Before you plunk down a wad of money to vacation on Anguilla, know the ground rules: The rich and famous go there because they can be assured of a carefree, hassle-free holiday. You do not ask the star at the next table for an autograph, ever.
Anguilla’s first-class price tag is worth it, too. As one of the premier vacation spots in the Caribbean, it offers world-class accommodations with impeccable service and an exclusive atmosphere.
If blue water, uncrowded white-sand beaches, spas and shopping aren’t enough, there is excellent snorkeling around coral reefs. Other watersports are in abundance: scuba diving, sailing and windsurfing. When visitors have had enough of beach and ocean, there's a wide choice of fine restaurants. And for the international business set, Anguilla offers a good location for offshore banking.
Although a number of day-trippers arrive from St. Martin/St. Maarten, which lies only 4 mi/7 km to the south, Anguilla (pronounced ahn-GWIL-lah) remains relatively uncrowded compared with other islands in the area. Visitors like its relaxed and refined atmosphere: They tend to adopt the island as if it were their own private hideaway, returning year after year.
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Sights—The historic district of The Valley, home to some of Anguilla's oldest and most architecturally interesting dwellings and public buildings; scuba diving the reefs and wrecks along Anguilla's north (Atlantic) coast; any of Anguilla's 33 beaches, all free and open to the public.
Museums—Colville Petty's quirky and fascinating collection of artifacts from the Anguillian Revolution at the Heritage Collection; learning how salt was produced from Anguilla's ponds and became a major island industry at the Old Salt Factory and Pumphouse; discovering the island's architectural heritage at Wallblake House.
Memorable Meals—Grilled lobster washed down with rum punch on the beach at Scilly Cay; off-the-boat fresh seafood and cold drinks on the picnic tables at Johnno's Beach Stop; upscale dining and great views in an eye-catching seaside dining room at Altamer.
Late Night—Johnno's Beach Stop for reggae, calypso, soca and zouk music till the wee hours; The Pumphouse with its spicy music and atmosphere that sometimes lasts till dawn; drinks at the beach bars of Shoal's Bay; disco dancing at the Red Dragon Dance Club.
Walks—Bird-watching hikes in the salt marshes of Sandy Bottom; following the interpretive nature trail at the Cap Juluca resort; strolling along the sandy beaches of Maundy's Bay or Rendezvous Bay.
Especially for Kids—Snorkeling the coral reefs at Junks Hole; collecting shells at Maunday's Bay; swimming the calm waters at Sandy Ground or Shoal Bay West; communing with the dolphins at Dolphin Discovery in Meads Bay.
Anguilla is a dry, coral island edged with white-sand beaches. The interior contains salt ponds, scrubby bush and few tall trees. There are no hills to speak of—the highest point is 213 ft/65 m above sea level. Anguilla is also relatively small: 16 mi/25 km by 4 mi/6 km.
The island was inhabited as early as 1500 BC by Arawaks, who called it Malliouhana. The Carib Indians later drove out the Arawaks, but they were no match for the British, who arrived in 1650. Slavery and disease eliminated the Caribs, but the British needed their navy to hold on to Anguilla during several attacks by the French in the 1600s and 1700s. France quickly lost interest in Anguilla, however, and the island became another quiet outpost of the British Empire.
In 1967, the British attempted to join Anguilla with the neighboring islands of St. Kitts and Nevis to form a State in Association with the United Kingdom. Anguillans rebelled against the plan, however, fearing they would be overwhelmed by St. Kitts. After a two-year standoff, they were able to arrange a separate relationship with Great Britain. Today, Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory with an elected House of Assembly and a governor who is appointed by the Crown. The governor chooses a chief minister to lead the cabinet, someone who appears to have the support of a majority of Assembly lawmakers. Anguilla Day is celebrated as a national holiday on 30 May. It was on that date in 1967 that the St. Kitts police were removed from Anguilla.
In an effort to diversify the economy, which is heavily geared toward tourism, the British and Anguillan governments have launched aggressive programs to establish the island as a reputable and well-regulated center for offshore banking. These measures have begun to attract new revenues and diversify the economy, though tourism remains important for many islanders. The Anguilla Commercial Online Network, which originated in 1988, allows instant electronic incorporation and registration of companies and limited partnerships.
Anguilla's main attractions are uncrowded white-sand beaches, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, windsurfing, fishing, fine restaurants and very friendly people.
Go to Anguilla if you want to get away from everything, enjoy the beach and watersports and be pampered in quiet luxury at an elegant hotel. Those who want to leave crowded streets and sprawling shopping malls behind will enjoy the quaint shops scattered amidst the picturesque island setting.
Until the early 1980s, salt was the primary export of Anguilla. The last salt factory has been turned into a museum: The Old Salt Factory and Pumphouse in Sandy Ground. Salt-processing equipment is on display.
Four of the seven endangered species of sea turtles can be found in Anguillan waters. A ban on turtle hunting has been imposed until the year 2021, and anecdotal evidence suggests that turtle populations are increasing. If you want to help protect the turtles, don't order dishes with turtle meat and give restaurants that serve them a pass. Fortunately, very few still serve it.
In addition to turtles, Anguilla has turtle doves: They are the national bird.
All of Anguilla's beaches (more than 12 mi/19 km of them) are open to the public.
Anguilla's serpentine shape seems to have inspired its names, both past and present: The island's original settlers called it malliouhana, which means sea serpent. Anguilla is the Spanish word for eel.
At the eastern end of Rendezvous Beach are the remains of a pier known as "Pirates Pier." But it has no actual pirate history: The pier was built in the 1970s and washed out in the 1980s. Locals gave the pier its "pirate" moniker because they speculated that its remote and unlit locale would make a nice stop for smugglers.
Valentine's Day is a huge deal in Anguilla because the island caters to couples. Be on the lookout for special deals for twosomes.
If you ask for directions, remember that above means to the east and below means to the west.
