Galley Bay

Galley Bay is a long, open beach on the Five Islands peninsula, facing west into the Caribbean. Unlike the island's most sheltered bays, Galley Bay catches a livelier swell, so it can have gentle surf and a more dramatic, romantic feel. The combination of soft sand, palm-backed shoreline, and big west-facing skies makes its sunsets some of the most photographed in Antigua.

Behind the beach lies a brackish lagoon and a stretch of protected shoreline used by nesting sea turtles in season. The adults-only Galley Bay resort fronts part of the sand, but as with every beach in Antigua the shoreline itself is public, so you are free to walk the full length and swim.

The surf means swimming conditions vary: calm and inviting on settled days, choppier when the swell is up, so judge the water before going in. There is little public shade or facilities outside the resort, so come prepared. Galley Bay rewards visitors who want a quieter, more elemental beach and a front-row seat for sunset.

The beach is a short drive from St. John's on the Five Islands peninsula, and parking is limited near the public access. There is no lifeguard, so families with young children may prefer the calmer, more sheltered bays nearby. During turtle-nesting season, keep well clear of any marked nests, avoid bright lights on the beach after dark, and never disturb a nesting turtle. With its long, open sweep of sand, gentle surf, and uninterrupted western horizon, Galley Bay is best saved for late afternoon, when the light is at its most golden and the crowds are thin.