miguel's holiday adventure

This was my first time and my husband's second time to prickly pear island! After our cruise line (RCI) cancelled the excursion we were devastated and called the island and booked privately! We were picked up by the driver "Teddy" in front of the Piranha Joe shop outside the cruise port in Antigua. We had a short ride to a dock behind a local hotel where we were met by boat and taken out to the island ~ maybe 5 minutes! The island is beautiful and Miguel himself was the first person to greet us off the boat! If you are lucky enough that he himself makes it to the island that day be sure to have a chat with him! Don't expect a 5 star resort this is a natural small jewel of a caribbean island. Perfect for relaxation and an unforgettable day. The food and drinks cooked by Miguel's family are amazing and home cooking at its best! If you walk up the old deck you can access the back side of the island, which is rocky but beautiful to see. You will not find this type of hospitality on any other "excursion" and you won't be sorry! Ask for Miguel's drink!! :)

I booked this tour over the Internet after our cruise ship (Celebrity Summit) said it was booked, I then found Miguel's using Google only to find out it was one of thier days they were not running the tour. An e-mail was sent to find out if there was any way to go on the trip, to my surprise Cathy-Ann wrote back saying were willing to take us on thier day off. Our group of five was amazed to find out we were the only ones one the island with three people from Miguel's. the service, the island, the lunch was excellent. I love the curry dish and rice. This will be recommended to everyone I know who may be on a cruise to Antigua.

The best pictures I have of my holiday were at MIguel's beach. The sand couldn't be more white, nor the water more transparent. We were only 10 persons at the beach, and MIguels daughter prepared a wonderful lunch. Definitely, one of the highlights of our trip.

We were picked up at our cruise Ship by a taxi driver who was also meeting another group to take them to Prickly Pear Island. The other group showed up a half an hour late which held us up. At one point the taxi driver loaded my group of five into the clean, well maintained and air conditioned van and we started to drive away, only to get one block out and get called back to pick up the other group. After getting everyone situated we headed off on a 20 min taxi ride to the drop off location. We were dropped off at a resort, then made our way down to the waterside of the resort, then walked over in front of the adjoining property to a wooden dock where we stood in line to wait for our ride out to Prickly Pear Island. After the boat came and went two times our group and those that came on the bus with us all piled into the boat to take us to the island. The day was clear and sunny, but the wind was whipping pretty good. When we arrived at the island we climbed out of the boat into a few inches of water then walked up onto the beach. There were about 20 other people with beach chairs lined up on the water's edge when arrived. We made our way up the beach to try and find chairs. Most of the available chairs were either taken or in such a state of disrepair that it didn't at first appear that there would be any usable chairs. The hosts helped us to find some chairs to use and we got situated. Many of the chairs had missing slats, so as a larger person I wasn't sure if they would hold me well. I really didn't have anything to fear. Because the wind was blowing so hard we weren't able to get a shade umbrella put up right away for my 76 year old Mother who needed shade. After a while they were able to erect a sturdy umbrella that worked well for her. After getting situated it was time to try and find some snorkel equipment. It at reared that all snorkel equipment was being used by other guests and there wasn't any left for our party. I laid down on my beach chair and covered myself from over exposure to the sun and took a nap. It was wonderful. The rest of my party waited to get snorkel equipment then went snorkeling, and my husband started enjoying the rum punch and the beer.The owners agreed to give us a $10 discount because there were so many miss starts in the process. I woke up from my nap and played some cards with my sister in law who couldn't be in the water or the sun. Then lunch was served.Lunch was snapper, lobster salad, green salad, potato salad, and was very tasty.I tried my hand at snorkeling after lunch as that is when there was plenty of snorkel equipment available and ready. The reefs surrounding the island are teaming with life. Corals, sponges, fish, sea cucumbers, and crabs. The water is shallow but very nice, and the currant wasn't very strong. This was one of the highlights of our cruise and we really enjoyed the experience. I would recommend Miguel's Prickly Pear Island Adventure to anyone looking for a real escape for the day.

Highly recommend this excursion. We had the lobster lunch and it was delish!! The drinks flow all day and beware of the sun!

Prickly Pear Island is a nice day trip from Antigua and only a 10 minute boat ride from the main island. The beach on the island is decent, although when we were there it was incredibly windy. It's a great destination for cruise ship guests who are looking for an excursion; however, I preferred some of the other beaches on Antigua as a person staying on the island with a rental car. The snorkeling gear, drinks and food were a plus since everything you would need for the day was right there at your fingertips.

went sunday 14 dec 2014. we took a tour bus and viewed towns in a rainbow riot of colours quiet countryside and porcelain palm fringed beaches.we then went by speed boat to prickly pear island.made very welcome with own sun lounger.excellent rum punch and ab fab lunch inc fish and chicken.

This attraction is well-worth the investment. You are met by your driver and transported to a lovely Italian Hotel/Restaurant where you board your boat to Miguel's Island Paradise. The boat ride in itself was a bit of a challenge but the laughter and mustering of your water skills, make it happen along with the helpful staff. From the moment we arrived the friendliness and welcoming spirit was evident. The beverage/food package is outstanding - well prepared, tasty and plentiful. You can feel the love of the staff and you immediately feel at home. The location is short of Paradise itself. You must add this to your plans, you won't be disappointed. There is a mixed age group and languages but we all had the tranquil, loveliness at our disposal for the day. It says a lot when you discover that the Captain of our cruise ship was unwinding here with all of us!

I liked it all. Boat ride to a private island with good food and open bar with the best rum punch ever. Wonderful staff who were very accommodating. Wonderful clean beach.

Its a very relaxing experience. Miguel is lovely and his wife Josephine produces all the marvellous food.A deserted island 15 minutes away by boat.Magic.

For an all inclusive price you are taken by a small boat a short way to an island to enjoy the sand, water, snorkeling, a full island buffet and some drinks and alcohol. Not alot of shade so be prepared. lots of families go as well as couples. Our grand daughter played with a boy her age in the water all day even tho they did not speak the same language and we walked around and soaked in the sun and read. Easy day. Miguel is an interesting guy but he is not always there. His son is doing more of the work now!

We went to Miguel's Prickly pear island last February. It could not have been a more perfect day! You take a boat ( 5 min) ride out to the island. Perfection! Now, if your looking for noise, wave runners, and LOTS of people, you will not find that here. But, if you are looking for beautiful water, sand and time to relax, Bingo! Miguel's family were lovely people as is he. Take the time to sit and chat with him. What a life he has had. They have been doing this for years! Highly recommend!!!! We hope to go back one day :))

What a unique place is Prickly Pear Island. Five minutes by boat and you are in your own private Gilligan's Island. White sand, blue water, lounge chairs with umbrellas and non stop rum punch, beer or soft drinks. Miguel and his family are great hosts and they serve a very good lunch. They have been doing this for 40 years. We booked the excursion on our own and we were picked up right off of our ship. The snorkeling is fair, but fun and they supply all of the equipment. I will definitely recommend this tour to my friends.

Picked up from the beach and ferried over to Prickly Pear.Breakfast of bread, ham and plantain. Lovely.White sandy beach.Snorkelling gear provided.Drinks all day and a wonderful lunch of conch curry and lobster salad.This is a wonderful trip. Do it!

Miquel's Adventure was just that. The "adventure part" is at the pick up point. You arrive at the designated area, which is fenced and locked. A bit of anxiety and uncertainty as the sign is worn and there is no "establishment" for check-in. But at 10 a.m., the host arrived, collected the day's fee [$85 U.S.] and alerted the boat to pick us up. 5 minutes later, we were on the island. I picked a quiet nook at the end of the beach. Rum punch was available from the moment we arrived. There were snacks and a delicious buffet lunch. Snorkeling was great just about any direction off the island -- and there were no currents or other concerns that can occur in some ocean environments. Miguel was just the best -- a great host who kept asking each guest -- "are you having fun/are you happy". And his entire team was terrific. A very relaxing 5 hours -- and I can't wait to go back.