What Anguilla lacks in size, it more than makes up for in that much-sought Caribbean asset: pristine, powdery beaches. Boasting 12 miles (19km) of white coral coastline, Anguilla’s calm and polychromatic waters are enough to lure any potential visitor. Anguilla also comprises Sombrero, and numerous other smaller islands and cays, which are even more secluded. Many call Anguilla 'tranquility wrapped in blue'. Surrounded by blue skies (Anguilla has an average monthly temperature of 80°F/27°C) and vivid blue ocean, Anguilla offers the perfect cocktail to absorb and relax in.
For those seeking
an altogether different type of cocktail, nothing can beat staring out at a Caribbean sunset while sipping an Anguillan tipple. Those who like their food need not worry either, since restaurants on the island are excellent and offer a mixture of cuisines, with a natural emphasis on seafood. Al fresco dining is everywhere, with roadside barbecues and beachside bistros and grills speckled all about the shoreline. The nightlife is centered on the hotels and the tourist areas and has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
Accommodation ranges from luxury-class resorts to guest houses, apartments, villas and cottages. Some feature the latest in spa and wellness facilities, services and treatments to further guarantee you unwind.
If you ever get bored of relaxing, there are a myriad of activity choices. Many resorts and hotels are situated on the beach and offer boating, snorkeling, fishing and scuba diving equipment for adventurous types. For the culturally minded, Anguilla, despite its diminutive size, has around 15 art galleries to stroll around and observe Anguillan talent.
The name
Anguilla was given to the island by the Spanish and means ‘eel’, in reference to the island’s eel-like shape. It is therefore only apt that Anguilla slips out of any attempts to ‘define’ its appeal as a destination. Whether in pursuit of adventure, relaxation, romance or vibrancy, Anguilla has it all. It is little wonder that Anguillans are fiercely proud of their island, having first fought their way out of British control in 1967, and then out of a three-island self-governing entity with St Kitts & Nevis, which formally ended in 1980, when Anguilla emerged as an independent British Overseas Territory.
GeographyAnguilla, the northernmost of the Leeward Islands, also comprises the island of Sombrero, lying 48km (30 miles) north of Anguilla, and several small islets or cays. The nearest islands are St Maarten, 8km (5 miles) south of Anguilla, and St Kitts and Nevis, 113km (70 miles) to the southeast. The islands are mainly flat (the highest point, Crocus Hill, is only 60m (213ft) above sea level) with, arguably, some of the best beaches in the world.
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