Two of Antigua and Barbuda’s guides have been handpicked for the Caribbean Tourism Organization shortlist of the best Caribbean guides, who each display a spirit of adventure.

Known for sun, sand and sea, the Caribbean and particularly Antigua and Barbuda have a side beyond the luxury hotels that brings alive the character of the island. The guides are the best ambassadors to showcase this.

A voting program is in place to find the leading ambassadors in the Caribbean and is open until Saturday 25th November. The winner will be named the CTO’s Caribbean Ambassador of the Year.

Visitors enjoying the islands’ culture and heritage is important part of the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority’s strategy and messaging for 2018. It is not only the guides who are important in showing this but also the excursion operators, taxi drivers and hotel and restaurant staff.

Beyond the confines of visitor accommodation there are a world of adventures from swimming with stingrays to ziplining through the rainforest and it is the guides that bring this alive. To further underline Antigua’s special island character, the Tourism Authority has just launched a series of Heritage Maps to showcase its hidden gems from sugar mills to parish churches. A Gems guide has also recently become available highlighting the smaller properties which offer an authentic Caribbean stay.

The shortlisted guides include Jake Kelsick, a professional kiteboarder, who shows visitors a new way to explore Antigua using its incredible winds that make it such a popular destination for watersports. Jake shares his kitesurfing adventures on social media to bring alive the spirit of Antigua’s waters and inspire visitors to try something new. Jetworth ‘Pat’ Richardson specialises in highlighting the islands wildlife, mangroves and nature and showing a side of the islands beyond the beach.