Jumby Bay Island is a 300-acre private enclave just two miles north of Antigua in the West Indies. A haven for naturalists, the island plays host to a variety of wildlife including sheep, the White Egret and the Blue Pelican. Pasture Beach, on the island's windward side, is a protected nesting site of the endangered Hawksbill Sea Turtle. Tropical foliage and pristine white beaches characterize this secluded all-inclusive Caribbean private island hideaway accessible only by boat from Antigua.
Local Currency: Both the US Dollar (US$) and the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) are accepted on Antigua and nearby islands.
Immigration: Proof of citizenship and a ticket for onward destination is required for a visit. Check with the consulate or embassy in your home country for valid identifications, visas and other entry requirements. Australian, New Zealand, Japanese and EC Citizens: A valid passport for at least six months beyond the intended date of departure for visits up to six months. U.S. Citizens: A valid passport is required.
Customs: The following items may be taken into Antigua without payment of customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250 grams of tobacco and one liter of wine or spirits. Weapons and non-prescribed drugs are prohibited.
Departure Tax: A US$28 is assessed at V.C. Bird International Airport upon departure from Antigua.
Time Zone: EST
Climate: Jumby Bay has one of the most wonderful climates in the Caribbean. Little rainfall and warm tropical breezes and trade winds and an average temperate of about 81°F make Jumby Bay a true paradise.
History
The earliest inhabitants of Jumby Bay Island were South American Indians who arrived around 1775 BC. Most came to the island to mine flint, which was exported to other islands for the manufacture of primitive tools and weapons. Around 50 AD, the Arawaks arrived but were in turn displaced by the Caribs, an Indian tribe that continued to raid the island until 1674, at which time English settlers had replaced the Spaniards who colonized the island in the 1500s. The first European to discover the island was Christopher Columbus, an Italian sailing under Spanish colors in 1493. King Charles I granted Jumby Bay Island to Earl of Carlisle in 1627. In 1835, a Mr. Jarvis (owner of Jumby Bay at that time) rented the island to emancipated slaves who grew provisions to sell on Antigua. In 1935, an heir to the property used Jumby Bay to raise sheep. These sheep were descendants from those brought to the island by Spanish settlers who lived on the island in the 16th century. The wild sheep seen roaming on Jumby Bay today are descendants of those sheep. Jumby Bay was uninhabited for more than four decades before work began in the 1980s. In 1983, Jumby Bay opened as a private resort.