Galleon Beach is one of two superb beaches in the English Harbour area. This is the first beach sailors hit as they make their way into the historical Nelson’s Dockyard. Galleon beach may be one of the most perfect beaches in Antigua when it comes to variety, you get the expected white sand beach and crystal water but you also get a great backdrop of flora and fauna, a variety of short hiking options to hidden gems, great snorkeling around to the Pillars of Hercules and you are almost guaranteed to see turtles (especially at dusk).
The opening of the Loose Cannon Restaurant situated directly on the beach now means you can easily get access to lounge chairs and cabanas although at a fairly steep price. Alternatively, there is a reasonable amount of shade under trees on either end of the beach.
As hinted on earlier, Galleon beach is one of those beaches where you can expect to see some interesting sea life. Four out of five times I go swimming there, I end up paddling along side a turtle, with the larger ones not being too bothered and carrying on with their afternoon meal. If you get lucky you may even see a small stingray glide past, however, they have a tendency to stay further way from people. For the best visuals snorkeling round the corner to the Pillars of Hercules and over to the small ship reck with the Scooter Snorkeling company is the way to go.
Galleon beach is a very calm beach with easy gradual access to the water making it great for families and those who are less sturdy on their feet. It is worth noting that a large slab of thick rock runs along a the middle of the beach, just as you get in the water. For this reason it is recommended that you enter the water from either the left or right side of beach as sea urchins can be found nestled in parts of that rock and standing on one of those will not be fun for either of you, trust me haha.
The most convenient spot to get food while at Galleon beach is definitely Loose Cannon Restaurant. Whilst, they are on the pricier side, the experience they deliver is very good and the ambience they have managed to create there is highly commendable. Alternatively, you can always take a short drive into English Harbour where there are many other great places to eat.
Galleon beach was originally a very quite beach but since Loose Cannon Restaurant opened, it’s definitely drawn more of a crowd with it being one of the more lively beach bar/restaurants in Antigua. If you’re looking for a quieter and more relaxing experience I would walk to the end of the beach as there is a section that somewhat separates itself from the rest and makes it feel like you are on your own private beach.
It is worth noting that while Galleon beach can be busy during the season due to Antigua being a popular destination for yachts and sailing boats, the beach does quieten down a lot in the off-season, May to October.
It is worth noting that there are no public restrooms on Galleon beach. If you do find yourself in need of the facilities you will have to buy something from Loose Cannon restaurants to get access to their restrooms although I’m not quite sure how they police this as their restrooms are not directly attached to the restaurant (you’ll see what I mean).
As mentioned before, Loose Cannon Restaurant will be your go to if you don’t intend on leaving the beach. However, if you are there on a Thursday or Sunday, I would 100% recommend taking yourself up to the world famous Shirley Heights to watch the sunset, enjoy local bands, chow down on their locally flavoured barbecue and of course the popular rum punch. There is a charge of about $10 usd to access Shirley Heights on those days. A price worth paying.
One of the most amazing things about this area are short hikes. Whenever I have friends or family visiting I always take them on a hike round to the Pillars of Hercules and to Mermaid Gardens, a stunning area with rock pools and cute little yellow and black fish. I recommend go going with a local guide such as Nick from Happy Heights.
I’ve heard nothing but great things about Scooter Snorkeling and the tours they provide.
The Academy Of Rum offers a great experience for those interested in doing something a bit different and leaving with your own flavoured bottle of rum.
Due to the position of Galleon beach, sunsets only get better and better as the sun continues to dip over the horizon. For some reason I don’t find the mosquitos and sun flies quite as bad as other beaches but I would still recommend that you bring some insect repellent or something to cover yourself up with as they will definitely be coming out as dusk hits.
If you’re tired of being on the beach all day but still want a spectacular sunset view I’d recommend taking yourself up to Shirley Heights. For a bit more privacy and to have a more tranquil semi-private moment I would recommend doing this on any day other than Sundays and Thursdays as those are the days the bar and restaurant are open.
If beach hopping is your thing, there are a couple of beautiful beaches close to Galleon beach that I would recommend checking out, here are a few:
While enjoying the natural beauty of Galleon beach, it's essential to be mindful of our impact on the environment. I encourage visitors to wear reef-safe sunblock as traditional sunscreens can harm the delicate coral reefs surrounding Antigua and Barbuda. Remember, a golden brown tan looks far better than a flaky red sunburn, and protecting the island's precious marine ecosystems is a collective responsibility.
Antigua and Barbuda are generally known for being safe islands, but it's always wise to take precautions to ensure a worry-free vacation. I recommend avoiding leaving valuables unattended on the beach, as opportunistic theft can occur. Additionally, while Galleon 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.
Galleon beach is located on the South Coast of Antigua near to English Harbour.
Distance from:
St John’s - 45 minutes
English Harbour - 6 minutes
Jolly Harbour - 50 minutes
Nonsuch Bay - 40 minutes
Like all other beaches in Antigua & Barbuda, this beach is free for everyone to use.
Why should you?