Private island Jumby Bay preserves its unique ecosystem as it welcomes back guests this November
Ready to escape? Starting in November, there’s one secret getaway that is ready to take you. Hailed as the “Queen of Caribbean resorts,” Jumby Bay Island is set in one of the most beautiful untouched locations in the world. It’s a private island of simple pleasures in the nation of Antigua and Barbuda just two miles off mainland Antigua.
Jumby Bay Island is a secluded paradise ringed with coral reefs and reachable only by boat (with not a car in sight!). The isle comprises three white-powdered beaches, countless winding bicycle paths and lush trails to create a one-of-a-kind hideaway.
After touching down in Antigua, guests are whisked away via a VIP fast-track transfer on a short and scenic cruise, making it one of the most desirable and exclusive undisturbed beach retreats in the world. Surrounded by verdant tropical foliage, Jumby Bay Island spans 300 sheltered acres and is home to four and a half miles of pristine shoreline, with the main resort presiding over some of the most spectacular and fiercely-protected beaches in the Caribbean. The resort offers 28 brand-new, spacious suites, 22 private residences and 14 sprawling villas; excellent restaurants, à la carte dining and interactive culinary classes; a relaxing spa with treatments delivered by expert therapists and world-renowned facilities.
Guests can savor Caribbean cooking classes and rum tastings, water activities and a kid’s club. They can also opt to learn the secrets behind some of Jumby Bay’s best-loved local delicacies and how to recreate them at home, from conch ceviche and crab cakes with mango salsa to sweet treats like raisin fudge and coconut drops. Dining and refreshments are available at the Estate House, the Veranda on the seashore or 1830 Bar. Fresh, sustainable produce is gathered from right on the island and surrounding seas, with this daily harvest serving as the inspiration for Chef de Cuisine Mathew Liddell, who has a three-Michelin star pedigree and a deep-rooted passion for all things local.
For the more adventurous spirits, the island offers tranquil and warm waters, perfect for exploring nature or water sports. Bicycles are available for guests while the expert team at 22 Knots, the water sports center, is available for instruction, guided snorkel tours and round-the-island boat trips. Snorkel gear is always available for guests, as well as sea kayaks, wind surfers, paddle boards and an array of sail boats.
If wildlife watching is more your speed, keep your eyes peeled for hawksbill turtles. Connecting guests with nature is one of Jumby Bay’s key tenets, and the island itself is preserved and protected by a group of homeowners. As a result, Jumby Bay is home to one of the richest ecologies in the world.
Immersing oneself in the natural environment is as simple as enjoying a walk with one of Jumby’s informative gardeners. You might spot exotic fruits, such as sugar apple and sapodilla, fragrant herbs and local spices while meeting free-roaming ducks, Persian black-headed sheep and a tortoise or two. Walking tours conclude with a sampling of the fruits and vegetables encountered, washed down with a refreshing drink of coconut water straight from the shell.
For younger voyagers, the Jumby Explorers Kids’ Club offers the opportunity for children to take an active part in the island’s conservation efforts. Under the direction of specialist researchers and turtle experts, littler travelers can experience a turtle nesting on Pasture Bay Beach, participate in the release of hatchlings into the sea and even “adopt” their own turtle.
The experience as a whole is an immersive moment of connection with nature through guided tours, excursions and hands-on activities. Guests have the opportunity to learn about the native wildlife population and enjoy its stunning natural surroundings and to partake in the nightly turtle watch to see turtle eggs being laid and hatching.
In an effort to preserve and showcase its natural beauty, Jumby Bay remains staunchly devoted to all sustainability efforts, carrying out several initiatives that preserve its environment and indigenous species. This includes a recycling program that has made Jumby Bay the largest recycler of bottles, cans and golf cart batteries on Antigua and efforts to reuse all bi-products of island life. Sewage water is purified and stored in a central tank for plant irrigation and all yard cuttings, including grass, leaves, branches and general foliage, are chipped and turned into mulch and compost for landscaping on the island.
