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Hotels in Anguilla

33 beaches, no high-rise hotels and no casino

Anguilla

LanguageEnglish
CurrencyXCD
TimezoneGMT-4
Temperature25-31 °C
Dial Code+1-264
Population15K
Area91 km²
SocketsType A / Type B
Tap waterBottled advised

Discover Anguilla

Anguilla is a flat coral island, 26 km long and barely 5 km wide, home to 15,000 people and not a single building taller than a palm tree. It's a British Overseas Territory, English-speaking, with the Eastern Caribbean dollar pegged to the US dollar as its currency — and in practice, US dollars are accepted everywhere. The island has no casino, no cruise ships dock here and no tour buses arrive; all there is are beaches, and there are 33 of them. The sand is crushed coral, so it's white and cool enough to walk barefoot even at midday. The water is shallow, clear and calm, sheltered by the surrounding reefs. On price, Anguilla sits near the top of Caribbean destinations: resorts like Cap Juluca or Malliouhana rank among the most expensive in the region. Yet you can also eat at beach grills for a few dollars, a combination you won't find elsewhere in the luxury Caribbean. No flights reach here directly from outside the region — arrival is via Sint Maarten and then a ferry.

What to see

The places worth your time in Anguilla, and what to expect at each

Shoal Bay East

Shoal Bay East

12 km northeast of The Valley

3 kilometres of white coral sand on the northeast coast, regularly ranked among the world's best beaches. The water stays shallow far from shore, and the reef lies about 100 metres out, so you can snorkel straight from the beach without a boat.

Tip: The best snorkelling is at the eastern end of the beach behind Gwen's restaurant — a 10-minute walk from the main car park, with no lifeguards or crowds there.

Admission:
free, sunbeds from $20
Time needed:
half a day

Meads Bay

western tip, 15 km from The Valley

A 2-kilometre beach at the western end of the island, home to most of the luxury resorts. The sand is fine, the seabed gently sloping, and its west-facing orientation means an unobstructed sunset view. Access is public, as on all Anguilla's beaches.

Tip: All beaches are public by law up to the high-tide line — you can walk past the hotels, and a beach bar will serve you even if you're not staying at the resort.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Rendezvous Bay

Rendezvous Bay

south coast, 10 km from The Valley

The island's longest beach, a curve over 3 kilometres long on the south coast, looking across the channel to the hills of Saint-Martin. It stays empty even in peak season, since it's reachable only via one of 3 access points.

Tip: At the western end stands the Dune Preserve, a beach bar built from shipwreck timber; live music usually plays from Thursday to Sunday after sunset.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
half a day
Sandy Island

Sandy Island

boat trip from Sandy Ground

A sandbar the size of a football pitch, a kilometre and a half from Sandy Ground, with a handful of palm trees, one bar and nothing else. A coral reef surrounds it entirely. A shuttle boat runs from the mainland several times a day, and the crossing takes 10 minutes.

Tip: The islet has repeatedly shrunk and grown back after hurricanes — check at the Sandy Ground dock before you go that the boat is running that day; the schedule follows the weather, not the clock.

Admission:
boat from $30 return
Time needed:
half a day
Prickly Pear Cays

Prickly Pear Cays

boat trip, 10 km northwest

A pair of uninhabited islets 10 kilometres northwest of Anguilla, protected as a marine park. The eastern one has a beach with a bar and a reef with coral canyons, where you can snorkel among rays and barracuda. The boat crossing takes about 20 minutes.

Tip: Trips are sold as full days with lunch, but the dock also takes smaller boats — a half-day option without lunch costs roughly half.

Admission:
trip from $90
Time needed:
full day
The Valley

The Valley

centre of the island

The island's capital, consisting of one main junction, a few banks, a market and several churches. About 1,000 people live here, and it's walkable in 20 minutes. It's the one place on Anguilla where you'll see the island running outside the tourist economy.

Tip: Visit the morning market by the cemetery — local fruit and spiced sauces cost a fraction of the resort supermarket price.

Admission:
free
Time needed:
2 h
Wallblake House

Wallblake House

The Valley

A plantation house from 1787, the oldest surviving building on the island and the only example of what Anguilla looked like during the cotton-growing era. The outbuildings survive too, including the kitchen and stables. Today it belongs to the Catholic parish next door.

Tip: It's open only in narrow morning windows a few days a week, and the tour is led by a volunteer — call a day ahead, or you'll find the gate locked.

Admission:
voluntary donation
Time needed:
1 h
Island Harbour and Scilly Cay

Island Harbour and Scilly Cay

northeast, 14 km from The Valley

A fishing village in the northeast, from where brightly painted boats set out to catch lobster. 50 metres offshore lies the islet of Scilly Cay, home to a single restaurant reached by waving from the dock — a boat comes to pick you up.

Tip: Scilly Cay cooks only on select days, and only lobster and grilled chicken; check the operating day beforehand, as the islet is often closed for weeks out of season.

Admission:
transfer included in the meal price
Time needed:
3 h
Little Bay and Katouche Valley

Little Bay and Katouche Valley

north coast, 5 km from The Valley

A hidden cove beneath limestone cliffs on the north coast, with no road access — reached by swimming from Crocus Bay, paddling a kayak, or climbing down a rope fixed to the rock face. The greenery in Katouche Gorge behind it is the densest vegetation on an otherwise parched island.

Tip: Rappelling down the rope has no safety line, and the wet limestone is slippery — renting a kayak from Crocus Bay is the safer option, and the paddle takes barely 15 minutes.

Admission:
kayak from $30
Time needed:
3 h

Photos: Shoal Bay East — Peter Southwood (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Rendezvous Bay — therealaxalady (CC BY 2.0) · Sandy Island — alljengi (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Prickly Pear Cays — Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0) · The Valley — Josveek Huligar (permission given in e-mail) (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Wallblake House — Josveek Huligar (permission given in e-mail) (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Island Harbour and Scilly Cay — Roy Googin (CC BY-SA 3.0) · Little Bay and Katouche Valley — LittleT889 (CC BY 4.0)

Where to stay

Areas and districts, matched to the kind of trip you are taking

West End and Meads Bay

Best for: resorts and sunsets

The western tip of the island, with the best beaches and the most expensive accommodation on Anguilla, including Cap Juluca and Malliouhana. Restaurants here are world-class, and prices match. It's a quarter-hour drive to The Valley; without a car, you're reliant on taxis.

Shoal Bay East

Best for: swimming and snorkelling

The northeast coast around the island's most famous beach. Accommodation here is smaller and cheaper than in the west, mostly apartments and boutique hotels. The reef 100 metres offshore is reachable from the beach, so snorkelling needs no boat or guide.

Sandy Ground

Best for: evening life and boat trips

The one place on the island with anything like nightlife: a strip of bars and restaurants right on the beach at the harbour, from where all the boats to Sandy Island and Prickly Pear also depart. Accommodation here is cheaper, but the beach feels more industrial than elsewhere.

Rendezvous Bay and Blowing Point

Best for: quiet and ferry arrivals

The south coast, with the island's longest and emptiest beach and the ferry terminal most visitors arrive through. Practical if you arrive late or fly out early from Sint Maarten. The view crosses the channel to Saint-Martin.

Search hotels →

Getting around

From the airport

There's no direct flight to Anguilla from outside the region, and even a standard-sized aircraft can't land here — Clayton J. Lloyd Airport has a short runway built for small planes. In practice, travel goes via Dutch Sint Maarten, reached from Europe with a connection through a major hub. From Sint Maarten, continue either by the public ferry from French Marigot to Blowing Point, by a direct boat from the airport terminal, or by a short connecting flight. The journey from the airport to the island takes 1 to 3 hours depending on the route.

Sint Maarten Princess Juliana (main arrival airport) (SXM) · 30 km

  • Direct boat from the airport terminal to Blowing Point· 45 min· $70
  • Taxi to Marigot and the public ferry· 1 h 30 min· $35
  • Connecting flight on a small plane to AXA· 10 min· $120

Clayton J. Lloyd International, Anguilla (AXA) · 3 km

  • Taxi to The Valley· 5 min· $12
  • Taxi to Meads Bay· 20 min· $28
  • Hotel transfer· 10–25 min· included by resorts

Around town

The island is 26 km long, and one main road crosses it from west to east in half an hour. There's no public transport, so the choice is between taxis and a rental car. Taxis charge fixed fares by route, but 2 rides a day quickly match the cost of a rental. Driving is on the left, and you'll need a temporary Anguilla driving permit, issued right at the rental office. Roads are good but unlit, and goats roam freely.

Rental carThe most practical option; a temporary local licence is purchased alongside the rental. · $55 / day
Temporary driving permitRequired to drive, issued on the spot by the rental company, valid 3 months. · $25
TaxiFixed fares by route, no meter; confirm the price before getting in. · $12 for a short trip
Ferry to Blowing PointThe link to Saint-Martin, several departures a day, last one early evening. · $30

Useful apps: Google Maps, WhatsApp

When to go

The best period is December to April: dry, around 29°C, with the sea over 26°C. It's also the most expensive season, with resort prices anywhere from 50% to double summer rates. May and June are a good compromise — warm, still low rainfall, and lower prices. From August to October is hurricane season, peaking in September, when some hotels and restaurants close entirely. The sea is warmest in September and October at 29°C.

Best time

December to April

What to avoid

August to October for hurricanes

MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Day29°29°29°30°30°31°31°32°32°31°30°29°
Night23°23°23°24°25°26°26°26°26°25°25°24°
Rainy days97668781112131211
Sea26°26°26°26°27°28°28°29°29°29°28°27°

Food & drink

Anguilla has an unusually strong food scene for its size — with over 70 restaurants for 15,000 residents, since chefs followed the resorts here. Alongside them runs a second, far cheaper layer: beach grills and roadside stalls, where fish or chicken off the charcoal costs just a few dollars. The flagship dish is Caribbean spiny lobster, caught locally and grilled split with garlic butter. On weekdays, lunch is eaten around midday, dinner early, and on Sundays most non-resort places are closed.

What to try

Grilled spiny lobster

Clawless Caribbean lobster, caught by local boats and grilled split; charged by weight, so check the price per pound beforehand.

Crayfish

A smaller freshwater relative of the lobster, cheaper on beach-grill menus and often tastier than the large lobster.

Johnny cakes

Fried cornmeal cakes, served with everything from fish to stewed goat.

Pigeon peas and rice

Rice cooked with pigeon peas and coconut milk, the standard side to a main dish.

Stewed goat

A Sunday dish in local households, seasoned with thyme and scotch bonnet pepper and slow-stewed until tender.

Grilled snapper

The most common local fish, charcoal-grilled with lime; at a beach grill it costs a fraction of the resort price.

Rum punch

Mixed from dark rum, fruit juice and nutmeg; every bar guards its own ratios as a secret.

Anguilla Ting

Grapefruit soda with rum, the most common afternoon drink on the beach.

What it costs

Fish from a grill stall

$12–18

Dinner at a resort restaurant

$70–120 per person

Rum punch at a beach bar

$10–14

Beer

$5–7

Car rental per day

from $55

Ferry from Saint-Martin

$30 one way

Boat trip to Prickly Pear

from $90

Night in a 4-star hotel in peak season

$350–600

Indicative prices that change over time — treat them as a guide, not a price list.

Practical information

SocketsAtwo flat pins (US/JP)Btwo flat pins plus ground (US)
Voltage110V / 60Hz
Tap waterTap water is treated, bottled is common — Drinking water comes from desalination and collected rainwater. In resorts it's treated and safe; outside them, bottled water is the norm. Water is generally used sparingly, as the island has no freshwater source.
TippingTipping is expected American-style, at 10–20%. Many restaurants already add a 15% service charge — check the bill so you don't pay twice.
Driving on theleft
SafetyAnguilla is among the safest places in the Caribbean, and violent crime is rare. The main risks are strong sun, currents at the less sheltered beaches in the north, and night driving on unlit roads shared with roaming goats. Healthcare is basic; more serious cases are transferred to Sint Maarten — travel insurance with medical evacuation is genuinely worth having.
Opening hoursShops and offices are open roughly from 8am to 5pm, Saturdays mornings only. On Sundays the island is largely shut down, with mainly resorts and beach bars open. From August to October, some businesses close for weeks at a time.
Customs & etiquetteThe island is conservative and religious: swimwear belongs on the beach, not in a shop or restaurant, and going topless isn't done on public beaches. A greeting before asking anything is considered basic courtesy.
A few local wordsGood morning — Good morningThank you — Thank youHow much is it? — How much is it?The bill, please — The bill, pleaseCheers — Cheers

How to plan your days

1 day

A day of beaches

  1. 1Morning at Shoal Bay East, snorkelling the reef at its eastern end.
  2. 2Lunch at a beach grill right on the sand.
  3. 3Afternoon crossing to Meads Bay on the island's west side.
  4. 4Sunset and dinner in Sandy Ground.

2 days

2 days with a boat trip

  1. 1Day 1 as above.
  2. 2Second morning, a boat from Sandy Ground to Sandy Island.
  3. 3Afternoon at Rendezvous Bay, the island's longest and quietest beach.
  4. 4Early evening live music at the Dune Preserve at the end of the bay.

3 days

3 days including inland

  1. 1The first 2 days as above.
  2. 2Third morning in The Valley, the market and Wallblake House.
  3. 3Lunch at Scilly Cay in Island Harbour, reached by waving from the dock.
  4. 4Afternoon kayak from Crocus Bay to the hidden cove of Little Bay.
  5. 5With a spare day, a full-day trip to Prickly Pear Cays.

Day trips

Saint-Martin and Sint Maarten

12 km · 25 min by ferry

An island split between France and the Netherlands, which you'll pass through anyway for the airport. French Marigot has a market and French restaurants; Dutch Philipsburg has duty-free shops and Maho Beach beneath the runway. Head back to Anguilla on the last ferry before dark.

St Barts

40 km · 2 h by boat via Saint-Martin

A French island with yachts in Gustavia and the best bistros in the Caribbean. There's no direct link from Anguilla; you travel via Saint-Martin, so it's better suited to an overnight stay than a day trip.

Scrub Island and Dog Island

15 km · 40 min by boat

2 uninhabited islands off Anguilla's eastern and northwestern tips. Scrub Island has a plane wreck in the brush and an abandoned airstrip; Dog Island hosts the largest tern colony in the Caribbean. Reached by chartered boat only — there's no scheduled service.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get to Anguilla?+

There's no direct flight. You connect through a major European hub to Sint Maarten, then take a ferry to Blowing Point — either a direct boat from the airport terminal in 45 minutes, or a taxi to French Marigot and the public ferry. The whole journey typically takes most of a day.

How much does a holiday on Anguilla cost?+

Accommodation is the biggest expense: a 4-star hotel in peak season costs $350–600 a night, and top resorts several times more. Food can be cheap at beach grills from $12, or expensive at resort restaurants, around $100 per person.

When is the best time to visit?+

From December to April, when it's dry, around 29°C, and the sea is 26°C. May and June offer the best balance of price and weather. From August to October is hurricane season, and some hotels and restaurants close entirely.

Which currency is used on Anguilla?+

The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, fixed at 2.70 to the US dollar, but in practice US dollars are used and priced everywhere. Hotels and larger restaurants take cards; beach grills and stalls often take cash only.

Do I need a car on Anguilla?+

Practically, yes — there's no public transport, and 2 taxi rides a day soon match the cost of a rental. Driving is on the left, and you'll need a temporary Anguilla driving permit for $25, issued directly by the rental company.

Can you snorkel on Anguilla without a boat?+

Yes, the reef at Shoal Bay East lies about 100 metres offshore and can be reached by swimming from the beach. Little Bay is another good spot. The best coral, though, is around the islets of Prickly Pear and Sandy Island, reachable only by boat.

Are the beaches public even where a resort stands?+

Yes, by law all beaches on Anguilla are public up to the high-tide line. You can walk past any hotel, and a beach bar will serve you even if you're not staying there. Resort sunbeds, however, are reserved for guests.

How many days are enough for Anguilla?+

3 days are enough to tour the island and its main beaches. But Anguilla is a destination for lying by the sea, not sightseeing, so a typical stay runs a week, and most visitors combine it with a few days on Saint-Martin or St Barts.

Visa Requirements

Check the latest visa requirements for entering this country. Some nationalities may need to apply for a visa or e-visa before travel.

Check visa requirements

Emergency Numbers

Police911Ambulance911Fire911

Language

English

Currency

XCD

Timezone

GMT-4

Dial Code

+1-264

Population

15K

Area

91 km²

Voltage

110V / 60Hz

Driving Side

Left

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