Summary

Darkwood beach is definitely one of my favourite beaches to visit. Known for its long stretch of white sand, pristine blue water and stunning sunsets with a small reef you can take a snorkel along to see a small variety of sea life. Although the beach sits alongside the road, it is relatively quiet. Whilst you can find some shade under a number of sea grape trees there is relatively little shade to be found. There are however a number of local restaurants and individuals who will gladly rent you umbrellas/parasols and sun loungers for a reasonable price.

Sea Access

With Darkwood beach being on the west coast of Antigua and touching the Caribbean sea, the beach is usually very calm. However, like all beaches there can sometimes be a change in weather pattern that cause ground swell to make the water more choppy/rough. Although this is less common I believe it’s worth mentioning just incase you get very unlucky and visit on one of those days.

Food and Drink

Unlike many other beaches in Antigua, you have 3 restaurants to choose from if your feeling hungry, making it one of those beaches you can easily stay all day at.

Restrooms

It is worth noting that there are no public restrooms on Darkwood beach. If you do find yourself in need of the facilities you will have to buy something from one of the restaurants to get access to their restrooms.

Food & Drink

There are 3 restaurants on Darkwood beach to choose from but if you are looking for a truly spectacular meal I would recommend going to Aunty Cavell’s restaurant for some of the best local food on island. I would definitely recommend putting in a order for a coconut crush (with a touch of rum if you’re feeling spicy ;) )....since you're there anyway.

If you’re not interested in a sit down meal, I’d recommend grabbing some of the loungers at either of the other two restaurants as they will happily bring your food and drinks to you.

Sunset

Sunsets are pretty stunning from Darkwood beach but if you are going to stay for it I would recommend you bring some insect repellent or something to cover yourself up with, as sand flies and mosquitoes will definitely be trying to enjoy the sunset with you.

If you’re tired of being on the beach all day but still want a romantic sunset view I’d recommend taking yourself over to Sheer Rocks for some amazing cocktails by the bar.

Beach Hopping

If beach hopping is your thing, there are a number of beautiful beaches close to Darkwood beach that I would recommend checking out, here are a few:

• Turners beach
• Ffryes beach
• Little Ffryes beach
• Morris Bay

Sunblock & Environment

Friendly reminder to wear sunblock. UV rays hit hard in Antigua. Trust me, you will still get a tan using factor 30+ and believe me when I tell you a golden brown looks a lot better than flakey red when you get back to the office haha. With that being said, please try to wear reef safe sunblock and apply it a short while before getting into the water. Along with many other islands, Antigua and Barbuda’s reefs are damaged from all the chemicals we bring into the water so all measure to prevent this are much appreciated.

Safety

Antigua and Barbuda are generally safe islands, but it's always wise to take precautions to ensure a worry-free vacation. We recommend avoiding leaving valuables unattended on the beach, as opportunistic theft can occur. Additionally, while Darkwood Beach is a serene spot during the day, it's best to avoid visiting beaches at night unless it's part of an organised event or activity.

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