Coco Point Beach

Coco Point sits at the far south of Barbuda, the slender tip where the island's calm leeward coast and its breezier windward coast finally meet. The sand here is the pale, pink-tinged white that Barbuda is famous for, the colour drawn from crushed coral and tiny shell fragments worked into the shore over centuries. It is a long, quiet stretch with private residences and resort amenities behind it, now part of the private Barbuda Ocean Club estate.

The appeal of Coco Point is its remoteness. Nobu offers beachside dining and drinks on Princess Diana Beach. On the leeward, west-facing side the water is glassy and shallow, ideal for slow swims and long barefoot walks. Round towards the windward side and you feel the open Atlantic, with a little more swell and breeze. Like all beaches in Antigua and Barbuda, the sand is public by law, though the land behind much of it is private.

Getting here takes intent. Barbuda is reached by ferry from Jolly Harbour Marina or a short flight from Antigua, and Coco Point lies at the southern end of the island, well beyond the main settlement. Most visitors come on a guided Barbuda day trip, often paired with the pink-sand beaches further north and the famous frigate bird colony in the lagoon.

Come prepared for a wild, unserviced shore. Bring water and sun protection; Nobu offers paid cabanas, showers and changing rooms on Princess Diana Beach. Reef shoes are useful where the sand gives way to coral, and on the windward side currents can strengthen, so weaker swimmers should favour the sheltered leeward water. Earlier in the day usually brings the lightest wind and the calmest sea.