In Antigua, the bites come at sunrise and sunset.

Yes, though most of the bites visitors notice in Antigua come from sand flies on the beach around sunrise and sunset. Mosquitoes are fewer in the drier December–April months and pick up after rain. Dengue is present on the islands, the government said in January 2026 that it was at baseline levels, and there is no malaria.

Dengue at baseline, by the government's account

The Ministry of Health calls dengue the most commonly detected mosquito-borne disease in Antigua and Barbuda, and the CDC lists it for the islands. There is no CDC travel notice. In mid-January 2026, after residents raised concerns about rising cases, the Health Minister told Cabinet that dengue and other mosquito-borne virus indicators were at expected baseline levels. The government's communications chief added that no dengue cases had been recorded so far that year and that confirmed cases had declined over several years. The ministry named 2023 as the most recent year of increased dengue activity.

That statement came early in the year, so read it as a calm start and keep the routine. Across the Caribbean, the Pan American Health Organization's late-September report put dengue 64% below the same point in 2025. The Aedes mosquito that spreads dengue bites in daylight, with peaks after sunrise and in the late afternoon. Repellent goes on over sunscreen when you head out and again after a swim, and it matters most for a few days after a heavy shower. Our dengue & Zika daily routine has the full schedule.

Sand flies at the edges of the day

The steadier complaint in Antigua is sand flies, the tiny biting midges also called no-see-ums or sand fleas. They come out on beaches and at beach bars around sunrise and sunset, in any month, and they go for ankles and lower legs. They're weak fliers, so a steady breeze grounds them, and the middle of the day is the easy time on the sand. Our Barbados sand fly guide explains the insect in detail.

Three habits handle most of it. Spray feet, ankles and calves before a dawn walk or a sunset drink. Wear light long pants or socks for a beach-level dinner. And pick a table where the wind reaches you, whether that's on the sand at Dickenson Bay or on the waterfront at English Harbour. Mosquitoes are the second biter. They follow rain and standing water, so a wet spell in winter can bring them out for a few days, and an air-conditioned or screened room handles the night.

Where you're going

Here is how the main stops compare for a December–April trip.

Two last notes. The CDC lists Zika for Antigua and Barbuda, though no current outbreak has been reported, so if you're pregnant, review the CDC's Zika guidance with a healthcare provider before you book. And any fever during or after your trip means a doctor visit, and you tell them you were in Antigua.

What travelers report

Paraphrased from forum threads, several of them years old, and linked so you can read them in full. Rain, wind and where you stay change the picture from one trip to the next.

• Antigua (general) · dawn and dusk

  A longtime forum contributor said Antigua's mosquitoes are no worse than in other tropical places and advised repellent plus covering up at dawn and dusk. TripAdvisor ↗

• Antigua beaches · sunrise and sunset

  A poster said sand flies are most active in the hour around sunrise and sunset and mostly bite below the knee, so long trousers help. TripAdvisor ↗

• Antigua (general)

  A poster found that a standard DEET spray kept mosquitoes off but not sand flies, and that a locally sold OFF product worked against them. TripAdvisor ↗

• Antigua resorts

  One poster said regular fogging at their resort kept insects to a minimum. Another questioned whether the fogging chemical, reportedly mostly diesel with some malathion, harms birds and other insects. TripAdvisor ↗

Traveler questions