Highlights
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
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.
Practical information
| Capital | The Valley |
|---|---|
| Currency | Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD); US dollars widely accepted |
| Languages | English |
| Plugs | Type A, B |
| Voltage | 110 V, 60 Hz |
| Emergency | 911 or 999 |
| Driving | On the left |
| Tipping | Many restaurants and hotels add a service charge, so check the bill. Where none is added, around 15 per cent is customary. |
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.
Staying connected 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.
See Anguilla eSIM plans · How to install an eSIM
Useful apps for Anguilla
- 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.