Anguilla Vacation Guide

Introduction

The island of Anguilla, which also comprises the island of Sombrero and a number of smaller islands and cays, is small and secluded; ideal if you want to get away from it all. The main resorts are based around the hotels, many of which are situated off the islands’ white coral beaches which are regarded as among the most beautiful in the world. A leisurely exploration of the idyllic shoreline is thus recommended. Accommodation ranges from luxury-class hotels to guest-houses, apartments, villas and cottages. Many establishments are situated on the beach and offer boating, snorkelling, fishing and scuba-diving equipment. Restaurants offer a mixture of Continental, American and Anguillan dishes with the emphasis on seafood, including lobster, conch and a variety of fish. The nightlife is centred on the hotels and the tourist areas and visitors will be glad to find the atmosphere relaxed and friendly.

Full country name: Anguilla
Area: 60 sq km
Population: 11,797
Capital City: The Valley
Language: English
Religion: Anglican (40%), Methodist (33%), Seventh-Day Adventist (7%), Baptist (5%), Roman Catholic, other
Government: dependent territory of the UK
Time Zone: GMT/UTC -4
Dialling Code: 264
Electricity: 110V ,60Hz
Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$)

We constantly update vacation deals and flights + hotel packages for Anguilla and the Caribbean. You can also check out some of the best hotels and resorts in Anguilla with exciting attractions like golf, casino, scuba diving and other water sports. Popular hotels & resorts in Anguilla are Cuisinart Resort & Spa and Rendezvous Bay Hotel.

US and Canadian citizens can enter Anguilla with proof of citizenship (in the form of a birth certificate with a raised seal accompanied by an official photo ID such as a driver's license). Citizens of most other nations only require passports, but not visas.
More Information About Visa Requirements

Travellers from the USA have the best access to Anguilla; those coming from elsewhere will probably have to transfer in a US city, unless they make use of Air France or British Airways services to nearby Caribbean islands. Although there are no direct international flights to Anguilla, it's possible to make same-day international connections via San Juan in Puerto Rico, or St Martin. Several air carriers have daily inter-island flights between Anguilla and St Martin, St Thomas, St Kitts and Antigua. Anguilla is also accessible by a 20-minute ferry ride between Marigot Bay in St Martin and Blowing Point in Anguilla. If you're yachting, the main port of entry is at Sandy Ground in Road Bay.

Anguilla is small, but there's no bus service on the island, making it difficult to get around without renting a vehicle. There are car rental companies near the airport. In Anguilla, you drive on the left, though virtually all rental cars have left-hand drive. Anguilla's Wallblake Airport, on the southern fringe of the Valley, is small and modern. Taxis are readily available at the airport, but if you're travelling light you can easily negotiate the short walk into town. Some taxi drivers will take you on a guided tour of the island for a flat fee. Bicycles and scooters can be rented in The Valley.

If you want to avoid the rainy season (August to November) and the hurricane season (June to October), Anguilla is best visited in the winter - when prices are highest. In the summer months (June to August) the weather is wetter and hotter, and the costs are lower.

There's an annual Anguillian Cultural Festival in February. Moonsplash is an annual reggae festival held in March in Rendezvous Bay. But the big party in Anguilla is Carnival, a week-long festival that begins the weekend prior to August Monday (the first Monday in August).

Anguilla has plenty of beautiful beaches should the mood strike you to take a dip or lather yourself with tanning butter. Sandy Ground has calm turquoise waters, as do the impressive sweeps at Shoal Bay East and Rendezvous Bay. Other notable beaches include Meads Bay and Shoal Bay West. Top honors in the Valley area go to Crocus Bay.

Para-sailing, windsurfing and water-skiing facilities are available, and can be organised through Shoal Bay, individual hotels and Anguilla Watersports. Shore fishing and deep-sea fishing for marlin, tuna, swordfish and wahoo can be arranged by several operators. Swimming with dolphins can also be arranged.

Historic tours of The Valley are available every Tuesday and Thursday (1000-1200) and a guided rainforest tour is offered. Boat racing is the national sport. There are public tennis courts at the Ronald Webster Park, and at some hotels. Hiking is popular, and horse-riding and mountain biking can both be arranged.

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