Antigua Villa Vacations with CVOA
Choose one of CVOA's beautiful Antigua villas. Only a four hour flight from the east coast of the United States, Antigua's 365 white and pink sand beaches are sure to draw you to this English speaking island. Antigua is warm year round with temperatures ranging from approximately 75 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit with low humidity and a rainfall rate of about 45 inches per year. Enjoy the warm tropical climate swimming, walking or just sunning! Antigua's reef protects most of the island providing excellent conditions for shallow diving and snorkeling, with about 50 to 140 feet of underwater visibility. Perfect for gazing upon the wondrous underwater sea life.

Antigua has been the sailing capital of the Caribbean since Admiral Lord Nelson chose it as the British fleet's Caribbean headquarters in 1784. Now it is home to yachts rather than Men of War, but all of its natural advantages remain the same. Antigua is home to the Stanford Antigua Sailing Week, one of the premier sailing regattas in the world. Come for a visit in spring as a competitor or as a spectator. English Harbour, a picturesque historic area, has much to offer with its yachts, restaurants and bars. Spend your Caribbean villa vacation in an Antigua villa and enjoy all this friendly and hospitable island has to offer!

Antigua is a Caribbean island part of the country of Antigua and Barbuda. Known also as Wadadli, which means approximately "our own", it has a population of about 68,000 with an area of 108 square miles and is 54 miles in circumference.

With a population of over 31,000 people, the capital of St. John's is situated in the northwest at 17° 6' N. and 61° 45' W. It is near to V.C. Bird International Airport, and has a deep harbour capable of accommodating large cruise ships. According to the 2001 census, other leading population settlements are All Saints (3,412) and Liberta (2,239).

On the southeastern coast is English Harbour, the site of a restored British colonial naval station and famed as a "hurricane hole" (protected shelter during violent storms). The naval station is called "Nelson's Dockyard". At the time, Nelson was a Captain and in correspondence made it clear he would rather be facing the French, preferring not to be there. Presently, English Harbour and the neighboring village of Falmouth are an internationally famous sailing and yachting destination and provisioning centre. Antigua Sailing Week, an annual world-class regatta started in 1967, brings many sailing vessels and sailors to Antigua to race and party at the end of April and beginning of May.

History of Antigua
Antigua was first inhabited by the Siboney, meaning "stone people" in the Arawak language, whose settlements date at least to 2400 BC. The Siboney were great craftsmen, skilled at making such things as jewelry and stone tools. The Arawaks ­ who originated in Venezuela, and gradually migrated up the chain of islands now called the Lesser Antilles ­ succeeded the Siboney. The Arawaks brought farming to the island, cultivating crops of pineapples, peppers, corn, sweet potatoes, guava, cotton, and tobacco. The Carib people drove the Arawaks from neighboring islands but evidently did not settle on either Antigua or Barbuda.

Antigua was stumbled upon by accident in 1493 by Christopher Columbus, who is said to have named it called Santa Maria la Antigua, after a church in Seville, Spain. It remained basically uninhabited until 1632, when a group of English settlers took possession of it. Following attacks by Carib Indians, this settlement was abandoned. Another English settlement was effected in 1663 under the direction of Lord Willoughby, to whom the entire island was granted by Charles II of England. In 1666, it was ravaged by the French, but was soon after reclaimed by the British. Antigua was formally restored to them by the Treaty of Breda. Bringing with him the newest techniques in sugarcane farming, Sir Christopher Codrington arrived on Antigua in 1674. Sugarcane dominated the island's economy over the next half century and by the 18th century, Antigua. possessed more than 150 sugarcane processing windmills. The island remained under British dominance until 1981, when Antigua and Barbuda gained independence. The government is a constitutional monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state and two elected houses, the upper one called the Senate.

Culture
Antigua has been ranked as the 16th happiest country in the world by an independent scientific study. The island’s culture is predominantly British which is noticeable throughout many aspects of the society but, American popular culture also has a considerable influence. Religion and Family play an important role in the lives of Antiguans. Carnival, a national celebration during the month of August each year, historically commemorates the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies. The celebration is a notable tourist attraction and includes contests, pageants, shows and festive activities.

Demographics and Economy
The island’s economy has become increasingly reliant upon tourism, and it markets itself as a luxury Caribbean escape. Located around the coastline are many hotels and resorts. Antigua’s only airport is serviced by several major airlines including Air Canada, American Airlines, British Airways, BWIA, Continental, Delta Air Lines, US Airways and Virgin Atlantic. The only regular service to Barbuda departs from V.C. Bird International Airport. The small Antigua Air Station adjacent to the airport is maintained by the United States Air Force.

The East Caribbean Dollar is the country's official currency. Many prices in tourist oriented businesses though, are shown in US dollars. The EC dollar is pegged to the US dollar at a fixed rate of $1 US = $2.67 EC.

People of African or mixed African and European (predominately British) ancestry make up the majority of the population. Due to Portuguese indentured servants brought to the West Indies after the abolition of slavery, there is a minority of people of Portuguese, mixed Portuguese and African ancestry. The remainder of the populace consists of Europeans, notably Irish and British and Christian Levantine Arabs (primarily of Syrian, Lebanese and Palestinian descent). There is also a small population of Sephardic Jews.

An increasingly large percent of the population live overseas, particularly in Canada, England and the United States. A minority of the Antiguan residents are immigrants from other countries, principally Dominica, Guyana and Jamaica. There is also a significant population of American citizens estimated at 4500 people which would make it one of the largest American citizen populations in the English speaking Eastern Caribbean.