Cliffhanger Cottage was designed, built and loved by Peter Fernandez, the voice of Speed Racer in the original anime TV show. Situated in a National Park, the cottage is perched on a mountain high above the Caribbean Sea. There is a constant breeze and the views are stunning. To the east is Falmouth Harbor, to the south an exotic hillside garden and the open sea, to the west, the headlands and the island of Montserrat with its occasional volcanic activity. To the north, mountains tumble to the sea. All this is visible from the three sided deck. Visitors tell us that we have “the best view in the Caribbean.”
The house is on two levels. The top level has a well-equipped kitchen, living room with marble floors, large three way deck and master bedroom with a double four poster bed. Off the master bedroom is a bathroom and large shower open to the sea.
The lower level is very private with its own deck and a bedroom with twin beds together, comprising a king sized bed. This room has the option of air conditioning or doors open to the sea, garden and deck. Across the deck is a large bathroom with shower and more views to the sea. On a third level is an additional shady deck built especially for Yoga.
We designed our eco-friendly cottage to function off the grid. It runs on solar power and rain water from a cistern, leaving no carbon footprint. The house has cell phone signal and internet. With the sound of the sea in your ears, the stunning views you will be truly able to relax into the rhythms of the sea, the breeze, and the tropical birds.
Cliffhanger is perfect for hikers. Guides can be arranged through our friend Dassa of Footsteps Hiking. A 45 minute walk to the beautiful Rendezvous Beach begins in the garden. Another path goes down steps to private rock pools. Occasionally Humpback whales can be sighted just offshore from the deck. At certain times of the year Leatherback turtles lay their eggs on the deserted beaches nearby. Frigate birds and brown pelicans soar past at eye level.
A short distance away is the Spring Hill Caribbean Equestrian Center where horseback rides can be arranged to Rendezvous Beach. Ten minutes away, the villages of Falmouth and English Harbour offer all amenities plus dive shops. A short distance over the hill is the beautiful Pigeon Beach. Sailing can be arranged at the Antigua Yacht Club, even lessons for beginners.
Many simply unwind, unable to leave the deck and its views. The sound of the sea joined by tree frogs at dusk makes for magic. In addition the magnificent sunsets, the night sky with all the constellations reveals itself with perfect clarity, unmarred by light pollution from other houses.
If however, you get the urge to leave the deck for a bit of night life, Falmouth and and English Harbour offer every kind of restaurant from gourmet to local cooking. After dinner, dance the night away to excellent reggae bands.
In the garden you may find a friendly feline lodger named Jasper. He may be a bit shy at first.
Here are some excerpts from our guestbook:
“Another wedding on your deck—seems to be the house of happiness.”
“We liked it so much we got married on your deck. We are still talking about your fantastic house in the sky.”
March posting by Antigua’s environmental group.
‘Yes, it’s that time of year again and there are whales aplenty being sighted on a daily basis in our waters.’
During April’s Classic Regatta and Sailing Week, racing yachts tack right below the house.