Beaches

Antigua and Barbuda is known as the land of 365 beaches, and within the National Park, we will unashamedly boast that we have some of the best ones. This is not only due to the stunning aesthetics and the tranquil blue water, but also the biological aspect of our beaches. Beaches are incredibly dynamic systems and they provide support to a diverse array of fauna and flora.

Flora along beaches usually have some adaptation to aid in their survival of the salty conditions in which they live. These adaptations include thick leaves which may lead to greater storage of fresh water and prevention of water loss through the process of osmosis, and great vertical spread of root systems to enable stability within a shifting sandy landscape. Along the beaches within the park, you will find a variety of flora including:

Sea Grape (Coccoluba uvifera)
Coconut (Cocus nucifera)
Succulents
Mangrove Plants

Fauna along beaches are sometimes hard to spot, many times preferring to come out under the cover of darkness to prevent excessive heat exposure, or only being exposed for brief moments when the water is retracting from the sand. They include: