Explore Anguilla through the top things to do on the island

What are the must haves of a quintessential Caribbean adventure? Steeping vistas, rugged hikes, turquoise water and pristine beaches. Anguilla has all of these and so much more. Explore the hidden gems this island has to offer from our list.

Anguilla, the place to be

This tiny island on the Caribbean gives you a good idea what paradise might be like: crystal-clear water, sea breeze, gorgeous beaches, and perfect weather all year round. If you take a look at the map, you’ll see that it’s located north of St. Maarten (also known as Saint Martin) and east of Puerto Rico. Anguilla is the main island which is surrounded by several smaller, uninhabited islands and cays that are just waiting for you to explore them. Water sports are not just a tourist attraction on this tropical island, they have deep roots in the local culture. Spot the sailing regattas on national holidays that consist of locally built and designed boats.

The island offers a wide range of accommodation options for every budget, so you’ll certainly find what you’re looking for. Choose from a variety of affordable hotels, all-inclusive resorts, or go for the world-wide known Four Seasons that just opened a couple of years ago. You can find many hotels right on the beach that makes your holiday oh-so-convenient. Most hotels offer different activity packages already, but we recommend you do some research on your own to make the best out of your time on Anguilla.

Try some of the adrenaline boosting watersports

When you’ve had enough of sunbathing and slurping cocktails on the beach, it’s time to hit the water. There’s no better place for the water adrenaline junkie than Anguilla.

Aqua Park

For family fun, you can hit the Aqua Park that features inflatable slides, trampolines and climbing structures, assuring full safety for the whole family.

Tiger Rider

For more adventurous travelers, we recommend the Tiger Rider tour – a guided speedboat excursion that you can ride to the best, secluded snorkeling destinations. Previous experience is not needed to drive the boat. You will be provided with some short safety instructions and all the necessary equipment you might need on your adventure. Follow your local guide to Little Bay – a beautiful secluded beach and one of the best snorkeling spots in Anguilla –, go cliff jumping or explore the hidden caves.

Stand Up Paddle Boarding / SUP

For some more relaxed fun, go on a short paddle boarding tour, which is perfect for a lazy day. You can be picked up at your hotel by a local guide who will tell you about the marine life and the island’s history. Choose from several routes the one that takes your fancy the most. Take the whole family or just come with your sweetheart, this activity is perfect for all ages and all group sizes. If you enjoy some more privacy, opt for a simple paddle board rental with free delivery to the place of your choice.

Glass Bottom Kayak Tour

Attention to all rowers! This glass bottom kayak tour takes your usual rowing experience to the next level. Enjoy a 1.5 hours long kayaking tour along the gorgeous coastline of Anguilla and explore the marine life from a whole new perspective! The tour includes pick up and drop off at your hotel. For a more flexible experience, try renting kayaks on your own with free delivery.

Kitesurfing Lesson

Have you always dreamt of doing some really cool extreme sports? Your time has come. Learn Kite surfing at Anguilla’s only kiteboarding academy. This sport incorporates elements of wakeboarding, snowboarding, windsurfing, surfing, and paragliding. Sounds like fun? Trust us, there’s nothing cooler than riding the waves with the power of the wind. Take a private or semi-private lesson or master your silks with the help of IKO-certified professionals. You’ll be provided with all the necessary instructions and professional equipment on the spot.

Snorkeling with a Private Charter

Looking for a more exclusive experience on the water? Rent your own speedboat private charter and explore the best snorkeling places around Anguilla and swim with turtles in marine parks, snorkel in Shoal Bay or visit secluded beaches and hidden spots. Be the captain, create your own perfect half of full day charter experience and enjoy an open bar on the boat.

Discover Anguilla on land

Anguilla has a lot more to offer than just picturesque beaches and high end resorts. The island has a one-of-a-kind terrain that is completely different from that of the neighboring islands and is worthy to be discovered. Explore the caves of Anguilla, visit its uninhabited tiny islands including Sandy Island, Prickly Pear or Scrub Island or trek through the rugged outbacks in the eastern end of the island.

ATV tour and rental

Although most of the usual fun happens on the water in Anguilla, there’s also plenty to explore on land. Some of the most exciting points of interest are, however, hard to get to. This is why an on- and off-road ATV tour is the perfect way to discover the hidden gems of the island. Choose between a guided or self-guided tour on the rugged terrain through the jungles to the vibrant beaches of Anguilla. Both options include a helmet and safety instructions to make sure you have everything you need for an adrenaline-filled day of fun. Some of the highlights of the tour feature West End Village with majestic views over St. Martin, Road Bay – the night life capital of Anguilla and caves of the Arawaks and Caribs. These giant underground caves are a must-see landmark on the island and can be reached with only a 10-minute hike. The guided tour usually ends in the world-famous Shoal Bay, known for its wide white beach crystal-clear water, and protected coral reefs.

Hike to the crashed plane on Scrub Island

Are you fascinated by mystery? There’re plenty unanswered questions on Scrub Island. The water washes the most mysterious objects on shore from crashed planes to shipwrecks that locals like to tell different legends about. If you enjoy hiking and unsolved mysteries, this hiking excursion on Scrub Island is the perfect adventure for you. Take a speedboat over to Scrub Island, where your guide will take you on a track to the wrecks. This is a perfect opportunity to learn about the fauna of an uninhabited island. Savor every bite of your well-deserved lunch on the beach and relax in the speedboat on your way back to Anguilla.

Dine island style

Although Anguilla has been a British overseas territory, its cuisine is nothing like the British. It has been influenced by Caribbean, African, Spanish and French cuisines that both give it some kick and polished elegance. Enjoy the freshness of tropical ingredients and try out some fruits that you’ve never heard of before. Breadfruit, for example, is a typical starchy food on the island. You can find barbecue and jerk style meats all over Anguilla, which is very typical in the Caribbean, but make sure to try callalloo – a local stew made with callalloo greens – the superfood of the island. Not to mention the abundance of fresh seafood that’s both very healthy and refreshing. If you like fish, Anguilla is the perfect place to fill up on some spiny lobster, mahi-mahi, red snapper and salt cod. You can find some exquisite fine dining establishments, as well, for some special occasions. Give Hibernia Restaurant Art Gallery a try that has been a milestone of French-Asian fusion cuisine for 30 years now. All their dishes are a real artwork by themselves, reflecting sophistication and Asian freshness with local ingredients.

Take a day trip to the neighboring islands

Anguilla is conveniently located only a short ferry ride away from busy Sint Maarten and the exclusive French island of St. Barts. Take the public ferry from blowing point to visit Sint Maarten or charter a private speedboat and arrive in style. To hop over to St. Barts from Anguilla, you can either take the public ferry to Marigot and then take the high-speed ferry of Voyager to St. Barts. However, if you are planning to do a day trip to St. Barts it is faster to take a flight from Anguilla.

If the dozens of white sand beaches of Anguilla can't satisfy your appetite, there are still some beautiful tiny islands around Anguilla to visit. Prickly Pear, Anguilla's little sister, is a true gem in the Caribbean with excellent snorkeling and beautiful beaches. Most of Anguilla's charter boats like Sea Pro, Calypso, Gotcha can take you to Prickly Pear on a private trips. There are also a few boats who offer weekly scheduled trips such as Tradition, Chocolat or Sea Pro.

Only a quick 10-minute boat ride away from Sandy Ground in Anguilla, you can reach the tiny Sandy Island. It is the perfect half day trip from Anguilla, where you will find a lively beach bar, excellent sea food and you guessed it, a beautiful white sand beach. To get to Sandy Island, head to Sandy Ground. Park in the parking lot right on the beach and sign up for the next shuttle to Sandy Island. The small ferry costs $10 USD per person round trip. The boat runs back and forth throughout the day starting at 11 am.