Exploring Barbuda: A Guide To Your Tropical Island Getaway

Antigua and Barbuda is a popular destination for tourists seeking tranquil getaways, beautiful beaches, and a connection with nature. The best way to get to Barbuda is via Antigua, which is located 28 miles northeast of the island. Travellers can fly to Antigua from the United States, the United Kingdom, and other Caribbean islands. From Antigua, there are several options to get to Barbuda, including charter flights, ferries, and private boats.

Flying to Barbuda from Antigua

Antigua's sister island, Barbuda, is a tranquil getaway with untouched pink coral and white sand beaches, located 28 miles northeast of Antigua. There are several options for flying to Barbuda from Antigua.

Airlines

SVG Air

SVG Air operates scheduled and chartered flights throughout the Caribbean. They offer one-way and round-trip flights with professional and experienced pilots flying their fleet of light twins and business jets.

Fly Montserrat

Fly Montserrat operates two daily chartered flights between Antigua and Barbuda, with nine seats and twin engines. They also offer private charters to the island.

Carib Aviation

Carib Aviation offers scheduled flights from Antigua to Barbuda in the morning and evening, with a fare of $44 each way.

Airports

The new 'international' airport on Barbuda has replaced the old Codrington airport. It is out of town, with no taxi ranks, so you will need to book a taxi in advance if you require one upon landing.

Other Options

Ferry

The most popular way to get to Barbuda is via a high-speed ferry, which takes about 90 minutes on a pleasant day. The two ferry services available are the Barbuda Express and The Island Escape. The Barbuda Express is a powerful catamaran that offers same-day one-way and round-trip services six days a week.

Boat Charters

A range of boat companies in Antigua also provide private charters and excursions from Antigua to Barbuda.

Helicopter

CalvinAir Helicopters offers charter flights to Barbuda, lasting 15 minutes.

Airlines that fly to Barbuda

Antigua's sister island of Barbuda is a tranquil getaway, known for its untouched pink coral and white sand beaches. The island is located 28 miles northeast of Antigua.

There are a few options for flying to Barbuda. The most common route is to fly to Antigua and then take a connecting flight to Barbuda.

• SVG Air operates scheduled and chartered flights throughout the Caribbean. They offer a personalised service, with professional and experienced pilots flying a fleet of light twins and business jets. They offer one-way and round-trip flights.
• Fly Montserrat offers chartered flights between Antigua and Barbuda. The aircraft has nine seats and twin engines, and the company offers two daily flights from Antigua to Barbuda, along with private charters to the island.
• Carib Aviation operates scheduled flights from Antigua to Barbuda in the morning and evening. The fare is currently $44 each way.
• CalvinAir Helicopters offers charter flights to Barbuda from Antigua. The flight lasts for 15 minutes.

Other Options

There are also a few other options for getting to Barbuda that don't involve flying directly:

• Ferry – The most popular way to get to Barbuda is via a high-speed ferry. It takes about 90 minutes to get from Antigua to Barbuda on a pleasant day. There are currently two ferry services available: The Barbuda Express and The Island Escape.
• Boat Charters – A range of boat companies in Antigua are available to operate private charters and excursions from Antigua to Barbuda.

Booking a flight to Barbuda

To get to Barbuda by air, you can fly with SVG Air, Carib Aviation, Fly Montserrat, Tradewind Aviation, or CalvinAir Helicopters. SVG Air offers one-way and round-trip flights and can be contacted by phone or email. Fly Montserrat offers two daily flights from Antigua to Barbuda, as well as private charters to the island. Carib Aviation offers morning and evening scheduled flights from Antigua, with one-way fares starting at $44. Tradewind Aviation offers private charter flights to Barbuda Codrington Airport, with convenient connections from Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and other points in the Caribbean. CalvinAir Helicopters operates charter flights to Barbuda from Antigua, with flights lasting 15 minutes.

Flight prices vary depending on the origin and season. In the last seven days, prices for round-trip flights to Barbuda ranged from $349 to $430. One-way flights from Newark (EWR) started at $180.

If you're looking for cheaper flights, consider booking your trip for February, when ticket prices are typically at their lowest. December is usually the most expensive month to fly to Barbuda.

You can book your flight to Barbuda through online travel agencies, such as Expedia, or directly through the websites of the airlines mentioned above.

• New York, NY (JFK-John F. Kennedy Intl.) to V.C. Bird Intl. Airport (ANU) - 4 hours and 17 minutes
• Miami, FL (MIA-Miami Intl.) to V.C. Bird Intl. Airport (ANU) - 3 hours and 19 minutes
• Charlotte, NC (CLT-Charlotte-Douglas Intl.) to V.C. Bird Intl. Airport (ANU) - 4 hours and 8 minutes

Getting to the airport

To get to Barbuda, you will first need to fly to Antigua. There are direct flights to Antigua's V.C. Bird International Airport from Miami (MIA) and New York (JFK and EWR). These flights are offered by American Airlines and Iberia Airlines. There are also one-stop and two-stop flights to VC Bird International Airport, with layovers at Orlando International Airport (MCO), Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), and Charlotte Douglas (CLT).

If you are flying from the UK, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic operate flights to Antigua and Barbuda. Flights from the USA are also offered by Delta, American Airlines, and United.

Once you have arrived at VC Bird International Airport, you can take a taxi or rent a car to get to St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda's capital, which is about 5 miles from the airport.

From Antigua, you can fly to Barbuda's Codrington Airport. SVG Air offers scheduled and chartered flights throughout the Caribbean and operates one-way and round-trip flights. Fly Montserrat also operates chartered flights between Antigua and Barbuda, offering two daily flights and private charters to the island. Carib Aviation operates scheduled flights from Antigua to Barbuda in the morning and evening, with fares currently at $44 each way.

Transport options from the airport

There are two airports serving the twin islands of Antigua and Barbuda: VC Bird International Airport (ANU) and Barbuda Codrington Airport (BBQ). VC Bird International Airport is located on the island of Antigua, about five miles northeast of the capital, St. John's, and is the major airport for the twin islands. It is served by direct flights from the US, including from Miami (MIA) and New York (JFK and EWR), and by one-stop and two-stop flights. The average nonstop flight time from the US is 8 hours 20 minutes, while direct flights from New York take around 4 hours.

Barbuda Codrington Airport is a smaller airport located on the island of Barbuda. It is served by SVG Air, which operates a small 7-seater plane to Barbuda from Antigua, with flights arriving in the early morning and late afternoon. There are also chartered flights available from Antigua to Barbuda, operated by Fly Montserrat and Carib Aviation.

Upon arrival at VC Bird International Airport, passengers can board a taxi or rent a car to get to the city centre or their accommodation. Car rental services are available at the airport, including Thrifty, Capital, Hertz, Dollar, Alamo, Budget, and Avis, and can be found on the ground floor of the main terminal. Taxis are located outside the arrival area.

If you are arriving at Barbuda Codrington Airport, it is recommended to call a taxi in advance as there are no taxi ranks on the island.

In addition to air travel, there are also ferry services available between Antigua and Barbuda. The Barbuda Express operates a catamaran service between St. John's, Antigua, and Barbuda, offering same-day one-way and round-trip services. The crossing takes approximately 90 minutes.

Frequently asked questions