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In terms of activities, days at Jumby center on relaxing in the sun with the occasional dip in the warm sea, though water sports, like snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing and waterskiing, are also available. Along with palms, the beach is sprinkled with loungers, thatch umbrellas and white day beds; plates of fresh fruit and homemade cookies stock the counter of the fabulous bar. Jumby is inclusive, so there’s nothing to sign when you accept the bottled water, fresh juices and sorbets that are brought to your beach pad throughout the day. Between the Estate Homes’ lavish private pools and the island’s many beaches, guests have a way of dispersing widely, and when I visited, it never felt crowded. The only interruption was the occasional jet taking off from Antigua’s airport, across the bay.

If you’re here between June and November, don’t miss a nighttime excursion to see the hawksbill turtles at Pasture Beach. Jumby’s renowned turtle program is sponsored by the homeowner’s association, which takes pride in the schedule of research and education spearheaded by Jennifer Munhofen and Jane Allen, the so-called turtle girls (for more information, visit www.jbhawksbillproject.org). After dark, the two patrol Pasture Beach and phone in sightings so guests can join them to see these critically endangered animals, whose population on Jumby is growing again. Even if you’re not lucky enough to witness a cluster of teeny turtles scuttling toward the ocean, Pasture Beach is a fabulously romantic spot at night, since the homes around it agree to keep their lights dim (to keep from confusing the wee turtles) and masses of flickering stars illuminate the dark skies.