Anguilla

Eco-friendly travel guide to Anguilla advises how to be a responsible tourist. Learn how to travel in a sustainable way and how to respect the local people and culture. Make your trip green by supporting locally owned hotels, organic restaurants and other businesses. Read more on how to protect the environment by making conscientious choices and how to travel green in Anguilla, Caribbean, North America.

Beach view of Anguilla

Air quality: 4.2 / 5

Bus connections: 2.4 / 5

Train connections: 3.2 / 5

Hitchhiking: 4.4 / 5

National parks: 4.2 / 5

Outdoor activities: 4.2 / 5

Locals' English level: 4.6 / 5

Safety: 3.8 / 5

Accommodation: US$70 - $500

Budget per day: US$115 - $200

Responsible Travel

Being a tourist in today's world comes with its own set of responsibilities and obligations. The change climate of the planet urges us to be more responsible and take accountability for our actions and also study the impact we have on the environment. One must travel in an eco friendly way and ensure that the local citizens or the natural surroundings are not affected. These are some of the most crucial tips that vacationers must follow to travel responsibly.

While exploring different places and the general idea of tourism is great, it is also harmful for the environment because of the way tourists travel today. It is of utmost importance to be a responsible traveller especially when we are at the verge of a climate disaster.

Choosing the right transport method: A major part of your travel experience includes discovering every nook and cranny of the city. While you will have transport options like private cars and taxis at your disposal you need to know that not only do they contribute to more congestion and traffic pollution but also emit harmful gases into the environment. So, choose options like walking, cycling, electronic and public transportation in general.
Trying local food: A huge part of the local culture is the traditional food that is offered at the local traditional restaurants and by street food vendors. Instead of just sticking to international fast food franchises that contribute to so much waste being produced in the world, you should try the local options. Not only will it help the local economy but also will directly help the families whose sole source of earning are these small food businesses.
Do not throw waste: As an eco-friendly traveler, you need to promote sustainable living as much as possible in the city to motivate not only fellow tourists but local people. When you visit any tourists attractions especially city parks, make sure you do not throw any food wrapper and do not just stop at that but if you see any trash, pick it up and throw it in the dustbin. It might look like a very small thing to do but has a huge impact on people watching especially the children present in the park since they learn and mimic the behaviour of other people around them.
Choose a green hotel: Plenty of accommodations are available in the city that provide you with a top-notch experience but instead of choosing them, you can pick green hotels for your stay. They use eco-friendly measures to reduce the pollution and waste of the city. This is one of the great ways to contribute towards the city to keep it safe and clean.
Shop local: In order to support local craftsmen and artisans always shop local. During your trip to the city, you will come across small shops and food stalls in almost every lane of the city. If you want to have an unforgettable experience in the city, then buy goods and handicrafts from these shops. This will not only help you to save a lot of money but you will be supporting a lot of local people who are dependent on their small businesses to earn a livelihood.

Air Quality and Pollution

The World Health Organization (WHO) advises that the annual concentration of air quality must be PM 2.5 and should not be more than 10 µg/m3 and 20 µg/m3 for PM 10. The most recent data indicates that the air quality in Anguilla can be called moderate as it's somewhat acceptable for most people but minors and some sensitive groups might have some trouble with the air quality. The time of the year to visit Anguilla should be the months of May to August, at this time you can get a good package deal and can avoid encountering a hurricane, which usually takes place from the month of June and carries on all the way till November. You can get reasonable rates at the prices of the hotels too. Although, there might be an increase in the level of air pollution because of the Saharan dust that blows all the way from Africa and the oceanic trade winds.

Respect the Culture

It is said that the name Anguilla came from the Italian word anguille which means an eel. It was named after the famous Christopher Columbus in 1493. Anguilla was first inhabited by the Caribbean’s who came from South America seven thousand years ago. Today the majority of the people are African and the minorities are Caucasian who is British. Anguilla consists of a total population of nine thousand. Their official language is English and also a minority of people speak a mixture of English and The African language which is known as the Creole language. Problems such as racial discrimination and social class struggles are minimal. Due to the lack of fertile lands and small sizes of lands plantation system couldn’t be successful. As compared to the other island the housing and urban planning are generally good. It's basically more of a place for tourists.

Top 10 Places to Visit

Anguilla is a Caribbean gem which is famous for its mesmerizing islands with friendly locals and one should never miss visiting a place such as Anguilla. Here are some of the most popular attractions to visit in Anguilla:

Shoal Bay East - The Shoal Bay East offers a great landscape and scenic view with its stunning white sand and the elegant color of the water that makes it one of the best islands in all of the Caribbean. It’s great for swimming and diving. In this order, you will find some of the most beautiful coral gardens, with many lustrous fishes and the sand is clean. The beach is calm and silent and is very less crowded. You can find restaurants and hotels here and umbrella and lounge chairs are also available for rent.

Sandy Ground Village - The Sandy Ground Village is said to be the best place you can visit at night time. Its bay is the most protected on the entire island and it’s also a main entry point for the yachts. The ferry to Sandy Ground Village departs from the pier, and the Anguilla Regatta which is the most popular onshore activities in Anguilla takes place here in the month of May. You can find restaurants and hotels here. One of the most popular restaurants is the Old Salt Factory and Pumphouse found here which is also a historical place. It was the top industry of Anguilla in 1980.

Fountain Cavern National Park - The Fountain Cavern was said to be the worship site of the Amerindians they used to worship their supreme god which was known as “Joshua” which was carved in its shape from a tall stalagmite. The place has two freshwater pools and petroglyphs that belonged to the Amerindians lie 15 meters below the cave. The Fountain Cavern is an archaeological site which you may find interesting.

The Valley - The valley offers a vast number of places to visit, like the Anguilla National Trust where you will be able to see exhibits on the history of the island. Tours are also organized here like hiking and birding tours. One of the most interesting attractions here is the Wall Blake House on the Heritage Trail. You will have to book the place in advance in order to tour inside. You can enjoy the Caribbean art here in The Valley which has some galleries and if you like you can buy some souvenirs from there too. You can find Anguilla Watersports here, where you can enjoy yourself with the kids in one of the most popular aquaparks in all of the Caribbean. If you want to see the whole of Anguilla then just go up to Crocus Hill which is the highest point in Anguilla and you will also find Crocus Bay Beach where you can calm waters and sands to relax, sunbath and there are restaurants and lounges along the shore.

Saint Barthelemy - Take a day trip to St. Barts and explore the famous attraction which is also considered as a playground of the movie stars and of the moguls. The St. Barts Church is a part of the French West Indies, located in the South of Anguilla. There are beaches and restaurants which are among the most popular attractions for tourists.

Heritage Collection Museum - It is located across the East End Pond, the museum offers an ancient history of Anguilla in the form of artifacts, photographs from the 20th century, postage stamps, and documents.

Anguilla Dive Sites - Anguilla has a double reef system favorable for divers. The island is filled with a variety of corals. It is said that there are shipwrecks intentionally or not sunken ships that become artificial reefs. The Anguilla Dive Site is surrounded by many islands like Shoal Bay Harbor, Sandy Island, Prickly Pear, Stoney Bay Marine Park, Dog Island, Seal Island Reef System. You can find sea animals like turtles, garden eels, stingrays. Sharks and barracudas are found on Scrub Island.

Day Trips to Anguillita, Sandy, and Prickly Pear islands - These offshore islands are popular among the snorkelers and divers for their day trips. Anguillita is a great spot for divers and snorkelers. The beach offers caves and mini walls through which the divers can see nurse sharks, barracudas, eels, turtles, stingrays. The Prickly Pear Island stays busy when the visitors arrive at the place from St. Martin. You can swim and snorkel here which is the most popular activity to do here. Sandy Island has silver-colored sands which are popular for snorkeling. You can find restaurants, sun loungers, and umbrellas on the shore.

Rendezvous Bay Beach - The beach has coconut palms with its calm and peaceful sea. It’s great for families and friends to hang around. You can find shells, for the people who collect them you don’t want to miss out on this. People swim and have a sunbath on the beach which is very impressive. The beach has a lovely view and you can see a glimpse of St. Martin.

Maundays Bay Beach - The beach is famous for swimming and snorkeling along with its Moorish-themed resort known as Cap Juluca luxury resort. Many visitors and guests come to this place. The beach is also a famous spot for weddings.

Explore

Anguilla is a great escape for people, especially there are many celebrities that come to Anguilla. Celebrities like Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Robert Downey Jr., are big fans of the island and Anguilla is their temporary refuge from the world. There are a number of things you can do in Anguilla. First and foremost, you can visit the beaches and have the plates of seafood at the restaurants you find best. You can rent quad bikes and have a tour of the island on them which is a thrilling experience. Join the Anguilla Summer Festival which very popular here. Enjoy the boat races that take place here.

City Parks

Las Cascadas Water Park- This water park is in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. Las Cascadas is one of the largest parks in the Caribbean. It’s a family park with lazy rivers and slides. The place is spotless, and the staff is friendly too. Along with having water parks they also have a baseball field. The park was built in 1985, as the very first water park in the Caribbean. There are a number of rides that you will enjoy. Some are the Activity pool, Aquatic tunnel, Crazy River, Kiddie pool, Marine serpent, etc.

National Parks

Big Spring National Park- The ancient history related to this place states that the early residents of Anguilla, the Arawak’s created petroglyphs which were called Spring Eyes inside the Big Spring cave. The cave has more than 60 of these in the national park behind the island Harbor. You will find several prime birds out here and the Big Spring which supplied freshwater until 1995 although the visitors can get a look at it but is unfit for drinking. Tourists need to get advanced reservations for themselves 24 hours prior to entering the park.

Stoney Ground Marine Park - The most attractive thing to find here is the Spanish shipwreck in the 18th century which was the first underwater heritage site. You will need a scuba dive tour to explore it. The divers can see the large anchors, a large 10-foot cannon, and many other artifacts.

Beaches

Little Bay - Not many people know the place or they haven’t been there just because not many people know how great it is, it’s highly underrated. In order to reach the place, you will have to get on a boat and then go on to enjoy swimming and snorkeling on the nice secluded beach. There are large rocks from which people jump into the sea. You will find several sea turtles, pelicans, and many other birds.

Barnes Bay- another underrated beach is the Barnes beach. Although, the beach isn’t as much protected as the other beaches in Anguilla but still an amazing place for tourists. If you are a lover of good sceneries then here you can see the most beautiful view of the sunset. Along with the swimming and snorkeling, this beach offers much more as this place has an amazing scenic view you can get some very cool pictures and the beach is a great walking spot.

Captain’s Bay- It’s a great place with tons of fishes in the sea and the sand is absolutely clear. First, you will have to hike to the place and explore the place while walking. The sea has usual big waves so it's not idle for swimming and you can’t get a shade anywhere near it. The place is very quiet and sunny.

Meads Bay- The meads beach is one of the beaches that are never crowded and is a quite great place to see the sunset. The beach has wonderful restaurants such as the Straw Hat and many others. The Bella Blu is said to be the best place to stay which is in the middle of the beach. Long Beach has white sands and the place appears radiant in the brightness of the sun.

Cove Bay- The cove bay is between Rendezvous and Munday’s beach. This beach is the most private beach and has easy parking facilities. The beach is very quiet and calm so if you wish to relax and admire the sea this beach is just what you need.

Savannah Bay- Here you may find a good amount of boat debris, however, the beach is a great spot for chilling and has high and strong waves for the people who like body surfing. The water is swimmable and the place is amazing. You can have a nice meal in one of the restaurants here. It's likely that you will enjoy your experience here.

Landmarks

St. Gerard Roman Catholic Church- The Palm Sunday masses are great it’s a very comfortable place with friendly people and you will feel welcomes. The ambiance, music, and message of the church are beautiful. The people in the church are very friendly to the visitors as they sing for the new people that visit the church.

Anguilla Arch- Anguilla is flat land which has many beaches. The arch is not very amazing but it’s pretty good. The arch is pretty easy to locate and it’s a calm and quiet place. You can stop here for a while to admire the beauty and click some pictures in the spot.

Bethel Methodist Church- You can attend the morning service and listen to the pastor who conveys great messages. The people are friendly and welcoming. The architecture is beautiful with stone construction.

Old Prison- The ruins of the jail is 213 ft. above sea level which is the highest point in Anguilla. The views are spectacular from above there. It’s located on Crocus Hill. The ruin is very old and has plants growing out of everywhere. The prisoners were used to be captured and kept here.

Museums

Devonish Art Gallery- Here you will find all of the Devonish art especially their carved hearts. Courtney Devonish is talented and humble and offers art from other artists in Anguilla. They have modern arts displayed here like jewelry, wooden objects, sculptures, and others. You will unique and astonishing works of the artists.

Phoenix Gallery- The museum features outstanding works of the artist, Tanya Clark. She is a trained international painter and has been in Anguilla for 25 years. Her works include Japanese printmaking, local and contemporary works, etc. She provides insights into the painting and is very interactive with people.

Heritage Collection- The heritage museum carries a well-documented history of Anguilla. You can gain insights into the history of Anguilla in this museum. Also, the museum consists of artifacts and stories in folders that paint a clear picture of the history of Anguilla. There’s a Mr. Colville Petty who is the curator of the museum, he is a very passionate man who has a wealth of information on the history of Anguilla. After visiting you may realize that how long have Anguilla came since the 67-69 revolution.

Eat

Anguillan cuisine consists of the Caribbean, Spanish, French, African, and English cuisines. The seafood is plentiful with a large variety of prawns, shrimp, red snapper, crabs, etc. Livestock, fruits, vegetables and starches, and many other dishes.

The common foods and dishes include barbecues, callaloo, fritters, which are made with coconut, fruit, conch, and many other ingredients, dumplings, seafood soups. The cuisine involves beverages like rum is the most popular in the Caribbean island Anguilla.

Drink

The national drink of Anguilla is the ‘Rum Punch’. The drinking laws of Anguilla states that a person should be 18 years of age to drink. The restaurants and grocery stores keep wine, beers, and liquor every day of the week. There are some places where you visit for having great drinks:

Gwen’s Reggae Bar And Grill- It’s located on a beach, they serve cold drinks and the food is great too, has an astonishing view. The customer service is also very good. It’s a family-run business. They offer some of the best shrimps the island has to offer.

Trattoria Tramonto- The food is great and their service is also good with a gorgeous location this beach can be called one of the best beaches on the island. Their tuna carpaccio is the best and most popular. Their drinks are amazing too.

Breezes- The place offers great food with a great view and their services are also great along with the bartenders. The breezes offer a great ambiance and a panoramic view. If you visit this restaurant ask for the Kemoloy and get a special mix which very delicious.

Tap-water

One of the most important commodities of Anguilla is water. The water is scarce. Bottled waters are available and it's advisable that the visitors drink the packaged drinking water on their visit. Although, the tap water is safe but due to the water being scarce there it’s advisable we drink the packaged water.

Activities

There are a number of activities that you could do here in Anguilla it’s famous for its coral reefs and beaches. Some of the activities do to in Anguilla are:

Floating On The Caribbean Sea- One can just lay down on the beach while enjoying a nice sunbath, drinking rum, eating in your favorite restaurant, are some of the best activities to do on the beaches of Anguilla.

Exploring The Shoreline From The Sea- You can enjoy a nice ride on the miniature motorboat, control the boat yourself and experience something you never would have witnessed. It’s a thrilling experience. The motorboats otherwise known as Tiger boats would take you to an exhilarating experience in the turquoise sea. The ride is something that can’t be missed by anyone. Especially the people who love the adrenaline rush in such situations, the sightseeing and sports combined with fun.

Kitesurfing- Not many people know of this but kitesurfing is a brilliant experience in a place such as Anguilla with its open bays and calm seas the conditions are favorable for kitesurfing. The most popular kite surfer is Judd Burdon. If you want to experience a thrilling challenge, kiting is one of the best things to do here in Anguilla.

Surfing- Most people think that it's risky to surf around here but it’s actually not. As long as you’re a good surfer you will be able to find fun waves. You can rent boards to surf and the most popular place for surfing is the Surf AXA.

Sea Caves&Scrub Island- The place is known for the fascinating Scrub Island and the off-island cay. It’s known for the abandoned hotels, plane crash, and airstrips. In addition, they have fascinating underwater caves. The trip can only be safe under the experts’ guide.

Kayaking- Anguilla can be the most amazing experience for a tourist ever. You can eat, drink, swim and snorkel but between these, you can take part in a fun activity called Kayak to the Little Bay. The kayak ride is mostly 20 minutes so don’t forget to carry a bottle of water with you. The experience can be one of the magical moments of your life.

Accommodation

You can find a range of good quality and affordable accommodation options and a good place to live in Anguilla. There are a vast number of hotels, guesthouses, and apartments.

Green Hotels

Some of the most popular green hotels of Anguilla are:

Four Seasons Resort And Residences Anguilla

Oyster Bay Beach Resort

Grand Case Beach Club

Emeralda Resort

Hotel La Plantation

Hostels and Guest Houses

People are often confused between hostels and guest houses. Guesthouses are places where you can find a separate rooms but, in a hostel, you will have to share the room with your inmate. Guesthouses are like private houses with many rooms and hostels are cheaper but noisy and have very little privacy. Some of the most popular guesthouses in Anguilla are:

Agua Dulce

Serenity Rincon

Hostel La Colonia By The Oxo House

The Pelican

Some of the most popular hostels of Anguilla are:

Martnique Hostel

Sunset Surf Camp

Butterfly Hostel

First Curacao Hostel

Apartments

Apartments can be a great place for living for people who enjoy their privacy. If you’re on a tour you can rent an apartment for only $20 for a night. The rooms are affordable and cheap. Check out some of the most booked apartments in Anguilla:

Serenity (Palms Of Ottawa)

Kingstongo (Harloe’s)

Central Park Tower

Hotel Alisei

Mar Del Norte

Couchsurfing

Couchsurfing is a service that helps you find places for staying or sharing it with people. You can connect to many travelers worldwide. You can always find new people and something new to do as they organize several events regularly in many cities all around the globe. Accessing the services from couch-surfing isn’t easy though, they charge approximately US$2/ month and US$15/year to enjoy the services.

Camping

Most people consider camping as an activity to do in the summers, they stay away from their houses so they camp in a tent or a vehicle. The people usually get away from the developed places and to other places for a more interesting and natural camping experience. Some of the most famous camping sites in Anguilla are:

Ba Bap Lodge

Virgin Islands Campground

Casa De Arbol, Rancho Tierra Alta

Carmen Hotel&Villas

Regions

Anguilla is known as the coral and limestone island and is the best-known destination for tourists. The beach has many visitors from the US. It has a tropical climate with beaches all around, reefs, and turquoise water. Anguilla is a British territory. It’s located in North America. Its population is up to 15400 as said by the UN. The capital of Anguilla is ‘The Valley’. The major language spoken in Anguilla is English and the major religion is Christianity. The main exports of this region are fish, lobsters, and salt.

Cities

Of the many villages scattered across the island, these are of most interest to visitors:

The Valley - the capital and commercial center
Blowing Point - terminal for ferries from St. Martin
Island Harbour - home to small fishing fleet
Sandy Ground - bars and restaurants along beach

Getting There and Moving Around

The most important things you will need to travel anywhere are your documents such as your VISA and passport. It's otherwise very easy to travel to Anguilla. You can travel through a plane, sea-shuttles, ferries, etc. You can move around and visit many attractive places in Anguilla.

Air

The regional airline of the island is the Anguilla Air Services (AAS) which was founded in the year 20006. The airport is situated at Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA). The AAS provides daily flights from Anguilla to St. Maarten and St, Barths. The passengers will be able to enjoy and have a safe journey. The flights between St. Barthelemy and St. Maarten take only 15 minutes, the flights are short. The aircraft allows only a total of 9 passengers. The AXA is the one and the only international airport in Anguilla. The airport is located just off The Valley. Up to the year 2010, the airport was known as Anguilla Wall Blake Airport and later was renamed.

Bus

There are no major buses to Anguilla.

Train

There are no major trains to Anguilla.

Hitchhiking

Hitchhiking is pretty easy in Anguilla, you might get rides offered even when you actually don’t need them if you get a ferry ride you may get a free ferry ride back also. The people are friendly and kind. You can ask at Blowing Point if someone will be going your way they will drop you off. Hitchhiking is very popular on this island. It’s the standard way to pick and drop off people who don’t have cars.

Others

The sources to travel to Anguilla are the ferries and boats. The ferry services are available from Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Maarten. Daytime services are offered by Anguilla Ferry System between Marigot and Blowing Point. The ferry services run in 45 minutes intervals. The fare each way is US$20 per adult and US$10 per child. There are Private ferries that offer services between Anguilla Ferry Terminal and Princess Juliana Airport. The services are offered by GB Express, Calypso, Fun time, Gotcha, and The Link. The Fun time departs from the Princess Juliana Airport to Blowing Point. The GB Express services have 25 years of experience, it runs between Princess Juliana Airport and Anguilla. The Calypso runs between St. Maarten and Blowing Point from Simpson Bay. They offer both private and semi-private.

Sustainable Shopping

Sustainable shopping is very essential these days as development is progressing the people are becoming more and more cautious about preserving the gifts of natural resources. The other developing countries are trying to find ways to make sustainable shopping possible and less dependent on energy sources. The other countries are using farm vegetables and farming the land with sweet potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, corn, etc. The chefs are also helping the development by putting local seafood instead of expensive imported fishes on the menu. Ecotourism is getting popular with the increase in eco-tours in Anguilla. Some of the sustainable shopping stores are:

Recycling

Recycling is a critical process to keep your environment clean, and the wastes are converted to new materials and things. Unfortunately, the island doesn’t know the process of Recycling yet. There are many empty cans on the beaches which can be recycled if given a good thought about. We can only hope that the authorities see to it and act.

Waste

The process of finding value in things that have reached their last stage of wear and tear and can no longer be helpful for anyone, these products are therefore recycled and made useful. There are different mechanisms to ensure this. Some of the recycling companies in Anguilla are:

Blue Competence
VDMA

Work and Study Abroad

The people who like being in a place that has enough sunshine can apply for a job in Anguilla, volunteer and work here. It's actually pretty amazing working in the Caribbean. First, you will have to apply for the position you are interested in. Then see if the position is empty, send your application, and then turn your dream into a beautiful reality. If you’re planning to study abroad and would like to get into one of the universities of Anguilla, it might be a good opportunity. You will have to recognize the best university for you. The Times Higher Education World University may be right for you. The university comes under the top institutions globally and besides, they have a phenomenal performance as compared to institutions worldwide. The student’s resources are there to help you decide the best university for yourself. Explore the best universities across Anguilla and decide which is best for you.

Exchange Student

You can apply for undergraduate admissions in Penn State which can be a good environment to study plus the academics are great and the faculties too. Anguilla has some of the most brilliant academies which are recognized all over the world. There are certain benefits to exchange students facility which are: • It can help you understand the traditions and cultures of the state. • Can learn some of their languages and communicate globally. • Awareness of the various facets of learning. • Increased interest in international issues more than general issues of a particular country.

Au Pair

Au Pairs are people working in your household from foreign who offer their services to the households for getting paid. They act as a part of the family. They take a share of the responsibility of the household. They can offer their services for child care or it can be just simple household chores. The State Department states that the Au pairs must be given a weekly allowance of $195.75 and up to $500(a one-time fee) for educational purposes. The Au pairs are not nannies as they travel to a foreign country to offer their services and the nannies are locals who offer services in exchange for monetary allowances.

Volunteering

Volunteering is offering assistance to the community. It helps us in connecting with the community and it helps you make friends and create a network with people. It can also help you and your family along with the cause you’re volunteering to. Volunteering helps in making a difference in the community, enjoy meaningful conversations, contribute to causes you care about, and want to make a change.