Devil’s Bridge in Antigua: All You Need to Know

One of the more memorable places I visited during my stay in the Caribbean paradise of Antigua, was Devil’s Bridge. This natural landmark is both immensely beautiful and intimidating and is a must do when exploring the island. Devil’s Bridge commonly shows up in search results for things to do in Antigua. While there’s not a huge amount to do when you get there, its definitely a spot worth checking out. While it was the last place I saw on the island before getting on my departing flight, Devil’s Bridge in Antigua is one of the spots that I remember off the top of my head when looking back at my time on the island.

• If you’re heading to this island, you’ll want to do much more than visiting Devil’s Bridge in Antigua. You can read my ultimate guide to Antigua HERE.

The Basics

• Where? Pares Village Main Road, past Willikies, Long Bay
• When? Any time
• How much? Admission to Devil’s Bridge is free.
• How to get there: You’ll need a car or taxi to get to Devil’s Bridge. Its about a 30 minute drive from St John’s.

What to Know About Devil’s Bridge

Devil’s Bridge offers the finest example of Antigua’s natural limestone base. While much of the island is surrounded by sandy shores, at this site, you’ll be able to see the island’s rugged terrain, brought about by millions of years of ancient reef deposits. Among the cliffs, Devil’s Bridge is, quite appropriately, a bridge, extending over rough Atlantic waves crashing into the island. The Bridge’s natural arch was actually formed by the elements, with thousands of years of waves battering the lower parts of the cliff causing them to erode away, leaving the current formation we see today. This natural phenomenon has also blessed the site with blowholes that spray up over the Bridge during high tide.

Devil’s Bridge has an interesting history. Its thought that prehistoric Amerindians settled nearby and used the area as a fishing sight. In more recent times however, the rocky bridge gained its name through Antigua’s more sombre history, with many suggesting it was the home of the Devil, due to the amount of death the site saw. During the period of slavery under British colonisation, many African slaves came to Devil’s Bridge to commit suicide, throwing themselves into the rough water’s below in a bid to escape their horrid fate. Some scholars have even gone so far to note that from Devil’s Bridge, following the Atlantic Ocean will eventually take you to the shores of West Africa, with no landmasses in between. This fact makes the knowledge of Devil’s Bridge’s history even more disturbing.

On a lighter note, Devil’s Bridge is also the site of Antigua’s annual Kite Festival, which would make for quite the visual!

How to Get to Devil’s Bridge

Devil’s Bridge is on the far east of Antigua, beyond the town of Willikies. Depending where you’re coming from, it will probably take about 30 minutes to get to Bridge. Wherever you’re based, you’ll need to make your way to Pares Village Main Road (which naturally passes through the small village of Pares – near Betty’s Hope) and keep going further east into Saint Philip parish. Keep following the road right until the end and you’ll notice the road become progressively worse. By the time you reach the limestone rocks, the road will be filled with potholes, so if you’re driving, take it slow. You’ll know you’re there when the ocean comes into view and you see the big sign marking the destination. There’s plenty of parking nearby.

I had a local friend driving me around in Antigua, but if you’re travelling independently, you can’t get too lost on this small island. Use your GPS and you’ll get there.

Unfortunately, I’m not aware of any public transport that goes out to Devil’s Bridge. That means if you don’t have your own wheels, you’ll need to rely on a taxi or tour provider.

Hanging Out at Devil’s Bridge

There’s not much to do at Devil’s Bridge. The main reason to come here is to enjoy the site in all its natural beauty. I only spent about half an hour here, and chances are you won’t spend much longer. If you enjoy taking photos like me, you’ll spend a lot of time trying to get the perfect shot of the Bridge. Aim to visit at high tide and you’ll get the most action from the waves and blowhole. While it wasn’t high tide during my visit, I immediately noticed just how different the water was on this side of the island. With many of Antigua’s beaches offering calm Caribbean waters, this is very much Atlantic swell.

It probably goes without saying after reading about the grimmer side of the Bridge’s history, but you definitely cannot go swimming here. If you end up in the waters under the Bridge, there’s a very high risk of injury or death. For the same reason, I don’t recommend walking across the Bridge’s arch. The highly slippery terrain gets soaked by waves of sea water. While I saw one person doing it without any dramas, I definitely wouldn’t test fate here. Use common sense and be safe here.

When you’re done taking in the view, you’ll probably see a few local vendors setting up shop around the area. Browse their wares if you’re interested in some Antiguan handcrafts before taking a reprieve from the windy cliffs as you continue on with your day.

What Else is Nearby?

I actually visited Devil’s Bridge at the very end of my Antigua trip, with my friend taking me to see the spot on the way to the airport. Chances are you’ll have a bit more time to see the nearby area when you visit. I didn’t spend much time in the eastern part of Antigua, but another of the island’s more popular tourist spots is nearby, with the Betty’s Hope plantation providing a glimpse into Antigua’s colonial past. You can find it back towards Pares about 15 minutes driving from the Bridge. While I didn’t go, Sting Ray City makes for another popular nearby destination, where you can get up close with stingrays in their natural environment. Closer to the Bridge, you’ve got Long Bay Beach, a popular spot to enjoy the sun and sea amongst the many luxury resorts in the area.

It might not seem like much, but a visit to Devil’s Bridge should be on your plans if you’re coming to Antigua. By visiting this rugged part of the island you’ll experience a very different side to the island’s landscape. It may seem out of the way to some for such a relatively short stop, but with other things to see in the area, I really think you could have a great day trip exploring this side of the island. Devil’s Bridge stuck with me. I’ve seen blowholes and cliffs before, but this one is something else and deserves your attention.