Of the myriads of things you can try, taste, experience, and feel in Anguilla, one definitely needs to:
Explore the Sugary Shores
Despite its small size, Anguilla is adorned with scenic and spellbinding white-sand beaches. Indeed, the Caribbean island is home to more than 33 palm-dotted public beaches featuring turquoise waters and a superbly laid-back and relaxed atmosphere. Some of the most idyllic ones are Maundays Beach, Rendezvous Bay, Sandy Ground Village, Meads Bay, and Shoal Bay, with the first and last shores ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving adventures. As for your nightly endeavours, the fish-shaped bay of Sandy Ground Village is just perfect for quintessential Caribbean nights.
Visit a Plantation Home
Walking inside a plantation home instantly gives a glimpse of the local history. One of the oldest structures on the island is the Wallblake House which dates back to the late 1700s. Built by Will Blake, a well-known sugar planter in Anguilla, it remains in nearly pristine condition. It is considered one of the most well-preserved plantation homes in the Caribbean. Feel free to admire the beauty of this popular tourist attraction via a guided tour and try to imagine how life in Anguilla was a few centuries ago through the still-intact kitchen, the living room, the slave quarters, and all other spaces that speak volumes of the island’s past.
Tip: Although Wallblake House is open to the public, you must book a tour in advance.
Go Scuba Diving
Many travellers, especially divers (professional and novice alike) prefer Anguilla for its prime dive spots that are, admittedly, among the most fascinating in the Caribbean Sea. Can’t blame them. With not only one but seven marine parks, Anguilla’s underwater universe is home to thriving marine life and a seabed featuring internationally sunken ships and artificial reefs.
Anguilla is an earthy haven for wreck diving enthusiasts, who can explore the 232-foot wreck of Sarah, the largest Anguilla shipwreck that sank in 1984 after a catastrophic hurricane struck the island.
Other great dive sites are Oosterdiep and Meppel, named after the ships that now rest in Anguilla’s aquatic cosmos. The first was drifted ashore and sunk by the government, while the second was a leading player in the World War II battle of Dunkirk.
Explore the Fountain Cavern National Park
Hands down a magnificent archaeological Anguilla site and the oldest known ceremonial Caribbean cave site, the Fountain Cavern National Park is, in reality, a hypnotising underground cave that was once a place of worship by the Amerindians. This justifies many petroglyphs (drawings on the rocks) found in the 16-foot-tall cave. Another impressive element of the cave is the Jocahu-shaped stalagmite – the Taino Indians believed that the Jocahu was supreme. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to explore the cavern entirely as it is not open to the public. However, you can discover the charms of the park.
Learn about Anguilla From its Only Museum
Don’t be misled by its small size. Anguilla’s only museum is loaded with the island's history and information about its past. If you have a few hours to spend, visiting the Anguilla Heritage Collection Museum will reward you with every bit about this wonderful place in the Caribbean Sea, from its geology and sugar industry to the history of the slavery, the Arawaks (aka Taino), and Anguilla itself. The Arawak was a peaceful tribe that cultivated the land in prehistoric times, which played a vital role in the agriculture of the Caribbean.
Dive Into the Local Dining Scene
Local gastronomy is one of Anguilla’s most impressive features that can sweep you off your feet, with international chefs preparing mouth-watering dishes from local and global cuisines. Restaurants like Picante will give you an unbeatable casual approach to dining and tastes like massive tacos filled with fresh mahi-mahi on the grill and pitchers of serrano margaritas. If you prefer fine dining experiences, then venues like Jacala and Ember Restaurant are, rightfully, celeb-favored places serving local specialties like crayfish scampi roasted on a wood oven and lamb shank brained with lavender right after they treat you with a tasty aperitif while waiting to be seated.
Take a Boat Tour
Anguilla’s diverse landscape is extraordinary. This includes its shoreline, which dazzles with its multi-coloured and multi-scenery beaches, cays, coves, and bays that can best be explored by boat tour. Remote and isolated or even off the island, expect adventures offering a ravishing mix of fine sand, sun, crystalline waters, and snorkelling. For peace-seekers, Little Bay is a lovely secluded shore on the West End that will steal your heart with its serene vibes and romantic atmosphere. Prickly Pear is ideal for a beach BBQ venture, while Falcon’s Nest is another delicious stop on the way (in Island Harbour) on the main island for fish dishes, included in most island boat tours.
As for off-island locations, the three cays (Prickly Pear, Sandy Island, and Scilly Cay) will compensate you with the ultimate desert island experience. Each enticing in its way, all three pamper with famed rum punches, the best lobster lunches, photogenic corners, a picturesque backdrop, and classic local go-to's, such as BBQ with ribs and local crayfish. Private or not, a boat tour is undoubtedly a must-try in Anguilla.
Other Things to do in Anguilla:
- Little Bay - Visit the water-accessible-only Little Bay and take in the stunning landscape and crescent-shaped coves.
- Gallop to Cove Bay – A private ranch operating on the island for nearly 30 years, offering unique horseback riding ventures, including beach rides catered to all levels.
- Kitesurfing - Try kitesurfing and other watersports, such as stand-up paddleboarding. There is even a kitesurfing academy to help you learn the ropes!
- Spa & Wellness - Spoil yourself at a spa – Most 5-star Anguilla resorts provide a wide range of stellar spa treatments and services. One that stands out is the Thai House Spa at Zemi Beach, which is also home to the island's only steam bath (aka hammam), housed in a three-century-old Thai house!
- Music Scene - Listen to live local music at the Dune Preserve, founded by an Anguilla music legend, or join a music festival like Moonsplash.
Of the myriads of things you can try, taste, experience, and feel in Anguilla, one definitely needs to:
Explore the Sugary Shores
Despite its small size, Anguilla is adorned with scenic and spellbinding white-sand beaches. Indeed, the Caribbean island is home to more than 33 palm-dotted public beaches featuring turquoise waters and a superbly laid-back and relaxed atmosphere. Some of the most idyllic ones are Maundays Beach, Rendezvous Bay, Sandy Ground Village, Meads Bay, and Shoal Bay, with the first and last shores ideal for snorkelling and scuba diving adventures. As for your nightly endeavours, the fish-shaped bay of Sandy Ground Village is just perfect for quintessential Caribbean nights.
Visit a Plantation Home
Walking inside a plantation home instantly gives a glimpse of the local history. One of the oldest structures on the island is the Wallblake House which dates back to the late 1700s. Built by Will Blake, a well-known sugar planter in Anguilla, it remains in nearly pristine condition. It is considered one of the most well-preserved plantation homes in the Caribbean. Feel free to admire the beauty of this popular tourist attraction via a guided tour and try to imagine how life in Anguilla was a few centuries ago through the still-intact kitchen, the living room, the slave quarters, and all other spaces that speak volumes of the island’s past.
Tip: Although Wallblake House is open to the public, you must book a tour in advance.
Go Scuba Diving
Many travellers, especially divers (professional and novice alike) prefer Anguilla for its prime dive spots that are, admittedly, among the most fascinating in the Caribbean Sea. Can’t blame them. With not only one but seven marine parks, Anguilla’s underwater universe is home to thriving marine life and a seabed featuring internationally sunken ships and artificial reefs.
Anguilla is an earthy haven for wreck diving enthusiasts, who can explore the 232-foot wreck of Sarah, the largest Anguilla shipwreck that sank in 1984 after a catastrophic hurricane struck the island.
Other great dive sites are Oosterdiep and Meppel, named after the ships that now rest in Anguilla’s aquatic cosmos. The first was drifted ashore and sunk by the government, while the second was a leading player in the World War II battle of Dunkirk.
Explore the Fountain Cavern National Park
Hands down a magnificent archaeological Anguilla site and the oldest known ceremonial Caribbean cave site, the Fountain Cavern National Park is, in reality, a hypnotising underground cave that was once a place of worship by the Amerindians. This justifies many petroglyphs (drawings on the rocks) found in the 16-foot-tall cave. Another impressive element of the cave is the Jocahu-shaped stalagmite – the Taino Indians believed that the Jocahu was supreme. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to explore the cavern entirely as it is not open to the public. However, you can discover the charms of the park.
Learn about Anguilla From its Only Museum
Don’t be misled by its small size. Anguilla’s only museum is loaded with the island's history and information about its past. If you have a few hours to spend, visiting the Anguilla Heritage Collection Museum will reward you with every bit about this wonderful place in the Caribbean Sea, from its geology and sugar industry to the history of the slavery, the Arawaks (aka Taino), and Anguilla itself. The Arawak was a peaceful tribe that cultivated the land in prehistoric times, which played a vital role in the agriculture of the Caribbean.
Dive Into the Local Dining Scene
Local gastronomy is one of Anguilla’s most impressive features that can sweep you off your feet, with international chefs preparing mouth-watering dishes from local and global cuisines. Restaurants like Picante will give you an unbeatable casual approach to dining and tastes like massive tacos filled with fresh mahi-mahi on the grill and pitchers of serrano margaritas. If you prefer fine dining experiences, then venues like Jacala and Ember Restaurant are, rightfully, celeb-favored places serving local specialties like crayfish scampi roasted on a wood oven and lamb shank brained with lavender right after they treat you with a tasty aperitif while waiting to be seated.
Take a Boat Tour
Anguilla’s diverse landscape is extraordinary. This includes its shoreline, which dazzles with its multi-coloured and multi-scenery beaches, cays, coves, and bays that can best be explored by boat tour. Remote and isolated or even off the island, expect adventures offering a ravishing mix of fine sand, sun, crystalline waters, and snorkelling. For peace-seekers, Little Bay is a lovely secluded shore on the West End that will steal your heart with its serene vibes and romantic atmosphere. Prickly Pear is ideal for a beach BBQ venture, while Falcon’s Nest is another delicious stop on the way (in Island Harbour) on the main island for fish dishes, included in most island boat tours.
As for off-island locations, the three cays (Prickly Pear, Sandy Island, and Scilly Cay) will compensate you with the ultimate desert island experience. Each enticing in its way, all three pamper with famed rum punches, the best lobster lunches, photogenic corners, a picturesque backdrop, and classic local go-to's, such as BBQ with ribs and local crayfish. Private or not, a boat tour is undoubtedly a must-try in Anguilla.
Other Things to do in Anguilla:
- Little Bay - Visit the water-accessible-only Little Bay and take in the stunning landscape and crescent-shaped coves.
- Gallop to Cove Bay – A private ranch operating on the island for nearly 30 years, offering unique horseback riding ventures, including beach rides catered to all levels.
- Kitesurfing - Try kitesurfing and other watersports, such as stand-up paddleboarding. There is even a kitesurfing academy to help you learn the ropes!
- Spa & Wellness - Spoil yourself at a spa – Most 5-star Anguilla resorts provide a wide range of stellar spa treatments and services. One that stands out is the Thai House Spa at Zemi Beach, which is also home to the island's only steam bath (aka hammam), housed in a three-century-old Thai house!
- Music Scene - Listen to live local music at the Dune Preserve, founded by an Anguilla music legend, or join a music festival like Moonsplash.