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General Information On Anguilla
| Anguilla, the most northerly of the British Leeward Islands, is one of those
islands to visit when you way to experience the laid-back character of a sleepy
backwater. This small island (about 35 square miles) is lightly populated with
the islanders very friendly and easy going. While it was once one of the
Caribbean’s best kept secrets, Anguilla’s recent development
has transformed it into one of the most chic island destinations. Anguilla has
some of the best beaches in the Caribbean and one of the trendier top-end
destinations in the Eastern Caribbean with some fine hotels and resorts. Most
visitors come for the beautiful beaches, aquamarine waters and coral-encrusted
islets, which offer great swimming, snorkeling and diving. Inexpensive ferries
shuttle between Anguilla and St. Martin making Anguilla an easy day trip if you
do not want to overnight there. High-end hotels and shops have thrived in this urban and sophisticated setting, putting Anguilla among the most exclusive destinations in the Caribbean. The tiny island of Anguilla is said to have more gourmet dining choices per acre than New York City – and many of these choices have world-renowned chefs. Official information is available at the Anguilla Tourist Board website or at CIA World Factbook for Anguilla. For travel advice and information, contact the Anguilla Tourist Board at 1.800.553.4939. |
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Travel and Tourism Information
For information on
Anguilla
contact the Anguilla Tourist Board, 1-800-553-4939.
Passports and Visas
US and Canadian citizens can enter Anguilla
with proof of citizenship in the form of a birth certificate with a raised seal
accompanied by an official photo ID such as a driver's license. Citizens of most
other nations only require passports, but not visas.
All visitors must have an onward or return ticket at the time of arrival. U.S.
and Canadian citizens can enter the country with a photo ID and an original
birth certificate, but the preferred and recommended form of ID is a passport,
and may even be used if it has expired within the last five years, though
travelers may want to check this information before embarking. Citizens from the
U.K. and other countries must have a valid and current passport.
| The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 requires that by January 1, 2008, travelers to and from the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico and Canada have a passport or other secure, accepted document to enter or re-enter the United States. This includes United States citizens! In order to facilitate the implementation of this requirement, the Administration is proposing to complete it in phases following a proposed timeline, which will be published in the Federal Register in the near future. For additional information, go to http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html. |
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Passport Visa Express specializes in obtaining Passports for United States Citizens who wish to travel internationally within the next 30 days. We work directly with the U.S. Passport Agency assisting you in expediting your passport application in as fast as the same day! Our passport consultants have many years of direct experience working with the Passport Agency. |
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Books and
Other Travel Resources
Here is a good book to help you plan your visit to
Anguilla. The
Adventure Guide to the Leeward Islands: Anguilla, St. Martin, St. Barts, St. Kitts & Nevis, Antigua and Barbuda.
Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.
Money Matters
The currency in Anguilla is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$).
You will find that Anguilla caters mainly to wealthy travelers, so if you're
looking for luxury, this is the place for you. You can easily find a place where
you can pamper yourself at a resort or quality hotel could easily cost US$400 a
day. You will find that U.S. dollars are almost universally accepted throughout
the islands. The exchange rate is
permanently fixed at about EC$2.70 to each US$1 (EC$1 = US$0.37).
If you're on a budget, the least you can expect to
pay for a room is US$20-30 in summer with the prices going up a bit in winter.
Good double rooms with private baths generally start around US$50. Seafood is
plentiful but expensive, so allocate at least US$60 or more a day for basic
accommodations and simple dining. Renting snorkeling equipment or taking
horseback rides will bring the total closer to US$100 a day. Here are some
guidelines for you to follow:
►Budget meal: US$5-10
►Moderate restaurant meal: US$10-20
►Top-end restaurant meal: US$20 and upwards
►Budget room: US$20-75
►Moderate hotel: US$75-250
►Top-end hotel: US$250 and upwards
You will find most prices listed in US dollars at hotels and restaurants. Local grocers and shops mark prices in EC dollars. However, you can readily use either currency, and most places give a fair rate of exchange. You can change money at Barclays Bank and Scotiabank, both in The Valley. Visa, MasterCard and American Express cards are accepted at many (but not all) hotels and moderate to high-end restaurants. A 15% service charge is added to most restaurant bills, and no further tipping is necessary. An 8% government tax and a 10% service charge is added onto hotel bills.
Currency Exchange - Get your currency needs managed in advance! Many airports, railroad stations, bus depots, and other points of entry have no currency exchange. When currency exchange is available in airports, lines can be long and rates can be "sky high". These long waits and usurious fees can be a nightmare. Order in advance from All Foreign Currency right online. It's fast, easy, and you save time and money! The can also provide you with Travelers' checks, bank drafts, and transfers. U.S. dollars are not accepted everywhere and rates can be atrocious!
Language
English is the language of Anguilla.
Click here for language helps, dictionaries, electronic translators, language software and other helps for learning a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip more. Jim.
Health Matters
Health risks include sunburn, diarrhea and
intestinal parasites. Crime is rare here, but never
leave valuables unguarded or openly visible in parked cars. Although Anguilla is
among the safest locations in the Caribbean, don't forgo basic safety rules.
The
People of Anguilla
Most of Anguilla's residents are of African descent. Many Europeans,
predominantly of Irish descent, also live on the island. The primary areas of
employment are the
tourist industry and fishing for lobster. The island is currently
under the British government, but the population is far more politically
conservative than the U.K. Despite recent advances toward independence, many
islanders feel attached to the U.K. for economic security, and rely on their
parent nation to make foreign affairs decisions for them.
When to Go
The rainy season normally lasts from August to November. The hurricane season is
normally from June to October. For me, the best time to visit Anguilla is during
the winter, although the prices are higher then. In the summer months (June to
August) the weather is wetter and hotter, and the costs are lower.
Weather
This Caribbean island is drier than some, with about 40 inches of rainfall
annually. The warmest months are July to October, and the coolest are December
to February. Averages range from 75 to 83 in January and from 80 to 88 in July
(all in degrees Fahrenheit).
Telephone
From North America, dial 1 + 264 + the
seven-digit local number. From elsewhere, dial your country's international
direct dialing prefix + 1 + 264 + the seven-digit local number. If you have
trouble getting through, try substituting 809 for 264.
Getting To and Around Anguilla
Travelers from the USA have good access to Anguilla.
If you are coming from somewhere else, you will probably have to in a US city
unless for the best connections. Air France or British Airways offer services to
nearby Caribbean islands. Although there are no direct international flights to
Anguilla, it's possible to make same-day international connections via San Juan
in Puerto Rico, or St Martin. There are several air carriers who offer daily
inter-island flights between Anguilla and St Martin, St Thomas, St Kitts and
Antigua.
You can also reach Anguilla by a 20-minute ferry ride between Marigot Bay in St Martin and Blowing Point in Anguilla. If you're on your own boat, the main port of entry is at Sandy Ground in Road Bay. There's an airport departure tax of US$10 and a ferry departure tax of US$2.
Travelers should plan on arriving via air at Anguilla's Wallblake Airport. Direct flights from North America are not generally available, and many travelers from the U.S. and Canada connect through Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Connecting flights are also available from Caribbean regional air carriers through other major Caribbean airports.
You can also get to the island via by ferry service. The 20 minute trip departs approximately every 45 minutes daily from Marigot Bay on St. Maarten to Blowing Point, Anguilla. Taxis will take you to your final destination on Anguilla. Service to the Sandy Ground Area is generally less than $10(USD), and service to the West End Resorts is generally less than $22(USD).
Getting Around In Anguilla
As Anguilla is quite small, you will find no bus service on the
island so if you plan on getting around on your own, you will have to rent a
vehicle. There are car rental companies near the airport. In Anguilla, you drive
on the left, though virtually all rental cars have left-hand drive, which can be
disorienting. Visitors intending to drive need to buy an inexpensive temporary
Anguillian driver's license, which is issued on the spot by car rental
companies. The roads are pretty well maintained, but you will have to watch for
the goats that occasionally bolt onto the road. Most roads on Anguilla are not
marked with names or numbers, although hotel and restaurant signs point the way
to many beaches.
Anguilla's Wallblake Airport, on the southern fringe of the Valley, is small and modern. Taxis are readily available at the airport, but if you're traveling light you can easily negotiate the short walk into town. Some taxi drivers will take you on a guided tour of the island for a flat fee. Bicycles and scooters can be rented in The Valley and may be one of the best ways to get around.
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If you have information you believe I should add to this section of Getting Away, please contact me. mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Cities, Towns and Areas in Anguilla
The Valley
Island Harbour
Meads Bay
Prickly Pear Cays
Sandy Island
Scilly Cay
Scrub Island
Shoal Bay East
The Valley
The Valley is the only real town on the island and is the geographic, commercial
and political center of Anguilla. It's a small, rambling place that has little
appeal for visitors and appears to consist of mostly a series of mini-malls.
Unlike some of the other islands, there is a profound lack of quaint colonial
government buildings. This may stem from the British decision to move its
administration to St Kitts way back in 1825.
The exterior of Wallblake House, one of the oldest structures on the island, and the interior of the adjacent church, which has a unique design incorporating a decorative stone front, open-air sides and a ceiling shaped like the hull of a ship, are two places where the architecture takes a pretty nice incline for the student of style. The Anguilla National Trust Museum, which displays changing exhibits of Anguilla's history and natural environment, is also worth a visit.
Island HarbourThis interesting working fishing village is far from being a resort area so, if you're keen to get away from the touristy side of Anguilla, this is the place to come. The beach is lined with brightly colored fishing boats (reminding me of the Greek Isles) rather than chaise lounges. There are a few places to overnight and find a meal and travelers looking to enjoy a "less than touristy" side of the island's unvarnished day-to-day life will enjoy it here.
Island Harbour's main historic site is Big Spring, a neglected, partially collapsed cave containing 28 Amerindian petroglyphs and an underwater spring that once served as the village water source. This can not be toured at the present time, without special permission, but is quite interesting to those who are interested in such things. The good news is that Big Spring has recently come under the jurisdiction of the Anguilla National Trust, and there are plans to clean it up and make it accessible to visitors.
Meads BayMeads Bay boasts a lovely mile-long sweep of white sand with calm turquoise waters and this is the place to be if you are into swimming and strolling. You will find a few of the island's trendiest hotels and a few small condominium complexes along the beach. Meads Bay is certainly not crowded. In fact, some of the hotels are a good five-minute walk from their nearest neighbor. The bay is backed by a salt pond for most of its length. There are annual boat races from the beach on the first Thursday in August.
Prickly
Pear Cays
Many of the small offshore islands are popular for diving. One of the best is
Prickly Pear Cays, which has caverns, ledges, barracudas and nurse sharks. This
is also a popular spot for snorkeling. Tour boats leave Sandy Ground for Prickly
Pear daily.
Sandy
Island
Sandy Island (located about a mile off Sandy Ground) is a small islet consisting
of little more than sand and a few coconut palms. In about ten minutes, you have
seen it all. However, the island is surrounded by shallow reefs that offer a
nice place for easy snorkeling, with waving finger corals, sea fans and small
tropical fish. You can get there easily by boat from Sandy Ground.
Scilly Cay
Just off Island Harbour, in the center of the bay, is the tiny private island of
Scilly Cay. There is an open-air restaurant and bar and a pretty nice beach and
makes for a fun place for an afternoon of food, music and swimming.
Scrub
Island
This two and a half mile-long island, lying just off Anguilla's northeastern
tip, is really not much as it is covered in scrubby vegetation and inhabited by
herds of goats that are just as scruffy. There is a pretty good beach on the
western side that does have some pretty good snorkeling spots. As there are no
facilities on the island, you will have to bring whatever you need with you. It
is just a short boat ride to Scrub Island from Island Harbour.
Shoal Bay East
This is the place for beach connoisseurs.
On the northeastern side of the island, Shoal Bay East (sometimes called simply
Shoal Bay, not to be confused with Shoal Bay West) is broad and long with
radiant white sands and clear turquoise waters that are ideal for swimming,
snorkeling and soaking up the sun. You will find a
couple of small hotels and restaurants on the beach, but virtually no other
development in sight.
Anguilla's top archaeological site, the Fountain, is nearby. It's a huge underground cave containing scores of Amerindian petroglyphs, including a rare stalagmite carving of Jocahu, the Arawak God of Creation. The Fountain is thought to have been a major regional worship site and a place of pilgrimage for Amerindians. The Fountain is currently a pilgrimage site only for archaeologists and therefore tourist access is restricted.
Suggestions For Accommodations In Anguilla
For hotels, resorts and other accommodations in Anguilla, click on Search for hotels in Anguilla
Visit Getting Away Accommodations, world-wide reservations available on line. And, if you are looking for a nice resort, check the Getting Away Resort Accommodations page or ResortDiscounts.com where you can find discounts at some of the world's most desirable resort locations.
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| Book Hostels in Anguilla Online You can also find a hostel almost anywhere in the world through Experience Paradise, a partner of Getting Away. |
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Suggestions For Things To See And Do In
Anguilla
A great time to visit is in February when they hold the annual Anguillian
Cultural Festival.
Moonsplash is an annual reggae festival held in March in Rendezvous Bay.
Probably the very best time to visit (especially if you love to party) is during Carnival, a week-long festival that begins the weekend prior to August Monday (the first Monday in August). Carnival includes costumed parades, music and dancing. If you tire of partying, take a little time to cheer on along the shoreline as the locals fight the waves with their fishing boats during Race Week, which is held at the same time as Carnival.
Swiming, Diving and Snorkeling
Anguilla has plenty of beautiful beaches so bring your
tanning lotion. Sandy Ground has calm turquoise waters, as do the
impressive sweeps at Shoal Bay East and Rendezvous Bay. Other
pretty good beaches would include Meads Bay and Shoal Bay West. In
the Valley area, I would suggest you go to Crocus Bay.
Anguilla has clear water suitable for diving and snorkeling. The government has deliberately sunk several ships in Anguillian waters to create dive sites. Many of the small offshore islands are popular for diving. One of the best is Prickly Pear Cays, which has caverns, ledges, barracudas and nurse sharks. This is also a popular spot for snorkeling. Tour boats leave Sandy Ground for Prickly Pear daily. Sandy Island (located about a mile off Sandy Ground) is a small islet consisting of little more than sand and a few coconut palms. In about ten minutes, you have seen it all. However, the island is surrounded by shallow reefs that offer a nice place for easy snorkeling, with waving finger corals, sea fans and small tropical fish. You can get there easily by boat from Sandy Ground.
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If you have information you believe I should add
to this section of Getting Away, please contact me.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Suggestions For Dining in Anguilla
Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have information you believe I should add
to this section of Getting Away, please contact me.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
Favorite Places And Things To Do In
Anguilla
Coming Soon. In the mean time, if you have information you believe I should add
to this section of Getting Away, please contact me.
mailto:jimbruner@gettingaway.com
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Anguilla
Links
Click here
for language
helps, dictionaries,
electronic translators,
language software and other helps for learning
a foreign language. Being able to speak at least some of the language in the
country you are visiting will help you have a better time and enjoy your trip
more. Jim.
Currency Exchange - Get your currency needs managed in advance! Many airports, railroad stations, bus depots, and other points of entry have no currency exchange. When currency exchange is available in airports, lines can be long and rates can be "sky high". These long waits and usurious fees can be a nightmare. Order in advance from All Foreign Currency right online. It's fast, easy, and you save time and money! The can also provide you with Travelers' checks, bank drafts, and transfers. U.S. dollars are not accepted everywhere and rates can be atrocious!
2007 Travel Alert - Passports Needed for Canada, Mexico, Bermuda and Caribbean. Beginning January 23, 2007, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling by air between the United States and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport. As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security. Click here for the State Department Summary. And, if you need a passport in a hurry, because you forgot to apply months ago when you should have and your trip is almost upon you, click on Passports In A Hurry, or on Passport Visa Express!
