Yachts can anchor in Mosquito Cove, to port as you enter the harbor. There is good holding in sand and weed, although visibility is not good. There is a little wash here from boats coming down the channel.
For a list of anchorages around the island visit the Antigua and Barbuda Marine Guide.
Jolly Harbor Marina and Boatyard provides 13 sheltered moorings as you reach further into the channel and are available on a first come first serve basis. Contact the marina on VHF Channel 68 and proceed to any available mooring. You will be required to check in at the marina office.
Jolly Harbour Marina and Boatyard has been established since 1992 and contains all the services that a visiting cruiser needs. A new Port of Entry dock with dinghy landing is now operational.
Office hours are 08:00 - 17:00, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Staff are available during these hours to assist with dockage and access to power and water.
Facilities include a fuel dock (duty free diesel available), full service boatyard with 75 ton travelift and an extra-wide travelift for catamarans. Onsite marine trades including welding, carpentry and painting. Free onboard WiFi, laundry and cafe plus a shopping centre with a well-stocked international supermarket. Several options for shower and bathroom facilities throughout the marina are available.
Within the complex, which is independently owned, is a modern sports facility with a swimming pool, squash and tennis courts, an 18-hole golf course, and a fully equipped gym. All facilities are available to marina guests, but fees are payable. A container food village is planned.
This marina and boatyard get very busy, in particularly in February when it is booked solid. Advance bookings recommended.
Last updated: February 2025
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In 12 years of sailing in many different areas around the world I’ve never met such unfriendly and rude customs officials as in Jolly Harbour. If you do choose to check in here make sure you do everything a exactly right and don’t go in discussions but just say no sir/mam, yes sir/mam or you risk getting yelled at and being threatened with fines even if you are polite, dressed up well and have nothing but the best intentions…
Jolly Harbour now has a catamaran travelift
Feb 6 2020. Anchored outside the Harbor and dingy in to customs immigration Port Authority we had completed the pre eSeaclear and WAS NOT required to bring my boat (44 foot catamaran) to customs immigration Port Authority dock. I was asked four times if I have a Antigua courtesy flag. Make sure you check in within 24 hours!
April/ May 2018
We went straight to customs and immigration and moored our boat on the pontoon outside the office, it cost $40 EC to clear in. We then anchored in Mosquito Cove on the left as you come into the harbour, excellent holding, seems to be sand with some weed, it’s very silted so you won’t be able to see your anchor . You do get some wash from the boats coming down the channel but it’s not too bad.
Laundry service is just outside the boatyard attached to the boatyard building. 35 EC a load .
Epicurean supermarket next to the marina, it’s well stocked and they also do hot take away food at lunch time. Sandwiches and salads.
You can walk to Jolly Beach, down the side of the marina.
Bus number 20 and 22 go to St Johns. Price 3.25 EC Per person.
Bus to English Harbour goes from St Johns , number 17 and costs 3.75 EC per person
Buses run until “late” around 10pm or 11pm . the drivers didn’t seem quite sure! I think they go home when they’ve had enough.
We had some steel work done by David in the yard. He was very reasonable but we had to chase him up a fair bit, he’s very busy and works all hours. He did get the job done on time.
Are You sure? Ivan is the worst man I ever known. He claimed me 10.400,00 just to do a mistake with the transmission and it is just one year that I cannot use the boat. If you want I can send all documents about this case and soon I will open a blog to inform all sailors community. But your comment, seems to be a commercial comment, or not?
We are now back in Antigua after finishing our circumnavigation, currently anchored at the entrance to Jolly Harbour. We had a problem with our watermaker and needed a new part. We thought that it would not be easy to get this part here, but my husband Onni met Ivan De Souza and Ivan was able to help us within 2 hours to get the right part, driving to St John’s and delivering it so quickly.
We would highly recommend XTREME MARINE ANTIGUA, run by Ivan, who specialize in a diesel engine, petrol, and outboard repairs, and obviously, are able to take care of specific problems as well!!
Phone: (1)268 464 4826
E-mail: ivan@xtrememarineantigua.com
Web: http://www.xtrememarineantigua.com
Very many thanks to Ivan for this great service.
Cheers
Elizabeth and Onni Johannsson
S. Y. Elonnisa
Posted on behalf of Erik Roll, SY Senseless (USA):
Just cleared in at Jolly Harbour on 12/20/2014. The process took 3 hours.
3 offices, Customs, Immigration, and Port Authority. Official opening hour was 8 am, but only Immigration was there on time. Port Authority was 1 and 1/2 hour late and left after 15 minutes to go for breakfast.
You need to enter all data including crew list into the eSeaClear system. Then they print the information out on forms which are signed and manually processed by each department.
The officials are friendly and cooperative, but the system is inefficient. Smile you are on Island time.