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Antigua and Barbuda365
WildlifeNorth Coast

Stingray City Tour

Wade with southern stingrays on a sandbar

DifficultyEasy
DurationAround 2 to 3 hours
PriceFrom around US$60 per person
Type
Wildlife
Difficulty
Easy
Duration
Around 2 to 3 hours
Price
From around US$60 per person
Min age
4+
Group size
Small to medium groups
Best season
Year-round
Fitness
Low
Physical req.
Low. The sandbar is shallow and non-swimmers are welcome with provided life vests. Some balance is needed to board the boat.
The experience

Stingray City Tour

Wade and snorkel on a shallow sandbar in the protected North Sound where friendly southern stingrays glide around you, a calm, family-favourite half-day on the water.

Stingray City is one of Antigua's most loved family excursions. A short boat ride from the northeast coast carries you out across the sheltered North Sound to a shallow sandbar where habituated southern stingrays gather. Standing waist-deep in clear, warm water, you can hold, feed and snorkel alongside these surprisingly soft, gentle animals while guides explain their biology and behaviour. The site is the basis of the Stingray City attraction.

Tours usually depart from the Seatons area on the east side, near Long Bay, and last around two to three hours including the boat transfer. After time with the rays, most operators add a snorkel over a nearby reef in the lagoon, where you may see fish, turtles and starfish. Life vests are provided and non-swimmers are welcome, since the sandbar itself is shallow.

The rays are wild but accustomed to people; guides show you how to hold them flat-palmed and never to grab the tail. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a towel and an underwater camera, and consider water shoes for the boat and sandbar.

Stingray City pairs naturally with other east-coast outings such as the rugged limestone arch at Devil's Bridge, or a wider catamaran day cruise that also explores the calmer reefs of the North Sound.

At a glance

What to know before you go

Good for
✓Families
✓Couples
✓Groups
✓Children
Included
✓Boat transfer across the North Sound
✓Guided stingray interaction with life vests
✓Snorkel over a nearby reef on most tours
✓Snorkel gear
What to bring
✓Swimsuit and towel
✓Reef-safe sunscreen
✓Underwater or waterproof camera
✓Water shoes
✓Change of clothes
✓Cash for gratuities
Good to note
✓Keep clear of the barbed tail
✓Avoid wearing shiny jewellery in the water
✓Follow the guides at all times
Plan it

Plan this experience

The essentials for booking Stingray City Tour and getting there.

Best season
Year-round
Meeting point
Seatons boat dock, northeast Antigua
Group size
Small to medium groups
Minimum age
4+
Get directions →
This activity is in
Long Bay & the East →
Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Yes, when you follow the guides. The southern stingrays at the site are wild but accustomed to people, and they are naturally docile. Guides show you how to hold and interact with them safely, the main rule being to keep clear of the barbed tail and to move calmly. The sandbar itself is shallow, life vests are provided, and the visit is supervised throughout, which makes it popular with families.