Highlights
– A brief story about our three nights stay on the island of white sand beaches and turquoise water called Anguilla.
Time of Visit: January 2026
Duration of Visit: Three Nights
Description
Anguilla is a small island in the Eastern Caribbean that is chalk full of nice white sand beaches and turquoise blue water. The island is about 16 miles long and three miles wide and sparsely populated. So it is common to have a beach all to yourself especially if you go early or late in the day.
The island feels dry but we experienced short rain bursts in the afternoons. Anguilla is a scrub brush island, meaning most of the vegetation is tall shrubbery. The tallest trees we saw were short coconut trees. The island is mainly flat as there are no interior mountains unlike the neighboring island of St. Martin (or Sint Marteen). But do not let the island’s interior blandness deter you from visiting because Anguilla’s beaches are some of the nicest we have seen.
Most visitors visit Anguilla as a day trip from St. Martin. But we found that Anguilla is definitely worth a few nights’ stay. The island just gives a more laid back and relaxed vibe. The locals are friendly too. And we found that it is an affordable destination compared to other beach destinations in the mainland US.
Here we provide the necessary information such as where to stay, how to get there, activities and expenses so that you can successfully plan your visit.
Activities
The Arch
The Arch is a must stop in Anguilla. It is located at the island’s west end. The land owner collects a small fee to see the arch. We noticed that most businesses on the island seem to open at 10 AM. We arrived around 9:30 AM and there was nobody collecting the admission nor was there a drop box for the honor system.
Beaches
Anguilla has some 30-something beaches. If you see a beach a day, you will spend a month in this small island nation without having to see the same beach twice. Most of the beaches have white sand and turquoise blue water. Some you can have the place all to yourself, especially the hard to reach ones.
During our stay, the prevailing winds were coming from the south. The southern beaches had larger waves compared to the north. Beaches that are in a cove on the north side had definitely calmer water compared to others.
Here we briefly describe some of the beaches we were able to see. We arranged the beaches by location starting from the west end. We will also let you know which one is our favorite and why.
Shoal Bay West
We headed to Shoal Bay West after seeing The Arch. Shoal Bay West has the abandoned Cove Castle Resort that was damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017. This is a long bare beach with no services such as restaurants or bars. There is no shade along which is typical of most beaches on the island. You have to bring what you need. But most likely, you will have the beach all to yourself.
Cove Bay
Cove Bay is just like Shoal Bay West, long and bare. The waves here were larger as it faces directly south. We only saw one person on this beach chilling on his beach chair and under his umbrella.
Mead’s Bay
This is our favorite beach. The beach was long but there were not many people around. There are a few restaurants and bars with umbrellas and lounge chairs that can be rented. We spent our second full day here from morning until sunset.
Besides the beach amenities without the crowd, the water’s turquoise color is more vivid because of the white sandy bottom. In other beaches, the water is dark because the ocean floor is covered with sea weed. The water is calmer too as it is on the island’s north side.
Rendezvous Bay
Rendezvous Bay is a local’s favorite according to our rental car company. The beach is long and there are a few bars and restaurants scattered along it. There is also the C Level at the Aurora Anguilla Resort Club where you can enjoy world class fine dining.
The waves at Rendezvous Bay were intimidating during our visit so we did not get in the water. However, we have seen some videos where some people would pick up chocolate chip looking starfish from the ocean floor.
Sandy Ground and Sandy Island
As we worked our way to the east end of the island, we stopped by near Johnno’s Restaurant at Sandy Ground to find out how to get to Sandy Island. We ended up not going to Sandy Island as the time we could spend there would not justify the taxi boat cost. Plus we have been on white sand bars before so it would not be a novel experience for us.
We do describe what we found out about going to Sandy Island in case you are interested. To reach Sandy Island, head on over to Sandy Ground. Look for the orange and yellow building to arrange a taxi boat ride. The first boat leaves at 10AM and every 1:05 thereafter. There is a bar/restaurant at the island which closes at 4:30 PM. This is when the last boat returns back to Sandy Ground.
Sandy Ground’s beach is not as white as other beaches but the water is calm. However, there are a lot of moored boats in the water. There are also bars and restaurants by the beach. The beach was fairly empty during our visit.
Crocus Bay
We stopped by Crocus Bay to find out about the boat shuttle to Little Bay. Getting to Crocus Bay gave a surprising perspective about the island. We drove down a steep and narrow road to reach the bay. It was then we realized that the island does have a hilly part.
There is a very small parking area at Crocus Bay, probably only good for half a dozen vehicles or so. Just like Sandy Ground, the beach is not as white but the water is calm. We even ran into a spear fisherman who was going to try his luck in the water.
Little Bay
The beach in Little Bay is almost perfect except for the fact that it is small and hard to reach. This bay has the calmest water of all and the beach is shaded naturally by the cliff. The beach area can probably accommodate no more than a dozen people. And you have three options to reach it.
The first option is to ride the boat shuttle from Crocus Bay. Some shuttles have no canopy so you will be exposed all the time. Plus we observed that the boats do not land on the shore. Some passengers would swim from the boat to get to the beach while others just stay on the boat.
The second and third options involve accessing Little Bay by land. This involved a little bit of route finding as if we were in the woods. To reach Little Bay, we parked our car at Ani Art Academies and walked about 100 meters up the dirt road and turned left at the tee. We saw the trail leading to the bay soon after.
Following the trail, you will be faced with the second option which is to repel down the 10 or so meter vertical cliff. There is a rope anchored to a tree with intermediate knots to grab on to. You are really taking your life into your own hands with this option. Plus I would be wary of trusting a rope installed by others that has been exposed to the elements for who knows how long.
The third option is to walk down the sharp limestone rocks to the water’s edge. Then you will have to jump in the water and swim about 200 meters to the beach. Swimming to the beach and back to the limestone rock is probably the easy part. The hard part is getting back on the limestone rock from the water. The rock’s surface is sharp and the waves might nudge you into scraping these sharp surfaces.
Mimi’s Bay
This is a secluded and undeveloped beach but involves driving about two kilometers on a narrow and rough road. In some places the road is only wide enough for one vehicle. Not totally worth the effort unless you really want to be alone.
Shoal Bay East
We ended our first full day at Shoal Bay East. The beach is very long and there is a sufficient number of restaurants and bars. There is also a large parking area.
The restaurants and bars have chairs and umbrellas for rent. Some restaurants would waive the rental fee if you order food from them. At Tropical Sunset restaurant, the deal is only one chair is free per order. So if there are two in your party, you have to place two orders.
The water at Shoal Bay is also nice but not as nice as Mead’s Bay. However, if you would like to see colorful reef fishes, this would be one of the places to go snorkeling. The scattered corals and seagrass provides a suitable habitat for the colorful fishes.
How To Get There
Arriving
Anguilla has an international airport but we did not find any flight from the US that lands there. Instead, we had to fly to St. Martin (SXM) on the Dutch side, take a taxi to the French side and board a ferry at Marigot Port to get to Anguilla. The ferry terminal in Anguilla is called Blowing Point.
There are multiple ferry trips throughout the day between the two islands. We had to pay a departure tax at Marigot Port and get our passport stamped (an exit stamp) before we could board the ferry to Anguilla.
At Blowing Point, there is an immigration and customs office. Our passport got stamped after we answered a few questions, like, when do we leave and where we were staying. Be ready to show your accommodation reservation in case the immigration officer is not familiar with where you are staying.
The customs officer asked if we were bringing any fruits with us. Fruits are not allowed to be brought to the island.
Departing
There is a Blowing Point Port departure fee that must be paid. We had to see an immigration officer at the marina to get an exit stamp on our passport.
At Marigot Port, our passport received an entry stamp for St. Martin.
Where To Stay
We stayed at Deany’s Uptown Luxury Suites which is about a 15 minute drive from Blowing Point Port. The building has three one bedroom apartments that are roomy.
How To Get Around
You need to rent a car to get around the island as there are no public buses. There are taxis but those are few and not common on the road. You may see taxis at the airport and at the port, but you may have to wait a while if you try to hail one from the road.
If you do decide to rent a car, you need to have a valid driver’s license and also have to pay for a temporary driver’s license. The car rental company will issue the temporary license based on your driver’s license information. You just need to show the temporary driver’s license to the local police in case you get pulled over. Look out for goats on the road.
Also, locals drive on the left side of the road because the island is a British Overseas Territory. One way to remember if you are driving on the correct side is that you should be facing the center of the road and not the edge.
Expected Expenses
Prices are in US $ unless indicated otherwise. Credit cards are widely accepted.
Anguilla’s official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD) but payment in US $ is preferred. Prices on the island are advertised in US $ except at supermarkets where the prices are shown in XCD. But when you pay, the supermarket charges in US $. Also, if you pay cash in US $ and are due a change, your change would be in XCD. So bring lots of small US $ bill if you do not want to end up with a lot of XCD.
At St Martin
Taxi from SXM Airport to Marigot Port: $25 cash only
Marigot Port Departure Fee – 7 Euro (credit card accepted)
Ferry Marigot to Blowing Point and vice versa – $30/pp one way, cash only
At Anguilla
Car rental: 40/day + GS tax (about 8.2%)
Temporary drivers license: $15 (good for three days)
Lounge chairs and beach umbrella rentals: varies by provider but typically $5/day each
Sandy Island Water Taxi from Sandy Ground: $40/pp RT
Little Bay Shuttle from Crocus Bay: $20/pp RT
Blowing Point Port Departure Fee: $28/pp, credit card accepted
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Summary
Anguilla is a standout vacation destination looking for an island getway without the crowds. Famous for it fine white sand beaches and clear turquoise water, the island offers a relaxed, uncrowded atmosphere that feels effortlessly luxurious.
With more than 30 beaches, many of which are quiet and undeveloped, you can spend your days swimming, snorkeling or simply doing nothing. Anguilla’s small size makes it easy to explore and unwind.
Beyond the beaches, Anguilla shines with world-class dining and warm culture. The island offers everything from upscale restaurants to beloved beach shacks serving fresh seafood and local flavors. Friendly residents, a slow pace of life and a focus on quality create an authentic and welcoming experience.
Whether you are watching the sunset with your feet in the sand or enjoying live music at a seaside restaurant, Anguilla delivers a refined yet laid back escape that feels both special and deeply relaxing. This is one island we can defiteily see ourselves returning to in the future.