In many ways, wellness has always been a part of life in the Caribbean. From home-cooked meals of garden-plucked ingredients to slow Sundays spent at the beach with family, community wellness is engrained in island culture. On the island of Antigua, wellness can be found in some of the usual places, like beachfront spas and yoga classes—but those looking to slow down can also find it in home cooking classes, farm tours, and scenic hikes. If you’re looking to step away from your daily grind and recharge your mental and physical health, here are some of the best places to explore Caribbean wellness in Antigua.
Hammock Cove Resort & Spa
Hammock Cove is located in Antigua’s east-end, slightly out of the way—which is a good thing if you’re seeking a bona fide break from your to-do list back home. The adults-only resort is set on a secluded cove, and among its enviable amenities (like personal ambassadors and 24-hour room service) is the intimate spa: There are five spacious treatment rooms, including a rotunda for couples, and a spa menu with a long list of treatments meant to moisturize, detox, and exfoliate. Many of the services here target skin health, like the caviar and plant-stem-cell facials, and avocado and shea butter body wraps meant to repair sun damage from long days spent on the property’s beach. Pre-service, you can relax by the spa courtyard pool or sweat out toxins at a class.
Verdant agricultural farmland in Guatemalan highlands, Central America.Lucy Brown – loca4motion
Looking for a screen-free escape? Humble and Free Wadadli—born from Antigua’s Rastafari community—offers eco-journeys into regenerative living, exploring the history and culture of Antigua through the lens of Rastafari. This collective of farmers and historians cultivates food security and offers activities that foster a deeper connection with nature. Through guided meditations, vegan Jabba (clay pot) cooking classes, and a tour of Ras Freeman, a former sugarcane plantation, you’ll get to engage your senses and learn about the region’s rich cultural heritage. “We’re farmers first,” says co-founder Ras Richie, “but farming isn’t just about food—it’s about healing history’s wounds and sowing a self-sufficient future.”
