If you are looking for a relaxing and beautiful destination in the Caribbean, you should consider visiting Anguilla. Anguilla is a small island that offers stunning beaches, delicious cuisine, friendly people, and a rich culture. In this guide, you will find everything you need to know about Anguilla, from how to get there and where to stay, to what to do and where to eat.
How to Get to Anguilla
Anguilla does not have an international airport, so you will need to fly to a nearby island and then take a ferry or a charter flight to Anguilla. The most common option is to fly to St. Maarten/St. Martin (SXM) and take a 25-minute ferry ride from Marigot Bay or Simpson Bay on the French side of the island. The public ferry operates six times daily between St. Martin and Anguilla. You can also take a taxi or bus from the airport to the ferry terminal.
Another option is to fly to San Juan (SJU) in Puerto Rico and take a 45-minute charter flight with Tradewind Aviation or Air Sunshine.
You can also fly to Antigua (ANU) or St. Kitts (SKB) and take a 50-minute charter flight with TransAnguilla Airways or Anguilla Air Services.
You will need a valid passport and a return ticket to enter Anguilla. You may also need a visa depending on your nationality. You can check the visa requirements here: https://ivisitanguilla.com/entry-requirements/
Where to Stay in Anguilla
Anguilla has a wide range of accommodation options for every budget and preference. You can choose from luxury resorts, boutique hotels, villas, apartments, guesthouses, or even campsites.
Some of the best places to stay in Anguilla are:
- Four Seasons Resort & Residences: This is one of the most luxurious resorts on the island, located on Meads Bay Beach. It offers spacious rooms and suites with ocean views, private pools, balconies, and terraces. It also has four restaurants, two bars, a spa, a fitness center, a kids club, and various activities such as golf, tennis, water sports, and yoga.
- Shoal Bay Villas: This is an affordable beachfront property on Shoal Bay East Beach, one of the most popular beaches on the island. It offers studios and one- or two-bedroom apartments with kitchenettes, air conditioning, cable TV, and Wi-Fi. It also has a pool, a barbecue area, and free beach chairs and umbrellas.
- Frangipani Beach Resort: This is an intimate boutique hotel on Meads Bay Beach that caters to couples and families. It offers 19 rooms and suites with ocean views, balconies or patios, mini-fridges, coffee makers, and Wi-Fi. It also has a restaurant, a bar, a pool, a spa, a fitness center, and complimentary water sports equipment.
- Carimar Beach Club: This is another budget-friendly option on Meads Bay Beach that offers spacious one- or two-bedroom apartments with full kitchens, living rooms, dining areas, air conditioning, cable TV, and Wi-Fi. It also has a tennis court, a barbecue area, and free beach chairs and umbrellas.
What to Do in Anguilla
Anguilla is mainly known for its beaches, but there are many other things to do on this island.
Some of the best things to do in Anguilla are:
- Enjoy the beaches: Anguilla has over 30 beaches that are all public and free. You can swim, sunbathe, snorkel, surf, kite-surf, or just relax on these pristine shores. Some of the best beaches are:
- Shoal Bay East: This is one of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean, with powdery white sand and turquoise water. It is ideal for snorkeling, as it has a coral reef offshore. There are also several bars and restaurants along the beach.
- Meads Bay: This is another gorgeous beach with calm water and soft sand. It is home to some of the best resorts and restaurants on the island, such as Four Seasons, Frangipani, and Blanchards.
- Rendezvous Bay: This is a long and wide beach with stunning views of St. Martin/St. Maarten. It is perfect for walking, swimming, or enjoying a drink at one of the beach bars, such as The Dune Preserve, owned by local musician Bankie Banx.
- Little Bay: This is a secluded and small beach that can only be reached by boat or by climbing down a rope from a cliff. It is worth the effort, as it offers crystal clear water and amazing snorkeling.
- Explore the island: Anguilla has more than just beaches to offer. You can also discover its history, culture, and nature by visiting some of these places:
- The Heritage Collection Museum: This is a small but informative museum that showcases Anguilla’s history from prehistoric times to modern days. You can see artifacts, photos, documents, and stories that tell the story of Anguilla’s people and their struggles for freedom and independence.
- Wallblake House: This is one of the oldest and best-preserved plantation houses on the island, dating back to 1787. You can take a guided tour of the house and learn about its architecture, furniture, and history. You can also see the original kitchen, stable, slave quarters, and well.
- Fountain Cavern National Park: This is an archaeological site that contains a large cave with a freshwater pool and petroglyphs carved by Amerindians over 1000 years ago. The cave was considered a sacred place by the natives and was used for rituals and ceremonies.
- Enjoy water sports: Anguilla has plenty of options for water lovers who want to have some fun and adventure. You can choose from:
- Snorkeling and diving: Anguilla has many coral reefs and wrecks that are teeming with marine life. You can snorkel or dive at sites such as Prickly Pear Cays, Sandy Island, Dog Island, Seal Island Reef, and Stoney Bay Marine Park. You can also see turtles, rays, sharks, dolphins, and whales at certain times of the year.
- Kayaking and paddle-boarding: You can explore the coastline and the salt ponds of Anguilla by kayaking or paddle-boarding. There are many rental companies that offer guided tours and equipment.
- Sailing and boating: You can rent a sailboat or a motorboat and explore the neighboring islands and cays, such as Scrub Island, Sandy Island, and Prickly Pear Cays. You can also go on a sunset cruise or a fishing trip.