Antigua Donkey Sanctuary
A sanctuary at Bethesda holding donkeys left behind when the sugar estates closed.
Updated 3 September 2026
Donkeys were brought to Antigua to work the sugar estates and were turned loose when the industry ended, leaving a feral population that competed for scarce water and caused accidents on the roads, and the sanctuary at Bethesda was set up in 1993 to take them in. It now holds well over a hundred animals in open paddocks that visitors walk through, along with a veterinary programme and a gelding operation to control the population.
Highlights
- The paddocks - open ground visitors walk through among the animals.
- The sugar-estate history - the donkeys left behind when the industry ended.
- The veterinary work - the treatment and gelding programme run on site.
- The scale - well over a hundred animals in the sanctuary's care.
When to go
December to April is the dry season. The sanctuary keeps daytime hours and closes some days. Mornings are cooler for the animals.
Before you go
It is a working sanctuary rather than an attraction and facilities are minimal. Hours are limited and closures happen. Donations rather than fees fund it.
Nearby
Bethesda is beside it, and Falmouth Harbour is south.
What to pack for Antigua Donkey Sanctuary
Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.
- Comfortable walking shoes - Sightseeing means kilometres of pavement and cobbles daily. Find on Amazon
- A slim anti-theft daypack - Zips that close properly; keep it in front in crowds and on transit. Find on Amazon
- A refillable water bottle - Many cities have public fountains; save money and plastic. Find on Amazon
- A light layer + compact umbrella - For museum air-con and a sudden shower. Find on Amazon
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Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.