Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Dickenson Bay

Squish_E / Flickr

Key Info

Tours & Tickets

Details

Beaches Type
2 hours to Half Day Time to Spend

4.2

Overall

Scorecard

Value

5.0
Facilities

4.0
Atmosphere

4.0

Read about how we rank Things to Do.

Located in northwest Antigua in St. John's parish, Dickenson Bay is considered the premier beach of the island's 365 stretches of shoreline. That's because Dickenson offers a little for every type of beachgoer. Do you like lying in the warm sand? Check. Have you always wanted to go on a glass-bottom boat tour? Check. Maybe you like watersports to get the adrenalin pumping? Check — Dickenson has it. On some days, you'll even find a few dolphins swimming alongside you in the crystal clear water.

Dickenson Bay is one of the more accessible Antiguan beaches. The beach is only a 15 minute drive from the cruise port and there's a nearby taxi stand if you're not staying in one of the area hotels. Plenty of umbrellas and beach chairs are available to rent. The beach's convenient location attracts a lot of families; trek one mile south to Runaway Bay if you want more peace and quiet or consider a beachside stroll. "The 2 or 3 kilometer stretch of beach makes for nice walking, especially to the right as there is a large stretch of undeveloped beach up to the cliffs," one TripAdvisor reviewer said.

Local vendors set up kiosks for a little light souvenir shopping, and there are also a handful of moderately priced shops and eateries in the area.

Hotels Nearby

Thing to Do
Hotel

Anchorage Inn ...

0.6 Miles Away
3.0-star Hotel Class

Siboney Beach Club ...

0.9 Miles Away
3.0-star Hotel Class

Buccaneer Beach Club ...

0.9 Miles Away
3.0-star Hotel Class

See all hotels in Antigua »

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#1 Nelson's Dockyard National Park If you only break from the beach for one day, head to the beautifully restored English Harbour where you'll find Nelson's Dockyard National Park. The naval dockyard was ... Read more » Caitlinator / Flickr

#2 Shirley Heights Wear some comfortable shoes and make the hike from English Harbour in Nelson's Dockyard National Park to the summit of Shirley Heights. On a clear day, the panorama (located ... Read more » Z dead / Flickr

#3 Devil's Bridge Millions of years of reef formation amount to this: The Devil's Bridge. The natural limestone arch located in eastern Antigua, near Indian Town, has sustained the crash of ocean ... Read more » Z dead / Flickr

#4 Hawksbill Beaches The four secluded Hawksbill beaches — Royal Palm Beach, Sea Grape Beach, Honeymoon Cove and Eden Beach — are technically on the property of the Hawksbill by Rex Resorts, but they're ... Read more » V.J. Matthew / Shutterstock

#5 Dickenson Bay Located in northwest Antigua in St. John's parish, Dickenson Bay is considered the premier beach of the island's 365 stretches of shoreline. That's because Dickenson offers a ... Read more » Squish_E / Flickr

#6 Valley Church Beach Just south of Jolly Harbour on the island's west coast, you'll find the serene waters and soft sand of Valley Church. The natural beauty of the palm tree-lined ... Read more » Lindasj22 / Shutterstock.com

#7 St. John's Saturday Morning Market Many head straight from the cruise ship dock to Antigua's Heritage Quay or Redcliffe Quay duty-free shopping centers, but insiders know where the real deals are: The Saturday Morning ... Read more » Geoff Howes / Antigua & Barbuda Tourist Office

#8 Galley Bay Beach Galley Bay Beach on the northwest coast of the island has some of the best surfing waves in Antigua. Plus it's a must-see for animal lovers. Sea turtles often ... Read more » Geoff Howes / Antigua & Barbuda Tourist Office

#9 Betty's Hope Built in 1674 and named after the daughter of one of its former owners, Betty's Hope was the first and largest sugar plantation on the island. It's no ... Read more » Ragingwhitebuffalo / Wikimedia

#10 Half Moon Bay You'll have to put a little effort into visiting one of the most breathtaking beaches of Antigua, as easternmost Half Moon Bay is far away from just about everything ... Read more » Squish_E / Flickr