About Fort James Beach Antigua
Also known as Fort Bay Beach
This beach is popular with cruise ship visitors, as you start to enter Antigua Harbour you will see this beach to your left. It's popular with cruisship visitors as it's close to the docks and offers all you need in terms of beach comforts. You can get a beach umbrella and beach bed while staff can whip up rum punches or ice cold beer. After you had enough get showered off with fresh water showers (a big plus for me) and perhaps head into St Johns to take a look around. You could walk up to Fort James itself.
Looking North up Fort James Beach
Enjoy these images of Fort James Beach
Organised transfers to Fort James Beach
You can arrange a transfer from the cruise ship dock and then negotiate your bed and umbrella upon arrival.
Millers by the Beach
This beach bar is popular with cruise ship visitors as it's close to the docks and offers all they need in terms of beach comforts. On occasion, the bar is open for special evening events for mostly Antiguans and any tourists lucky enough to find out. An alternative place is the quite new Beach Limerz at the opposite end of the beach near Fort James.
Getting there
Bars and restaurants nearby: Millers by the Sea provides good food and cold beer. Beach Limerz and Russels closer to Fort James towards the south or 'left' facing the sea..
Sometimes called Fort James Beach for the fort nearby; Fort James is a small enjoyable hike away. There is ample parking and this makes a very nice family beach friendly stop. It can be walked and is not normally considered dangerous.
Reviews
Fort James Beach didn't disappoint!
"What a beautiful beach! Long stretch of white sand approx 30 minutes drive from cruise port. Activities include horse riding and a great way to enjoy the beach if you get the opportunity! Facilities are a little basic with a few beach restaurants to choose from. Swimming conditions generally safe but we didn't see any lifeguard on duty so caution is advised. The locals tend to gather further up the beach near the rocky part and a walk through the water along the beach front is enjoyable as the gentle waves wash over your feet. Definitely one of the better beaches on the island."
Date of visit: January 2025
Quiet sandy beach with blue waters
"Deserted beach with nice sand and a gently sloping beach. Reasonably clean by non hotel beach standards in Antigua and very little weed compared to some on the island. I spent many lazy days with almost the entire beach to myself and nobody hassling me which is not the case on Dickenson. Beach Limerz bar at the south end of the beach but very little else. If you are looking for more action (and hassle from beach boys who can be aggressive) go to Dickenson. I wanted peace and quiet so this was perfect. Take a look around Fort James at sunset too. You can drive right in..no parking charge, no entry charge."
Date of visit: May 2024
Brilliant Deserted Beach!
"We ended up here on Easter Sunday. Everything (3 small restaurants) was shut down, which maybe explained the lack of crowds, but the solitude completely delighted us. A few locals jogged by, some beach dogs adopted us, and the day was spent frolicking in gorgeous water and lounging in a shady spot. The water was churned up, so snorkeling was sub-optimal with little visibility, but on a calm day, there would be scads of fish to see near the rocks to the west. Still, the loveliest day."
Date of visit: April 2023
Reviews provided by Trip Advisor
