anguilla, a little island in the eastern caribbean. anguilla offers everything- a relaxing beach getaway, excursions and food. when looking at the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean, it can feel hard to decide where to visit. this island is worth a visit. i would say it’s one of the best islands to travel to for a warm winter getaway.
entry requirements:
*remember to do your research on local restrictions and entry and exit requirements as rules keep changing.
visitors are required to complete an application and submit a negative test 3-5 days before entry to Anguilla. you will also be tested upon arrival, and will need to stay in your hotel until a negative result is delivered by email, usually within 12 hours. when transiting through St. Maarten to reach Anguilla, you’ll also need to meet their entry requirements.
1. fill out your application on and if you have any questions, email: visitanguilla@gov.ai. it’s best to start the application a week or so before your travel date.
2. transit visitors via St. Maarten must complete inbound and outbound EHAS procedures for St. Maarten at this form can only be completed 3 days prior.
getting here:
anguilla is pretty easy to get to from the U.S. there’s nonstop flights to St. Maarten from several East Coast cities, followed by a 20-minute water taxi ride. you can also get to Anguilla (AXA- Clayton J Lloyd International) directly from Miami. i would suggest booking your water taxi ahead of time and close to the time of your plane’s arrival. don’t worry if there are time delays. once you leave (SXM- Princess Juliana International) airport, there will be someone holding a sign with your charter’s name and you can check in with them.
where to stay: along Meads Bay. it was the most wonderful place we could have ever stayed.
meads bay is spread out between Malliouhana at one end and the Four Seasons at the other. in between is a stretch of smaller hotels and restaurants. it is super centrally located with stunning beach views just outside your doorstep and many restaurants to walk to.
there are many places to stay. this should be entirely up to you based on whether you want to stay primarily on the premises or go out and explore and budget.
getting around: it is expensive to get around by taxi but you could also look at it as supporting the locals. the island is a bit too spread out to explore by walking. for context, to get to Sandy Ground from Meads Bay was about $50 + tip roundtrip. to get to Cove Bay from Meads Bay was about $20 + tip round trip. also, the price is entirely up to the taxi driver.
there’s no public transportation in Anguilla, so the best option is to rent a car or a Moke (email: drive@mokeanguilla.com) which then pays itself for getting around if your stay is a bit longer and you need to get around for excursions. driving is on the left but the steering wheel may be on the left or right. you do need a temporary Anguilla driver’s permit.
leisure and activities:
horseback riding on the beach with Seaside Stables –
sandy island –
this excursion is well worth it. a delicious lunch with music playing and swimming in clear blue waters with mild waves. the boat leaves every hour from Sandy Ground beach and is a beautiful 10 minute ride. food is only served from 12pm to 3pm, so it’s best to order as soon as you get to the island. the last boat ride to leave the island is at 4. you can bring your own towels or rent the sun loungers. email: sandyislandoffice@gmail.com
spend the day in beautiful St. Barts – plan a day trip to St. Barts! you can book a charter with Calypso on Tuesday’s that leaves Anguilla at 9am and St. Bart’s at 5pm. it takes about 45 minutes.
Prickly Pear Cays – go over to Prickly Pear Cays for some BBQ lobster and a beach massage. you can snorkel and hike here too.
Zemi Thai House Spa – relish in a pampering spa treatment like a body scrub, massage, or a facial.
snorkeling & sightseeing in Little Bay – cruise to Little Bay where you can swim with the tropical fish.
kayaking through hidden coves and bays + paddle board – up for some water sports? you can rent kayaks or paddle boards at Prickly Pear.
sailing – a perfect way to experience Anguilla’s coastline.
sunset cruise – cruise around Anguilla while watching the sunset. you can book a 2 hour sunset cruise with Calypso. be sure to email for pricing.
restaurants:
the dining scene in anguilla was spectacular. there is so many choices of restaurants. the selection is so good that it’s hard to pick where to eat. we loved every single meal we had. everything was so fresh and flavorful.
make a little note of which restaurants are open on which days. at almost every restaurant, you are offered either a bottle of sparkling or still water. all anguilla restaurants add a 15% ‘service charge’. additional tip is up to you. it’s best to book all your dinner reservations ahead of time.
pimms: a dinner setting that is unbelievably beautiful.
leon’s – the most delicious lunch and lunch setting. it is the ultimate beach shack experience.
blanchard’s beach shack: no one should leave Anguilla without a trip to Blanchard’s. the strawberry banana smoothie was so good. be in for a little surprise with the chickens.
blanchard’s restaurant: a beautiful open air dining room and delicious food. if you’re overwhelmed by the choices, go with the citrus chicken.
straw hat – definitely a favorite as we had dinner here twice! the bread is served in a straw hat, which is such a nice touch. the best curry goat i’ve ever had.
- other recommended restaurants:
- - jacala
- - echo
- - picante
- - dolce vita
- - veya
- local's restaurant recommendations:
- - tropical sunset
- - tasty's
beaches:
three of the best beaches in Anguilla are Meads Bay, Rendezvous Bay, and Maundays Bay. all of the beaches water are pearly blue and beautiful.
Meads Bay – easily became our favorite stretch of shoreline. it is long with lots of hotel and restaurant options.
Rendezvous Bay – has calm swimming waters and views of St. Maarten in the distance. Sunshine Shack is a beach shack on Rendezvous Bay. It’s pretty laid back and there’s delicious food and drinks with reggae music playing.
Maundays Bay – is small and perfect with gentle waves. this beach is definitely a stand out.
the best time to visit: we visited the first week of February and it was relatively quiet with visitors. it almost felt like we had the island to ourselves! the locals said it would pick up again towards middle and end of February. it was recommended to visit the island in March or April. typically, visitors don’t travel to Anguilla during hurricane season (June – November). festive season is from mid December through early January, so accommodation can be a bit pricey, something to keep in mind.
weather: the weather was about 80 degrees every day. there was a sun shower for a couple of hours followed by a beautiful rainbow. weather wise, it’s best to visit between February through April where the temperature is dry and in the 80’s.
locals: the friendliest people, who take their time to talk to you. we felt very welcomed. they will happily arrange you a taxi or call a taxi for you. the only amazing thing they do differently is take their time at dinner because their on Caribbean time.
language: English
currency: United States Dollar (USD) – i would suggest bringing some cash and smaller bills like ones and fives for tipping. there is a ATM at the four seasons if you need additional cash.
power outlet: plug type A (two-prong plug)
safety: we felt very safe. not once did we feel uncomfortable or felt that we should hide our bag or camera away. even driving the Moke from Meads Bay to Shoal Bay we felt safe.
exit requirements: you do have to schedule a test the day before you leave the island. you can either go to the hospital or have a nurse come to your hotel. your results are emailed to you. it took us a while to receive our results, so we simply called the hospital to ask if they could email us again.
the outbound EHAS form for St. Maarten must be filled out the day before departure. you will be asked for your passport and EHAS form before boarding your charter. there is also a departure tax when leaving Anguilla.
literally everything i would need to know to visit anguilla!! gorgeous pics 🏝❤️