Anguilla
Anguilla is the Caribbean for people who have been everywhere else and want something better. This flat, coral island just north of St. Maarten has no duty free shopping malls, no cruise ship terminals, and no high rise hotels blocking the view. What it has are 33 of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, a collection of luxury resorts that set the standard for the region, and a restaurant scene that would be impressive in a city ten times its size.
The island is small, just 16 miles long and three miles wide, with a population of about 15,000. That intimacy is part of the appeal. After a few days, the bartender knows your drink, the restaurant host remembers your name, and the taxi driver asks about your snorkeling trip yesterday. It is luxury with genuine warmth, and that combination is rare.
Where to Stay
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla on Barnes Bay and Meads Bay is the island’s flagship property, with two beaches, multiple restaurants, and a golf course. Belmond Cap Juluca on Maundays Bay is a Moorish inspired resort on one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. Malliouhana, an Auberge Resort, sits on a dramatic cliff between two bays and has been an Anguilla legend since the 1980s. Quintessence Hotel is a small, ultra luxury boutique with just nine suites and a level of personalized service that approaches private estate hospitality.
Things to Do
Beach hopping is the primary activity, and Anguilla makes it exceptional. Shoal Bay East has a mile of white sand with beach bars, snorkeling, and a laid back atmosphere. Meads Bay is wider and more resort oriented. Rendezvous Bay stretches for two miles with views across the channel to St. Maarten. For something more secluded, take a boat to Little Bay, a tiny cove surrounded by cliffs accessible only from the water.
The dining scene punches far above the island’s size. Blanchard’s has been Anguilla’s culinary landmark for decades. Veya offers creative Caribbean cuisine in a treehouse setting. Jacala, a beachfront French bistro on Meads Bay, is the kind of restaurant that makes you consider buying property on the island. And the beach shack culture is equally good: grilled lobster and rum punch with your feet in the sand at Elvis’s Beach Bar or Smokey’s at the Cove.
Day trips to nearby islands add variety. Sandy Island, a tiny sandbar with a beach bar and snorkeling, is a 10 minute boat ride. Prickly Pear Cays offer excellent snorkeling and a Robinson Crusoe atmosphere. And St. Maarten, just a ferry ride away, offers shopping and nightlife if you want a change of pace.
Let Us Plan Your Anguilla Trip
Anguilla is for travelers who value quality over quantity, and the resort you choose defines the experience. We know these properties well and will match you with the right beach, the right room category, and the right restaurant reservations to make your Anguilla trip perfect.
