Anguilla travel guide
Anguilla is a low, dry coral island in the northern Leeward Islands and a British Overseas Territory, known for its long white-sand beaches and calm turquoise water. There are no high-rise resorts or cruise-ship crowds, so it suits travellers who want quiet beaches, good food and a slow pace.
Places worth the trip
Shoal Bay East
A long curve of powder-white sand on the north-east coast, with a reef close to shore for snorkelling and a handful of beach bars. It is often the beach visitors return to again and again.
Meads Bay and Rendezvous Bay
Two of the island's best west-end beaches. Meads Bay has calm water for swimming, while Rendezvous Bay looks south across the channel to the green hills of Saint Martin.
Sandy Ground
A small village between a salt pond and the sea, and the centre of Anguilla's evening life, with live music in beach bars. It is also the departure point for boat trips to the offshore cays.
Prickly Pear Cays
Uninhabited cays to the north-west with sandy beaches and reefs, reached by day boat from Sandy Ground. Snorkelling here shows the clear water and marine life around the island.
Little Bay
A tiny cove beneath limestone cliffs on the north coast, reached by boat or by a rope scramble down the rock. Pelicans dive into the water and the snorkelling is good.
Wallblake House
A plantation house in The Valley dating from the late 18th century, one of the oldest surviving buildings on the island. Tours explain Anguilla's plantation history and the people who lived and worked there.
Boat racing
Anguilla's national sport, with locally built wooden racing sloops. Races are held on public holidays, and the biggest events coincide with the summer festival season in late July and early August.
Interesting facts about Anguilla
- Anguilla's internet domain, .ai, has become a valuable source of government revenue because of demand from artificial intelligence companies.
- Between 1967 and 1969 Anguillans rejected being governed as part of a federation with St Kitts and Nevis, and the island eventually returned to direct British administration.
- The island is very flat: its highest point is well under 100 metres above sea level.
- Fountain Cavern, a national park in the centre of the island, holds petroglyphs carved by the island's early Amerindian inhabitants.
- Anguilla has no cruise-ship terminal, which helps keep its beaches quiet.
Best time to visit Anguilla
The dry season from mid-December to April has the most reliable sunshine and is the busiest and most expensive time to visit. May and June are hotter but quieter. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, with the highest risk from about August to October, when some businesses close for a few weeks. Summer festival season in late July and early August brings boat races and music.
Getting around
Most visitors arrive by ferry or private boat from Saint Martin, or by small plane. There is no public bus network, so a rental car is the usual way to get around; driving is on the left, and a local driving permit is issued through the rental company. Taxis are available at the ferry terminal and airport, with fixed fares between set points. The island is small, so no beach is far away.
Practical details
- Capital
- The Valley
- Currency
- Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD); US dollars widely accepted
- Languages
- English
- Plug types
- A, B
- Voltage
- 110 V, 60 Hz
- Emergency
- 911 or 999
- Driving side
- left
- Tipping
- Many restaurants and hotels add a service charge, so check the bill. Where none is added, around 15 per cent is customary.
Staying online in Anguilla
Mobile coverage is generally good across the island because it is small and flat, with 4G in most places. Signal can weaken on the offshore cays and in a few sheltered coves. Wi-Fi is standard in hotels and villas and common in restaurants and beach bars. Phones may pick up networks from Saint Martin near the south coast, so set your eSIM as the data line before you go. Install it before you fly and switch it on when you land.
Useful apps
- Google Maps: Driving directions and beach locations; download the island for offline use as a backup.
- WhatsApp: Widely used by taxi drivers, boat operators and restaurants for bookings and messages.
- XE Currency: Convert between Eastern Caribbean and US dollars when prices are quoted in both.
Anguilla travel FAQs
Most visitors fly into Saint Martin and take a short ferry or private boat transfer across. There are also small flights from several nearby islands.
Yes, modern phones work on the local networks, and coverage is good across the island. Roaming on a home plan can be costly; a travel eSIM gives you local data while keeping your number for calls and texts.
Cards are accepted at most hotels and restaurants, and US dollars are used almost everywhere. Some small beach bars and taxis prefer cash, so carry some.
It is the easiest way to explore, as there is no public bus system. Taxis work well if you plan to stay mostly at one beach.