Anguilla Info

Anguilla is a small, low-lying island in the northeastern Caribbean, just north of Saint Martin and Sint Maarten. It is best known for pale beaches, clear turquoise water and a quieter atmosphere than many larger Caribbean destinations.

Anguilla at a Glance

Personal Impressions

Anguilla has long been one of my favourite Caribbean islands. What stayed with me most was not a single attraction but the combination of pale sand, intensely blue water and space. Even beaches of remarkable beauty could feel surprisingly calm. The island never gave me the impression that it had been built around mass tourism.

That calm comes with a price. Anguilla has developed a strong reputation for luxury hotels, villas and excellent restaurants, and a holiday here can be expensive. On my own visit I deliberately travelled more simply, stayed away from the large resorts and cooked some of my meals myself. Even then, food and transport were not cheap. The reward was a Caribbean island that felt unhurried and personal. For travellers who value quiet beaches more than large entertainment complexes, Anguilla remains unusually attractive.

The Beaches

Anguilla's tourism authority lists 33 beaches, all publicly accessible. Shoal Bay East is the best-known long sweep of sand and is particularly attractive for swimming and snorkeling when conditions are calm. Meads Bay combines a broad beach with some of the island's best-known hotels and restaurants. Rendezvous Bay looks across the channel toward Saint Martin, while Maundays Bay forms a near-perfect crescent in the West End.

Little Bay is entirely different: a small cove enclosed by cliffs and normally reached by boat. Sandy Ground and Road Bay are more active, with boats, restaurants and evening life. The Atlantic-facing coast can occasionally be rougher, especially with winter swell, so swimming conditions should always be judged locally.

Things to Do Beyond the Beach

Sandy Ground is the centre of much of Anguilla's sailing and nightlife. Island Harbour still reflects the island's strong connection with fishing and traditional boat racing. Offshore trips to Sandy Island, Prickly Pear Cays and other small islands combine swimming, snorkeling and a day on the water. In The Valley, Wallblake House and other historic buildings preserve part of the island's pre-tourism past.

The island also rewards visitors who prefer nature to organised attractions. Birdwatching, heritage walks, diving, wreck sites and marine excursions add variety without changing the island's generally unhurried pace.

Getting to Anguilla and Getting Around

Many international visitors reach Anguilla through Princess Juliana International Airport on Sint Maarten and continue by ferry, private boat transfer or a short regional flight. The public ferry connection links Blowing Point with Marigot on the French side of Saint Martin. Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport also handles regional and other scheduled services. Connections can change, so current schedules should be checked before travel.

Driving is on the left. Rental cars and taxis are widely used, and a car is useful for visiting several beaches. Visitors who drive need a valid home licence and a temporary Anguillian driving licence, normally arranged through the rental company.

Nature, Marine Life and Birdwatching

Anguilla's dry appearance hides a varied island ecosystem. Salt ponds are important for resident and migratory birds, while offshore islands support major seabird colonies. The Anguilla National Trust identifies fourteen Important Bird Areas across the territory.

A network of six marine parks protects areas around Dog Island, Prickly Pear, Little Bay, Shoal Bay and Island Harbour, Sandy Island and Sombrero Island. Coral reefs, seagrass beds and nesting beaches support turtles, reef fish and other marine life.

A Short History of Anguilla

Amerindian peoples lived on Anguilla long before European settlement. The island was known as Malliouhana before Europeans adopted the name Anguilla, a reference to its long, narrow shape. English settlement developed during the seventeenth century. Poor soils and limited rainfall restricted plantation agriculture compared with some neighbouring islands, while fishing, salt, boatbuilding, small-scale farming and migration became important parts of island life.

Modern Anguillian identity was shaped decisively by the events of 1967. Anguillans rejected political union with Saint Kitts and Nevis and forced the Saint Kitts police from the island on 30 May, now celebrated as Anguilla Day. After years of negotiation and direct British administration, Anguilla became a separate British dependent territory on 19 December 1980. Today it is a British Overseas Territory.

Festivals and Island Culture

Traditional boat racing is one of the strongest expressions of Anguillian culture. Festival Del Mar around Easter in Island Harbour celebrates fishing, seafood, music and boat racing. The Anguilla Summer Festival in July and August brings music, parades, beach events and races. Exact programmes and dates vary from year to year.

Practical Travel Information

Information reviewed: 26 August 2026.