Half Moon Bay
Antigua's most beautiful hidden beach — a perfect horseshoe of white sand that feels like it belongs to you alone
Explore Half Moon Bay
Click any marker to find out more about each spot.
Things To Do at Half Moon Bay
Antigua's most beautiful and secluded beach experience.
The Beach Itself
Half Moon Bay is simply one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. A perfect horseshoe of powdery white sand with turquoise water that graduates from pale aquamarine at the shore to deep blue further out. The beach is protected by headlands on both sides, which keeps the water calm and the atmosphere peaceful.
Snorkelling
The reef just offshore from Half Moon Bay is one of the most accessible and rewarding snorkelling sites in Antigua. Colourful reef fish, sea turtles and the occasional nurse shark are regular sightings. The water is clear and the reef is in good condition. Bring your own snorkel gear — there's no hire available on the beach.
Beach Walking
The beach curves for about half a mile from headland to headland, and walking the full length at low tide is one of the most enjoyable things you can do in Antigua. The sand is firm and the views back across the bay from either headland are spectacular.
Nature & Wildlife
Half Moon Bay sits within a protected area and the surrounding vegetation is largely undisturbed. The headlands are home to several species of seabird, and the beach itself is an important nesting site for hawksbill sea turtles between May and November. If you're lucky, you might spot a turtle coming ashore at dusk.
Photography
Half Moon Bay is one of the most photographed beaches in the Caribbean — and for good reason. The combination of white sand, turquoise water and green headlands is extraordinary. The best light is in the morning, when the sun is behind you as you face the sea. The view from the northern headland is particularly spectacular.
Half Moon Bay Travel Guide
Half Moon Bay is the beach that Antigua keeps to itself. While Dickenson Bay gets the crowds and the resort hotels, Half Moon Bay sits quietly on the island's eastern coast, accessible only by a winding road through the countryside — and it's all the better for it.
The beach is a near-perfect horseshoe of white sand, about half a mile from headland to headland. The water is an extraordinary shade of turquoise — the kind of colour that makes you think your eyes are playing tricks on you. The headlands on either side protect the bay from the Atlantic swell, so the water is usually calm and clear, ideal for swimming and snorkelling.
Getting there requires a bit of effort. The road from the main highway is unpaved for the last stretch and can be rough in a standard car — a 4x4 is recommended, though most rental cars make it without too much drama. The journey takes about 45 minutes from St John's or the north coast resorts. There's a small car park at the top of the beach, and a simple beach bar that sells cold drinks and snacks.
The snorkelling here is excellent. The reef just offshore is in good condition and home to a wide variety of reef fish, sea turtles and the occasional nurse shark. The water is clear enough to see the bottom in most conditions. Bring your own snorkel gear — there's no hire available on the beach.
Half Moon Bay is at its best early in the morning, before the day-trippers arrive. If you can get there by 9am, you'll often have the beach almost entirely to yourself. By midday in high season it gets busier, but it never reaches the crowds of the north coast beaches. By late afternoon, as the day-trippers leave, the beach becomes magical again — the low sun turns the sand golden and the water takes on an almost luminescent quality.
This is the beach you'll remember long after you've forgotten the all-inclusive buffet.
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