Jolly Beach, the marina and the golf course showcase three different sides of Jolly Harbour: coastline, boating and sport. There is also a sports centre and a shopping centre. For planning, it helps to first choose your preferred focus: the beach, an activity on the water or sports facilities.

Beach and harbour

Jolly Beach is an approximately one-mile-long beach with powder-white sand. It lies on Antigua’s west coast near Jolly Harbour, beside the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. The beach is therefore a coastal attraction in its own right, alongside the facilities within the settlement.

Within its gated community, Jolly Harbour has public facilities: a marina, a golf course, a sports centre and a shopping centre. The Jolly Harbour Yacht Club also describes Jolly Harbour as a securely located harbour in the islands and lists facilities for yachts, motorboats and megayachts. The beach and harbour thus offer two distinct starting points for planning a trip.

Boat tour and snorkelling

The marina is the departure point for the Reef Riders tour. Guests can pilot a two-person inflatable boat themselves from Jolly Harbour Marina. The tour also includes a guided snorkelling trip at Cades Reef, which the operator describes as part of the National Marine Reserve. The tour therefore combines a self-piloted boat ride with a guided snorkelling trip. Confirm current availability before booking.

Tennis, swimming and golf

The Jolly Harbour Sports Centre offers tennis lessons and floodlit tennis courts for hire. For these activities, it is advisable to confirm current availability before visiting. The centre also has a large swimming pool with sun loungers. For tennis, you can choose between lessons and court hire; the pool is another feature of the sports centre.

The Jolly Harbour Golf Club course is 5,587 yards long. Its fairways run through green, hilly terrain, and the course has seven lakes. The club includes a clubhouse with a pro shop, snack bar, showers and changing room. Check with the operator for the current availability of the club’s facilities.

Hiking in the wider destination of Saint Mary

The wider destination of Saint Mary also has hiking trails with clearly differentiated difficulty levels and timeframes. The Button Pond hiking trail is considered easy, is three miles long and takes approximately one hour. The Signal Hill hiking trail is considered moderate, is five miles long and takes approximately two and a half hours. This gives you a choice between a shorter, easier hike and a longer, moderately challenging route. Check with the protected area in advance for current trail availability.

When planning, you can weigh the activities according to their character: Jolly Beach offers a coastal experience, the Reef Riders tour takes you out on the water, and the sports centre and golf club provide other activities in town. The hiking trails are in the wider destination of Saint Mary and offer another point of comparison in terms of length, difficulty and duration.

Discover more destinations: Bolans, Jennings, Old Road.

Back to the wider travel overview: Saint Mary.