By 
“Years ago, I covered the Caribbean for Travel-Age East Magazine, visiting many islands like St. Lucia, Martinique, and Cozumel. While each island had its own charm, they began to blend together—beautiful beaches with hotels and resorts. I thought I’d never find a truly untouched Caribbean beach again until my recent trip to Low Bay on the western side of Barbuda.
Barbuda, located 27 miles north of Antigua, is accessible by a 20-minute helicopter ride or a three-hour boat trip across Codrington Bay. The island is divided by the lagoon, with the main area on the eastern side and a narrow stretch of land on the western side. This area is home to thousands of frigate birds and around 1,000 human residents.
Both sides of the island are experiencing significant changes. The KClub, a luxury resort on the southern tip of Barbuda, is being restored. In the 1980s and 1990s, Princess Diana visited the resort regularly, and the beach there is named in her honor. The KClub had been closed since 2004 but is set to reopen after a $250 million investment by actor Robert De Niro and billionaire James Packer. The renovation plans include turning it into a five-star eco-boutique hotel, adding a marina, a casino, and a new airport for executive jets. Construction is expected to start within the next year.
On the western side of the island, Low Bay, named the best beach in the Caribbean by Island Magazine, is also undergoing changes. Jim Whitteron, a respected Caribbean resort developer, visited Low Bay and was surprised to find the 12-mile stretch of pink sand completely undeveloped. Despite its stunning beauty, with clear turquoise waters shifting through various shades of blue, no homes or businesses had been built there.
The Lighthouse Bay Resort, the only existing property in the area, is set to become less isolated. Following Whitteron’s advice, the resort is adding Barbuda Bay, a development featuring 22 oceanfront lots ranging from $2 million to $14 million each. This new development has already attracted considerable interest from those dreaming of a private island sanctuary.
With these developments, Barbuda is moving from a quiet haven to a more vibrant destination. Both the KClub’s renovation and the Barbuda Bay project are set to enhance the island’s appeal, offering visitors and residents stunning views and a sense of solitude amidst the natural beauty of the Caribbean.”