Where Best

Anguilla

Thirty-three beaches, no high-rises, and not much else — deliberately.

· Caribbean · Last updated July 2026

Part of the guide Best Caribbean islands All 24 islands ranked, with the best month for each →

Anguilla is a flat scrub of coral sixteen miles long whose entire proposition is sand. It has some of the best beaches in the Caribbean — Shoal Bay East is regularly called the region's finest — a handful of expensive, low-slung resorts, a surprisingly good restaurant scene, and essentially nothing else. No casinos, no cruise pier, no nightlife beyond a few legendary beach bars. That emptiness is the product.

The beaches are the itinerary. Shoal Bay East is the famous one: two miles of powder with reef close in for snorkelling. Rendezvous Bay looks across at St Martin, Meads Bay holds the smart hotels, and Little Bay is reached by boat or by climbing down a rope. The other draw is food — for an island of 15,000 people, Anguilla eats extremely well, from Blanchards and Veya at the top end to grilled crayfish at roadside shacks. The beach bars are institutions: Dune Preserve, built out of driftwood and salvaged boats by the reggae musician Bankie Banx, is the one everybody means.

The honest part: there is genuinely nothing to do here beyond beach, eat, and swim — no interior, no hiking, no real sights, and that bores some people rigid within three days. It's expensive, with the top hotels priced against St Barths. Getting in means flying to St Martin and taking a ferry or a short hop, which adds a leg. And it's low and dry, so it lacks the drama of the volcanic islands. Come to do nothing, on very good sand, and it's close to perfect.

Highlights

  • Shoal Bay East

    Two miles of powder with reef just offshore — routinely rated the best beach in the Caribbean.

  • Dune Preserve

    A beach bar built from driftwood and old boats by a reggae musician. An institution.

  • Rendezvous Bay

    A long calm arc looking across the channel at St Martin.

  • The restaurant scene

    Absurdly good for 15,000 people — from white-tablecloth rooms to roadside crayfish.

  • Little Bay

    A tiny cove reached by boat or by climbing down a rope — the island’s snorkelling secret.

  • Sandy Island

    A sandbar with a bar on it, ten minutes offshore. Lunch and nothing else.

Practical info

Visa
Visa-free for most Western passports (typically 90 days). Verify before travel.
Currency
East Caribbean Dollar (XCD); US dollars accepted everywhere.
Language
English (official).
Safety
Very safe and very quiet; ordinary precautions only.
Getting around
Rental car or taxis (driving on the left); the island is small and flat.
Tap water
Tap water is desalinated and safe; most places serve bottled.
Plug type
Type A Type B 110V
Money
Cards at hotels and restaurants; carry cash for beach bars and shacks.

General guidance — visas, safety, and health change, so check your government's travel advisory and the official sources before you go.

Common questions

When is the best time to visit Anguilla?
Anguilla is at its best in December–April. It's best to avoid August, September, October.
How many days do you need in Anguilla?
Most trips run about 1 week, depending on how much ground you want to cover.
Is Anguilla expensive?
Plan for mid-range – premium daily spend, depending on how you travel.
Is Anguilla safe for travelers?
Very safe and very quiet; ordinary precautions only.
Do you need a visa for Anguilla?
Visa-free for most Western passports (typically 90 days). Verify before travel.

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