sails on the horizon long before anyone else on the island.

The road to Fig Tree Hill is narrow and bumpy in places—our driver handled it like a pro. We passed old sugar mills poking out from wild greenery and little churches with peeling paint. Locals sell bananas (they call them figs here) right from their gardens. It’s cooler up here; you might want a light shirt even if it’s hot by the coast.

Devil’s Bridge was our last big stop—a limestone arch battered by Atlantic waves on Antigua’s east coast. There’s a hush when you walk out there, just wind and crashing water. Marcia explained its darker history but also let us take our time for photos (she snapped some great ones for us). We ended with a picnic—your choice of BBQ or local lunch—right by the cliffs. Got my Antiguan flag as a keepsake before heading back.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Antigua Historical and Scenic Tour

• Visit Nelson's Dockyard
• Explore Shirley Heights lookout
• Learn English Harbor history
• Drive through Saint Mary parish countryside
• Sightsee at Devil's Bridge

Top questions

Is this tour suitable for families with young kids?

Yes! Infants and small children can join comfortably—there are prams or strollers available and specialized infant seats if needed.

Can I choose what kind of lunch I get?

Absolutely—you can pick between local dishes or BBQ for your included lunch.

Are drinks included during the tour?

You’ll have local juices, regional beers, and bottled water provided throughout the day.

Will someone take photos for us?

Your guide will take pictures along the way and send you a collage to your email that same day.

What’s included

Your private air-conditioned vehicle comes with WiFi onboard. Lunch is included (local or BBQ options), plus local juices, beers, water—and we’ll snap photos for you so you can just relax and enjoy every stop.