Anguilla was occupied by English settlers in 1650, and administered by Great Britain until the early 19th century. Now an overseas territory of the UK, Anguilla is known for its laid-back charm, beautiful beaches and has an economy that is dependent on tourism.
What is it?: Anguilla is a serene Caribbean island known for its pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and luxurious resorts. A popular destination for those seeking relaxation, water sports, and natural beauty, Anguilla offers a tranquil alternative to more crowded Caribbean islands.
Affordability: Anguilla is generally considered an expensive destination, especially in terms of luxury resorts and fine dining. However, there are more affordable accommodations and local eateries if you opt for smaller guesthouses or island restaurants. Transportation costs can also add up, as flights and ferry rides to the island can be pricey.
Safety: Anguilla is considered very safe for tourists, with low crime rates and a calm atmosphere. The island’s small size and tight-knit community make it a safe and easy destination to explore. As always, it’s advisable to take basic precautions, especially in less populated areas.
Popularity: Anguilla is a popular choice for those seeking an upscale, quieter Caribbean getaway. The island is known for its beautiful beaches, clear waters, and luxury resorts, attracting honeymooners, families, and those looking to enjoy watersports, including snorkeling, sailing, and diving.
Tourist Infrastructure: Anguilla offers excellent infrastructure for tourists, particularly in the main areas like The Valley and Meads Bay. While it doesn’t have the volume of tourism infrastructure found in larger Caribbean destinations, the island offers a range of upscale accommodations, restaurants, and services to cater to visitors.
Weather: Anguilla enjoys a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round. The best time to visit is during the dry season from December to April when the weather is ideal for beach activities and outdoor adventures. The rainy season, from May to November, can bring occasional storms, but it’s still possible to enjoy the island during this time.
Best Time to Go: December–April for the best weather, ideal for beach activities, snorkeling, and relaxing on the island. The off-season, from May to November, is quieter with fewer tourists, but there is a higher chance of rain and storms.
Known For: Meads Bay, beautiful beaches, luxury resorts, The Valley, watersports, Shoal Bay, and world-class diving.
Top Destinations: Meads Bay • Shoal Bay • The Valley • Anguilla Marine Park • Little Bay • Cove Bay • Sandy Ground
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Nature Buffs: Anguilla offers breathtaking natural beauty, with its stunning beaches like Shoal Bay and Meads Bay, protected marine areas like Anguilla Marine Park, and crystal-clear waters perfect for snorkeling, diving, and exploring vibrant coral reefs.
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History Buffs: While Anguilla is more known for its natural beauty and beach resorts, it has some historical sites like The Valley with its colonial architecture and cultural landmarks that offer a glimpse into its past, including the Anguilla National Trust and the Old Factory ruins.
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Beach Bunnies: Anguilla is a beach lover’s paradise, boasting some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, such as Meads Bay, Shoal Bay, and Sandy Ground, offering pristine sands, turquoise waters, and a peaceful atmosphere perfect for swimming, sunbathing, and water activities.
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Digital Nomads: Anguilla offers reliable internet, a peaceful atmosphere, and luxurious amenities, making it a great option for digital nomads. While the island is more expensive than some other Caribbean destinations, the laid-back environment and available coworking spaces make it a comfortable base for remote work.
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Families: Anguilla is perfect for families, with its calm beaches like Sandy Ground and Meads Bay, family-friendly resorts, and activities such as boat tours, kayaking, and snorkeling. The relaxed atmosphere and safe environment make it an ideal spot for a family vacation.
Anguilla is a quiet Caribbean island known for powdery beaches, turquoise waters, and a laid-back vibe. There are no high-rise resorts or cruise ports, just small, elegant hotels and uncrowded stretches of sand like Shoal Bay and Meads Bay. The capital, The Valley, is low-key, with a few local restaurants and galleries. Offshore cays like Sandy Island offer boat trips, snorkeling, and grilled lobster under the sun. Anguillan cuisine blends Caribbean flavors with British influence, featuring seafood, jerk spices, and rum punch. Peaceful and refined, Anguilla is all about slow days, warm hospitality, and barefoot luxury.
Most visitors come for the sand and sea, and rightly so. The island is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, like Shoal Bay, Meads Bay, and Rendezvous Bay, where powdery white sand meets calm, turquoise water. There are no cruise ports, high-rise hotels, or mega resorts, and that’s exactly how Anguilla likes it. Life here moves slow: beach bars with reggae playlists, lazy afternoons with grilled lobster, and boat rides to tiny offshore cays like Sandy Island or Prickly Pear.
Well-known beaches and diving sites are Shoal Bay East, Prickly Pear Cays, Scrub Island and The Fountain, which is an underground cave. Balmy weather, well-developed tourism facilities and friendly local people add to Anguilla’s idyllic charm.
Anguilla is expensive, among the priciest islands in the Caribbean. There are luxury villas, boutique hotels, and a few mid-range guesthouses, but very few options for budget travelers. Many visitors stay in private villas or upscale resorts, often along the west end of the island. The food scene is excellent but not cheap, think fresh seafood, grilled crayfish, Johnny cakes, and beachfront fine dining. Drinks and groceries are mostly imported, and prices reflect that, though you’ll find local rum punches and barbecue joints that are easier on the wallet.
Getting around requires a car rental, public transportation is nearly nonexistent, and taxis are expensive. The island is small and easy to navigate, with well-maintained roads. English is the official language, and locals are friendly, proud of their island, and protective of its peaceful character. Anguilla is very safe, with low crime and a laid-back atmosphere. There’s no nightlife to speak of outside beach bars and occasional live music, most people come to unplug.
- Capital: The Valley
- Population: ~15,000 (Density: ~170 people per km², ~440 per mi²)
- Area: 91 km² (35 mi²)
- Official Language: English
- Common Languages: Spanish (spoken by some residents), various Caribbean dialects
- Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (XCD) (USD is also widely accepted)
- Time Zone: UTC-4
- Electricity: Plug Type A, B (110V, 60Hz)
- Emergency Contacts: Police 911, Ambulance 911, Fire 911
- Drives On: Left
- Religions: Christianity ~85% (Anglican, Methodist, Baptist), Other beliefs ~15%
- Government: British Overseas Territory (self-governing)
- Map Links: Google Maps | Apple Maps
- Coordinates (for GPS): 18.2206, -63.0686
Why Go to Anguilla?
- Uncrowded, Stunning Beaches: Relax on Shoal Bay, Meads Bay, or Maundays Bay, all known for soft sand and clear water, without crowds.
- Island-Hopping & Beach Bars: Take a boat to Sandy Island or Scilly Cay, where beach bars serve seafood and rum with a view.
- Upscale Dining & Local Flavor: Dine beachfront at high-end restaurants or try roadside barbecue and fried fish at low-key local spots.
- Snorkeling & Water Sports: Swim, snorkel, or kayak in protected bays, Anguilla’s waters are calm and reef-filled.
- No Cruise Ships or Casinos: Enjoy a more tranquil, uncrowded island where tourism blends with local life, not overwhelms it.
- Luxury Without Flash: Stay in villas or boutique resorts where privacy, not party, is the selling point.
- Friendly Vibe & Island Hospitality: Talk to locals, explore quiet backroads, and settle into a rhythm that’s truly Caribbean.
Who Might Not Enjoy Anguilla?
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Budget Travelers: Anguilla is one of the Caribbean’s most upscale destinations. It lacks hostels or budget lodging, and dining, transport, and beach access often come with luxury price tags.
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Backpackers or Independent Travelers: There’s no real backpacker scene, few group tours, and little infrastructure for those traveling without a resort or pre-booked plan. It’s more about quiet retreats than exploration.
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Cruise Ship Passengers Seeking Activities: Unlike some nearby islands, Anguilla isn’t a major cruise port and doesn’t offer a long list of excursions. It’s more about lounging on quiet beaches than hitting attractions.
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Travelers Seeking Vibrant Nightlife: Nightlife on Anguilla is minimal and mellow, think beach bars with live music, not dance clubs or party scenes. If you’re looking for action after dark, it may feel sleepy.
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People Looking for Lush Greenery or Mountains: Anguilla is flat and arid, with no forests or rivers. Nature lovers wanting hiking trails, waterfalls, or jungles might find the landscape underwhelming.
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Tourists Without a Car or Transport Plan: Public transportation is virtually nonexistent. Getting around often requires renting a car or hiring private taxis, which are expensive.
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Vegetarians or Vegans: Anguillan cuisine focuses heavily on seafood and grilled meats. While resorts may cater to dietary needs, plant-based options can be sparse elsewhere.
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Travelers Wanting Cultural Immersion or Historic Sites: Anguilla is relaxed and beautiful, but it’s light on museums, historical sites, or deep cultural tourism. Most activity centers on the beaches.
What’s Cool
Stunning white-sand beaches with turquoise waters, laid-back and uncrowded vibe, top-notch seafood and beachside dining, warm and welcoming locals, crystal-clear snorkeling and diving spots, small boutique resorts and luxury villas, excellent sailing and boating, live music and beach bars, peaceful atmosphere without cruise ship crowds, beautiful sunsets, easy island-hopping to nearby St. Martin, English-speaking and easy to navigate, flat terrain great for biking and walking, rich Afro-Caribbean heritage.
What’s Not
Expensive accommodations and dining, limited nightlife and entertainment options, very quiet during off-season, few budget travel choices, reliance on ferries or small flights to access the island, basic public transport (mostly taxis), strict customs on food and alcohol imports, hurricane risk during summer and fall, limited shopping and activity variety, not much for non-beach travelers, early closing times for shops and restaurants.
Anguilla is a small British Overseas Territory in the eastern Caribbean, part of the Lesser Antilles, located just north of Saint Martin and east of Puerto Rico. It’s one of the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. The island is long and flat, about 26 km (16 miles) from tip to tip. Its remote location and low-key development have helped preserve its reputation as a quiet alternative to more built-up Caribbean destinations.
Anguilla is a coral and limestone island, meaning no mountains or rivers, just gently undulating terrain, rocky shores, and sandy beaches. The island has several offshore cays and islets, many uninhabited. The coastline is indented with secluded coves, reefs, and shallow bays. Its interior is mostly dry scrub and low vegetation, and the island has a tropical climate with warm, dry winters and a wetter season from May to November. Hurricanes are a seasonal threat, especially in late summer.
The main attractions are its beaches, snorkeling and diving, sailing, and relaxed local culture.
Anguilla has one airport, Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, with regional flights from Sint Maarten, San Juan, and other Caribbean islands. Most visitors arrive via ferry from Saint Martin, which has far more international connections. Taxis and rental cars are the primary transport options on the island, and roads are quiet but narrow.
The Valley and Central Anguilla
The administrative and residential center of the island.
- The Valley: The capital, home to government buildings, banks, and local shops, but not a major tourist zone.
- Crocus Bay: A calm bay with snorkeling, cliff walks, and views of nearby offshore cays.
- Wallblake House: The oldest surviving plantation house on Anguilla, open to visitors.
West End
The most developed area for luxury resorts, fine dining, and long beaches.
- Meads Bay: A long beach lined with high-end resorts, villas, and seafood restaurants.
- Barnes Bay: A quieter neighboring beach with cliffside hotels and turquoise waters.
- Shoal Bay West: A scenic spot with clear water and less foot traffic than the east.
- Maundays Bay: Famous for hosting Cap Juluca resort, ideal for honeymooners and privacy-seekers.
- Rendezvous Bay: Great for walking, windsurfing, and views of Saint Martin across the water.
East End
More local, rural, and peaceful, with small villages and less-touristed beaches.
- Shoal Bay East: Anguilla’s best-known beach, perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and beach bars.
- Island Harbour: A working fishing village, known for local life and fresh lobster.
- Scilly Cay: A tiny island restaurant accessible by boat from Island Harbour.
- Savannah Bay: A quiet, shallow bay, good for seclusion and kayaking.
- Junks Hole (Savannah Gallery area): A little-visited spot great for exploring and picnics.
Offshore Cays
Tiny islets and reef-lined beaches reachable by boat or charter.
- Sandy Island: A classic desert-isle experience with a beach bar and excellent snorkeling.
- Prickly Pear Cays: Popular for day trips and diving, with clear waters and coral reefs.
- Scrub Island: A rugged, uninhabited island with ruins, hiking trails, and wild beaches.
- Dog Island: A nature reserve known for seabirds and untouched beaches.
- Little Bay: Only accessible by boat or ladder, this cliff-lined cove is great for snorkeling and solitude.
There are no direct international flights to Anguilla. Travelers from the USA can make same-day international connections via San Juan in Puerto Rico, or St Martin. Several air carriers offer daily inter-island flights between Anguilla and St Martin, St Thomas, St Kitts and Antigua. A 20-minute ferry ride connects Blowing Point in Anguilla with Marigot Bay in St Martin. If you arrive by yacht, Sandy Ground in Road Bay is the best port of entry.