How to Safely Swim with Stingrays in Antigua

Q: Are There Stingrays in Antigua?

Yes, there are stingrays in Antigua . Stingray City offers visitors the unique opportunity to swim with, feed, and interact with Southern Stingrays in shallow waters. The stingrays are free to come and go as they please, but they often come to interact with humans due to regular feeding.

Q: Where in Antigua Can You Swim with Stingrays?

You can swim with stingrays in Antigua at Stingray City , situated on the northeastern coast of the island. You can meet, feed, and even touch these incredible creatures while in crystal-clear, knee-deep waters. Prefer not to touch or feed them, like me? You can snorkel with them.

Q: Are Stingrays in Antigua Dangerous?

No, stingrays in Antigua are not inherently dangerous . But you do need to treat them with respect and caution. While at Stingray City, don't step on their tails or you might step on their barb. In the ocean, respect their space and don't chase them or get near them while snorkelling or scuba diving.

Q: Is Stingray City Antigua Ethical?

No, Stingray City Antigua is not considered ethical . Human contact spreads germs and weakens the stingray's immune system. Feeding them makes them more reliable on humans and less independent. While it is incredible to see them up close, the best option for visiting Stingray City is to just snorkel with them and observe them like I did.

Q: What Animals Can You Swim with in Antigua?

In Antigua, you can swim with stingrays, pigs, turtles , and a variety of marine animals. You'll find stingrays at Stingray City, pigs at Pig Beach, and turtles at beaches like Galleon Beach and elsewhere on the island.

Looking for how to safely swim with stingrays in Antigua? You’ve come to the right place.

For those searching for a unique adventure, nothing compares to swimming with stingrays in Antigua.

Picture this: you are in crystal-clear Caribbean waters, heart thumping with anticipation, as curious stingrays glide through the water around you. Maybe even touching your leg like they did mine.

But is it safe? Yes, it’s safe as long as you follow safety protocols.

Let’s get right into how to safely swim with stingrays in Antigua.

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a girl swimming with stingrays in antigua

Table of Contents

Is it Safe to Swim with Stingrays in Antigua?

Yes, it is safe to swim with stingrays in Antigua as long as you follow the safety guidelines.

How to safely swim with stingrays:

Always listen to your guide
Don’t jump in the water around them to not scare them
Don’t step on a stingray’s tail and instead shuffle your feet in the water
Don’t grab a stingray’s tail
Be respectful of their space

a girl being careful to safely swim with stingrays in antigua and not step on a stingray's tail

The Southern Stingrays in Antigua are known to be friendly and are used to human interaction, but it’s important to remember that they are still wild animals.

I got excited to see them and started jumping, but quickly calmed myself down so that the stingrays would not be scared and would come closer to me.

How to Get to Stingray City Antigua

Stingray City is located in Willikies on the northeast side of the island.

To get to Stingray City Antigua, you can drive, take a taxi, ride a bus, or go as part of a tour.

Taxi rides take 25-30 minutes and the cost starts at $25 USD.

To take the bus, take bus #33 to Church, where you will have to walk 10 minutes from the bus stop to reach the parking lot. If you take the bus, go early so you have multiple options to get back to St.John’s.

The easiest and most popular way to get to Stingray City is via a tour, with driving being the next best.

Driving directions to Stingray City from St. John’s VC Bird Monument:

Turn Right onto Valley Road which becomes Market Street
Turn Right onto South Street
Turn Right onto Independence Avenue
Turn Left onto Queen Elizabeth Highway
Merge onto Factory Road
Continue onto Sir Sydney Walling Highway
Turn Left onto Pares Village Main Road
After here, streets aren’t labelled and you’ll need to look out for signs for Stingray City Antigua

If you are driving in Antigua, be aware that Google Maps isn’t always accurate for locations. Stingray City was one block over from where it was listed on the map.

Instead of making that last right down the hill, stay straight and it’ll be on that road on the right. My GPS took me down the steep hill and we had to turn around.

a stingray at stingray city antigua as seen on a tour

3 Best Stingray City Tours

Island Safari & Stingray Fantasy Antigua – a half-day tour including a 4×4 safari, a visit to swim with stingrays, lunch, and round-trip transportation

Stingray City Antigua – a half-day tour including swimming with stingrays and round-trip transportation to/from your hotel

Hike & Ray Combo Tour – a hike to either Fort George or Carpenter’s Rock, followed by snorkelling with stingrays at Stingray City

stingrays in antigua seen at stingray city

What It’s Like Swimming with Stingrays in Antigua

Here’s what it’s like swimming in Antigua with stingrays at Stingray City:

Once you arrive for your tour time, you go over how to safely swim with the stingrays.

Hop on your assigned boat and ride for 5 minutes over to the shallow sandbar where the stingrays will come.

There are docks to enter the water and it gets hot! Luckily the guides pour water on the dock to cool it off to walk on.

Grab your snorkel and get ready to swim with the stingrays! I wasn’t even ready and I felt a stingray touch my leg while it swam past me. It was so smooth and slimy feeling!

Once everyone is in the water, they get everyone to line up for photos holding a stingray. I don’t touch wildlife, so I didn’t hold one and instead spent more time snorkelling around.

I was in awe of how close I was to stingrays! I’ve seen stingrays while snorkelling in Galleon Beach Antigua earlier in the week and while diving at other tropical destinations, but it’s not safe to get close to them in the open ocean, so this was a real treat.

a girl going for a swim with stingrays in antigua

Stingray City Antigua is one of the most popular things to do in Antigua and I could see why. It’s incredible to see stingrays almost face to face.

After almost an hour, the stingrays leave. Depending on which tour you booked, you head back to land or onwards to Laviscount Island to see the tortoise sanctuary.

What to Pack

Swimsuit – you can wear it under your clothes or change on-site
Towel – to dry off and protect you from the sun on the boat
Reef Safe Sunscreen
Sunglasses
Waterproof phone case or waterproof camera – you won’t want to miss capturing memories with the stingrays
Shampoo/conditioner/body wash – if you plan to use the showers

Stingray City Facilities

On-site at Stingray City Antigua you will find:

Washrooms with change rooms and showers
A snack hut
Souvenir vendors
Photo souvenir booth (guides take photos during your visit to the stingrays)

The showers were great for washing off after and heading off to explore more of the island. But bring your own shampoo and body wash.

I was going to buy a stingray plushy from the souvenir shop, but I forgot and guess I’ll need to plan a trip back to Antigua to get one.

a group of stingrays swimming in antigua

Tips for Swimming with Stingrays in Antigua

Always listen to your tour guide as they will keep you safe during your visit to Stingray City
Don’t feed the stingrays unless you are instructed to do so by the guide. Improper feeding can harm these beautiful creatures
Don’t touch the stingrays as our germs are hurtful to the immune system of the stingrays
Use environmentally friendly sunscreen and avoid using tanning lotion which will harm marine life, including stingrays
Visit in the early morning or late afternoon for fewer crowds, especially in the busy winter season

Things to Do in Northern Antigua

Betty’s Hope – a historic sugar plantation, offering visitors a glimpse into the island’s colonial past
Antigua Donkey Sanctuary – a refuge dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and care of Antigua’s donkey population
Devil’s Bridge National Park – a beautiful natural limestone arch in Antigua, surrounded by rugged coastline and crashing waves

Swimming with Stingrays Antigua FAQs

Are There Stingrays in Antigua?

Yes, there are stingrays in Antigua. Stingray City offers visitors the unique opportunity to swim with, feed, and interact with Southern Stingrays in shallow waters. The stingrays are free to come and go as they please, but they often come to interact with humans due to regular feeding.

Where in Antigua Can You Swim with Stingrays?

You can swim with stingrays in Antigua at Stingray City, situated on the northeastern coast of the island. You can meet, feed, and even touch these incredible creatures while in crystal-clear, knee-deep waters. Prefer not to touch or feed them, like me? You can snorkel with them.

Are Stingrays in Antigua Dangerous?

No, stingrays in Antigua are not inherently dangerous. But you do need to treat them with respect and caution. While at Stingray City, don’t step on their tails or you might step on their barb. In the ocean, respect their space and don’t chase them or get near them while snorkelling or scuba diving.

Is Stingray City Antigua Ethical?

No, Stingray City Antigua is not considered ethical. Human contact spreads germs and weakens the stingray’s immune system. Feeding them makes them more reliable on humans and less independent. While it is incredible to see them up close, the best option for visiting Stingray City is to just snorkel with them and observe them like I did.

What Animals Can You Swim with in Antigua?

In Antigua, you can swim with stingrays, pigs, turtles, and a variety of marine animals. You’ll find stingrays at Stingray City, pigs at Pig Beach, and turtles at beaches like Galleon Beach and elsewhere on the island.

Where is the Best Place to Swim with Stingrays in the Caribbean?

The best place to swim with stingrays in the Caribbean is the Grand Cayman Islands, with the other most popular spots being Antigua, Turks & Caicos, and the Bahamas.

Stingray City Antigua Review & Final Thoughts

Swimming with stingrays in Antigua is an experience you will never forget.

Stingray City is touristy but the excitement I felt being so close to stingrays is unmatched.

While it’s best to not touch or feed the stingrays, if you choose to do so, please wash your hands. And remember not to step on their tails to stay safe.

The best tour to Stingray City is the Island Safari & Stingray Fantasy Antigua which features both a jeep tour and a visit to swim with stingrays.

Have fun and when looking for other fun things to do in Antigua, don’t miss seeing truly wild stingrays by scuba diving in English Harbour.

Happy travelling!