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Leeward Islands

Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2025

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Overview

The Leeward Islands – Anguilla, Saba, Sint Eustatius, St Kitts and Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda – are a natural mosaic that for centuries has tugged mightily at the hearts of explorers, buccaneers, traders and boaters. On this string of islands stretching south in an arc east of Puerto Rico, dreamy white-sand beaches are flanked by crooked palms and surrounded by turquoise waters.

Attractions

Must-see attractions

  • The male frigate with red throat pouch, which it inflates as part of its courtship behaviour, Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda, Leeward Islands, West Indies, Caribbean, Central America

    Frigate Bird Sanctuary

    Antigua & Barbuda

    Codrington Lagoon National Park protects a vast estuary that supports one of the world's largest colonies of frigate birds. More than 2500 of these black…

  • Sandy Island

    Sandy Island

    Anguilla

    A trip to this tiny solar-powered islet is the quintessential Anguilla dream experience. Picture pure white-sand beach fringed by palm trees, translucent…

  • Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park

    Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park

    St Kitts & Nevis

    Even if you're not a fan of military installations, this massive hilltop compound with its citadels, bastions, barracks and ramparts will likely leave a…

  • Shoal Bay East

    Shoal Bay East

    Anguilla

    Idyllic Shoal Bay East – a shimmering 2-mile stretch of brilliant pinkish-white sand strewn with tiny crushed shells – is still miraculously blight-free…

  • Mt Scenery

    Mt Scenery

    Saba

    A dormant volcano that last erupted in 1640, Mt Scenery (887m) is the pinnacle of pyramid-shaped Saba, and officially the highest point in the Kingdom of…

  • Fort Oranje

    Fort Oranje

    Sint Eustatius

    Soak up history and sweeping views from this extensively restored fort, a mighty citadel complete with cannon, triple bastions and cobblestone parade…

  • Prickly Pear Cays

    Prickly Pear Cays

    Anguilla

    Perhaps topping even Anguilla's tiara of beaches, this twin island some 6 miles (10km) northwest of Sandy Ground seduces with its pristine white-sand…

  • Botanical Gardens of Nevis

    Botanical Gardens of Nevis

    Nevis

    It's easy to spend a couple of hours wandering around this enchanting symphony of orchids, palms, water-lily ponds, bamboo groves and other global flora…

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