Transportation in Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda runs on shared minivans, rental cars, and the occasional water taxi, no rail, no metro, just island roads and sea lanes. The minivans (look for "BUS" plates) are the cheap backbone: they loop the main island on two loosely defined circuits, one hugging the west coast through St. John's and the other cutting inland toward English Harbour. Flag them anywhere along the route. Pay when you hop off. Rental cars give you freedom to chase hidden beaches but require a local permit, pick it up at the same counter as the keys. Barbuda, reached by 90-minute ferry or a 15-minute flight, has almost no public transport. Once you dock, a single taxi rank or pre-arranged lodge pickup is the norm. First-timers: the minivans stop running around dusk, so if you're bar-hopping in English Harbour, line up a ride back before the rum kicks in. Avoid the "tour taxis" parked outside cruise terminals, they're a splurge compared to the regular cabs you'll find at supermarkets or gas stations. Download the "ABR Taxi" or "GetThere" apps for on-demand rides. Both work island-wide and show driver details upfront. From V.C. Bird International, the official taxi stand is just outside arrivals, no haggling needed, fares are fixed and posted. If you're on a tight budget, walk across the car park to the main road and flag any west-bound minivan; it's a fraction of the taxi cost and drops you in downtown St. John's in about 20 minutes.