The Pillars of Hercules in Antigua are surreal geological formations. They have been carved naturally into the cliff face by relentless wind, rain and crashing waves. The impact of these elements have created a startling series of curvaceous pillars overlooking the Caribbean Sea.
If I could have my time again, and do anything I wanted, I’d study to be a geologist. Can you imagine having a job where you basically get paid to study the earth, while travelling to amazing places?
I find rocks fascinating and have seen some incredible types around the world. From the towering basalt columns in Iceland to the gravity-defying Krishna’s Butterball in India, and now added to the list are the Pillars of Hercules in Antigua.
How to get to the Pillars of Hercules
Before going, trying to find online information about visiting the Pillars of Hercules, including how to get there, was quite scarce and unreliable.
In various reports some people said hiking to the bottom of the cliff face was too difficult due to high tide, others said it was okay; and for the same reason some people advised against snorkelling, while others said it was fine. Overall, the general consensus seemed to be joining a boat trip tour.
But a group tour didn’t appeal to me. I wanted the freedom of being at the pillars for as long as I fancied without feeling rushed or hurried along to see the next attraction. Plus, boat trips can hit the purse hard – for the same price I could splurge on a mouth-watering seafood meal and still have money left over so I decided to take the chance by hiking there.
Galleon Beach in Antigua
I expected getting to the pillars to be much harder based on some of the reviews. In fact, the route I took doesn’t even constitute as a hike (but there’s plenty of opportunity for hiking afterwards).
The key is to start from Galleon Beach, set in English Harbour, south of the island.
This beach is beautiful, one of the nicest I visited on the island. It’s a little more secluded than some of the other bigger beaches and the water is really clear which makes it great for snorkelling. If you’re looking for places to stay in Antigua that are a bit quieter I would recommend this beach. It’s also close to English Harbour.
When you arrive you won’t be able to see the Pillars of Hercules. Don’t worry, you’re in the right place. You simply need to walk to the end of the crescent-shaped beach, and then walk around the corner until you can no longer see Galleon beach behind you. It gets a bit bushy leading up to the corner, so you have to weave around some bramble and rocks but it’s not too challenging.
Bring sensible footwear because there are some fairly big rocks that you need to scramble over and jump between. You’ll be exposed to the sea so be careful, stay close to the bottom of the cliff and you should be fine.
Within a couple of minutes, you’ll notice the cliff face changing into magnificent tubular shapes. Congratulations, you’ve reached the Pillars of Hercules!
In total, it only took me approximately 20 minutes from the entrance of Galleon Beach and there was nobody there – I had the whole area to myself. I stayed taking photos and admired the otherworldly backdrop. I felt tiny in comparison as I looked up and marvelled at what Mother Nature had created.
Hiking up to Shirley Heights
After getting up-close and personal with the Pillars of Hercules, it was time to hike up to Shirley Heights and clap eyes on Antigua’s most famous panorama.
In total it took me around 45 minutes. The weather was really hot and I took a wrong turn so I’m sure most of you will get there faster.
From the pillars you need to go back on yourself, past the big rocks and following a small track into the bushes. Take the steps leading upwards. Ensure that when the track takes a right towards to the top of the Pillars of Hercules, you keep to the left instead. This direction will take you over the actual hill and down to the other side.
Here, you’ll discover ‘Mermaid’s Garden’ or ‘Carpenter’s Rock”, which is an area of large flat rocks and a natural rock pool, together with all kinds of stunning vegetation. There are lots of different cactuses to spot too, including various phallic and breast-shaped ones hah!
As I followed the mountain around, overlooking endless views of the ocean, it didn’t take long before I reached Shirley Heights. The endless sweat dripping from my forehead was worth it to enjoy the glorious views across this exceptionally beautiful and diverse island in the Caribbean.
Where to stay near Galleon Beach in Antigua
Galleon Beach can only be accessed by car from English Harbour which I recommend staying for.a unique experience.
English harbour offers the opportunity to experience vintage luxury in historic accommodations. Many of the former naval buildings have been lovingly restored and repurposed into boutique inns and guesthouses, seamlessly blending modern amenities with timeless charm. .
7 Responses
Hi, I first came across your blog several years ago when I was looking for images of Brimham Rocks. The Pillars of Hercules appear similar with the wind/wave sculpting. Having said that I doubt that Brimham Rocks saw any wave action. And yes, geology is fascinating. When I lived in Bhutan for four years I was endlessly fascinated by the Himalayan rock formations.
Hi Nigel! I remember your early comments – I’m pleased to know that you still check in occasionally 🙂 I’m due to visit my parents in Yorkshire soon so I will try on revisit Brimham Rocks. It’s a place that holds a lot of nostalgia for me. Still not visited Bhutan, but when I do I’m sure I’ll be fascinated by the Himalayan rock formations too!
I check in every time you post a new travel update. I just don’t always find the opportunity to add a comment. You once suggested I could add a piece to your CultureMap and I’d be happy to. Just let me know how.
Sounds great – I just sent you an email !
Agreed on geology and geologist dream job, particularly in the UK. Are you familiar with William Smith, considered to be the ‘Father of Geology’? He spent some time in Yorkshire, e.g. founding the Rotunda geological museum in Scarborough and in the Yorkshire Museum his beautiful ‘Map That Changed The World’ is normally on display. It’s one of the precursors to the Industrial Revolution…back when people hadn’t yet realized how important rocks actually are!
Wow really great view and beautiful rock formation. It would really be nice to go there but with all this pandemicgoing on, I would just depend on your blogs to see nice views. Thank you for sharing, at least I’ve been to aAntigue this weekend 😉