Long Bay was a little different from the beaches we’d visited so far, not least because it required a 40-minute drive across Antigua from our home on the west coast to the island’s eastern shoreline.
The journey itself was part of the experience, taking us through villages and countryside that reminded us just how varied this relatively small island can be.
On arrival, it quickly became apparent that Long Bay naturally divides itself into two distinct worlds. At one end, the guests of Pineapple Beach Club enjoyed the comforts and convenience of their all-inclusive resort. At the other, locals, independent travellers and day-trippers, like us, gathered to enjoy the same beautiful stretch of sand, but in a rather more informal way.
We hired sun beds and an umbrella from a friendly, local gentleman who immediately made us feel welcome. As a novice snorkeler, I was particularly grateful for the advice he shared about the best places to enter the water, the direction of the currents and the varying sea depths along the bay. Local knowledge like that is invaluable and often makes all the difference between a good day and a memorable one.
As it turned out, we couldn’t have chosen a better spot. The sea was wonderfully warm, even by Caribbean standards, and the underwater life was surprisingly abundant. Shoals of fish seemed to be everywhere, darting amongst the rocks and seagrass, providing plenty to admire during my snorkelling adventures. I spent far longer in the water than I’d originally intended, simply enjoying the clarity, warmth and marine life.
The only downside to Long Bay was the lack of anywhere to grab a bite to eat as the local beach bar at our end of the beach was closed for the season. After a day of sunbathing, swimming and snorkelling, we found ourselves getting hungry and eventually had to pack up a little earlier than planned. Still, that simply gave us an excuse to continue our exploration of Antigua as we headed off in search of dinner.
Our search took us around thirty minutes south-west to Papparazzi Pizzeria and Bar at Nelson’s Dockyard. Ordinarily, we might not have chosen pizza whilst living in Antigua, preferring to seek out dishes we couldn’t easily find back home. However, the restaurant had come highly recommended by the owner of our accommodation, and curiosity eventually won out.
Arriving shortly after 5pm, just as the restaurant was opening for the evening, we found ourselves among the first customers. We were welcomed by Justin, a friendly young local who, as it turned out, lived not far from Long Bay himself.
With the restaurant still quiet, conversation came easily. Before long, he and my husband were discussing English Premier League football. An Arsenal supporter and talented athlete who had represented Antigua on neighbouring islands, Justin was eagerly anticipating the Champions League Final the following evening and even invited my husband back to watch the match on the large screen in the bar.
The pizzas proved every bit as good as we’d been promised. One of the more unusual features was the opportunity to add Caribbean-inspired toppings such as jerk chicken, while the option of ordering a half-and-half pizza made it easy to sample more than one combination.
As the sun slowly began to set across the harbour, we enjoyed our meal from an outdoor table overlooking the bay.
It was a familiar style of restaurant, but one that had been given its own distinctly Caribbean character. Combined with the warm welcome and relaxed setting, it provided the perfect end to a memorable day on Antigua’s east coast, and it’s somewhere we’ll certainly return to if the opportunity arises.
The meal provided a fitting end to what had already been an excellent day on Antigua’s east coast.
In fact, our experience at Long Bay left such a positive impression that we found ourselves returning a second time whilst living on the island.
Our original plan had been to spend the day at Half Moon Bay, one of our favourite beaches from a previous visit to Antigua in February and also on the East Coast. Unfortunately, when we arrived we discovered that the beach was heavily affected by sargassum seaweed. Disappointed, but unwilling to waste the day, we decided to retrace our route and head back to Long Bay instead.
It turned out to be an easy decision. The warm, clear water, excellent snorkelling and relaxed atmosphere were exactly as we remembered from our first visit. Sometimes the best travel experiences aren’t the ones you carefully plan, but the places you happily return to when your original plans fall through.
With its warm waters, excellent snorkelling and relaxed local atmosphere, Long Bay proved well worth the drive, offering yet another reminder that some of the island’s best experiences are often found away from the resort gates.
Final Thoughts
Looking back, it’s not just the beach that stands out in our memories of Long Bay. It’s the friendly local advice that led us to the best snorkelling spots, the abundance of fish beneath the surface, the conversation with Justin over football, and the sunset enjoyed over dinner at the end of the day. Together, those moments captured exactly what we loved most about Antigua: beautiful places, welcoming people and the occasional surprise that turns a good day into a memorable one
Have you ever found that a change of plans led to an even better day than the one you’d originally planned? Let me know in the comments below – I’d love to hear your stories.
And if you enjoyed this post, a like is always appreciated and helps others discover my travel adventures too.
A Midlife Adventure 
Sounds like a lovely day, sometimes change of plans happen for the best. And the pizza’s look delicious.
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Thank you for reading 🙏
They were amazing. I’m not a massive pizza fan but my husband is and he said they were some of the best he’d tasted. I think the Caribbean emphasis on the toppings helped 😊
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