Getting to & around Montserrat

The tiny island of Montserrat lies in between Antigua and Guadeloupe in the Atlantic Ocean. At 39 sq miles, this island is today perhaps most famous for its huge volcanic eruption in July 1995, when the Soufriere Hills Volcano blew up after over 400 years of dormancy. This caused roughly half the island to be evacuated including the capital Plymouth, which was covered in a blanket of volcanic ash. Today a quiet island retreat in the Caribbean, Montserrat is either mostly visited by scientists or by those looking for a vacation destination that is off the beaten track.

There are only two ways to get to Montserrat; you can fly here or catch a ferry from Antigua. The Montserrat airport lies on the northern end of the island near Silver Hill and is a small facility, with Gerald’s Heliport located nearby. Currently only Winair offers flights to Montserrat from St. John’s in Antigua.

If you wish to travel here by boat, the Montserrat Ferry leaves St. John’s Bay in Antigua every morning and afternoon except on Sundays. On Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, the ferry leaves for Montserrat at 6:30 am, while on Tuesdays and Thursdays the boat leaves by 9 in the morning and again at 4 pm. The journey takes about an hour and you will need to check in at least one hour before the ferry leaves.

If you have the cash to spare, a good option to visit Montserrat is by helicopter from Antigua. An expensive travel option, you can hire an eight passenger helicopter for some incredible views of Montserrat as you arrive on the island. A 20 minute trip, this service is available most mornings and afternoons, however, call Carib Aviation at the VC Bird International Airport in Antigua for details. It is also advisable to make an advance booking and check in at least one hour prior to your departure for Montserrat.

On the island itself there is no real public transportation system, so you will have to rent a car or scooter to get around. Contact the tourist board on Montserrat for further details. The Montserrat Tourist Board is located in the town of Olveston.