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11 Things You Can’t Miss When Visiting Anguilla

11 Things You Can’t Miss When Visiting Anguilla

Anguilla may be a small Caribbean island but don’t let its size fool you. Anguilla is roughly 15 miles long and 3 miles wide but boasts 33 beaches in Anguilla. There are a ton of things to do in Anguilla and it’s the perfect place for a Caribbean vacation.

Anguilla is one of the least populated islands in the Caribbean with only 13,000 residents. Try and do as many of our suggested things to do in Anguilla and you’re guaranteed to have an unforgettable time.


Things to do in Anguilla

White sand beaches in Anguilla are the top activity on the island1. Explore the 33 Beaches of Anguilla

You’ll have your pick of 33 beaches in Anguilla. Many of the beaches we visited, we were the only ones there and even the most popular beaches like Shoal Bay East feel empty.

The best way to explore the beaches is by car plan on renting a car in Anguilla. We’ve done our fair share of Caribbean island hopping and Anguilla’s beaches are top-notch.

Crayfish in Anguilla is a must do thing2. Try the Anguilla Crayfish

Anguilla Crayfish are nothing like the crayfish you’d see in New Orleans. First off, they are huge – I am talking prawn size. Crayfish are better than lobster if you ask any of locals, and after having a plate of them ourselves we agree they are pretty darn good. Expect to pay $40+ for a plate of crayfish.

There is no official season for crayfish just cross your fingers and hope the restaurant has them. Crayfish will be on all of the best restaurants in Anguilla menus, we had them at Pimm’s one of the best restaurants in Anguilla, which we highly recommend.

Red sail boat in front of little bay - - Best things to do in Anguilla3. Sail with Tradition Sailing

For one of Anguilla’s top activities, spend the day on a sailboat with Tradition Sailing. The most popular trip sails to Little Bay which is only accessible by boat. Jump off the boat and snorkel in the bay and once back on board lobster rolls and drinks are ready!  Click here to book online.

Sandy Island small sand island is the top tourist attraction in Anguilla4. Visit Sandy Island

One of the best things to do in Anguilla is to make a visit to the one of a kind Sandy Island. A $10 boat ride away from Sandy Ground lies the magical island called Sandy Island. A name that is very fitting as the only thing on the island a bunch of sand and restaurant that serves up some fresh seafood and ice-cold drinks.

We highly suggest spending the entire day at Sandy Island and make sure to try their grilled Caribbean lobster & Anguilla crayfish.

Man cooking ribs at Ken's BBQ - Top things to do in Anguilla5. Try some Local Street Food at Ken’s BBQ

Head to Ken’s BBQ in The Valley Thursday-Saturday for some finger-licking good ribs & chicken. He’s located right off the Valley Rd you should see a line of people around a smokey grill, you know it’s good when it’s packed with locals.

A huge order of BBQ ribs $6, BBQ chicken $3, french fries $2, and garlic bread $1. There is no other restaurant on the island for those prices. | TripAdvisor Reviews

6. Have a Rum Punch at Gwen’s Reggae Grill on Sunday

Sunday head to Gwen’s Reggae Grill for some great live reggae music right on Shoal Bay, the best beach in Anguilla according to us. Make sure to enjoy the music with Gwen’s famous rum punch, a glass will set you back $10 but proceed with caution. | TripAdvisor Reviews

7. Road Trip Around the Island

Everyone loves a good road trip! Spend the day getting lost and finding deserted beaches. Without a car, we wouldn’t have been able to get to all of our favorite things to do in Anguilla. Just remember all roads in Anguilla lead somewhere gorgeous. Renting a car in Anguilla is a must, here are just a few reasons why you should rent a car.

Little bay is a must visit place in Anguilla8. Visit Little Bay

If you don’t make it on a sailing trip with Tradition Sailing you can still visit and should visit Little Bay. Head to Crocus Bay just before DaVida’s beach club you should see a sign for Little Bay boat with Calvin it’s $15 per person.

Calvin will bring you over to Little Bay from Crocus Bay. If you’re on the more adventurous side you could rent a kayak from DaVida’s beach club and kayak to Little Bay. No matter how you get to Little Bay just make sure you get there. Don’t forget your GoPro Dome for this trip, you’ll get some great over/under shots here.

Related Article: Must Know Anguilla Travel Tips 

9. Enjoy Villa Life

Don’t stay in a hotel, stay in a luxury Anguilla villa. There are so many gorgeous villas in Anguilla available for rent. We stayed at CeBlue Villas in Crocus Bay.

Our villa was more than we could have ever imagined. 5 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, private pool, media room, huge outdoor deck, massive deck, and grill perfect for a BBQ. We enjoyed have a BBQ and watching the sunset just from our villa.

10. Go to Mermaid School

Yes, you read that right! Book in advance as spending the day learning how to be a mermaid and playing with mermaid school books up fast. So fast that we didn’t get to do it! Next time we are traveling Anguilla Mermaid school will be my first stop.

Soft yellow sunset in Anguilla - best things to do in Anguilla11. Watch the Sunset

Anguilla has great sunsets all over the island but our personal favorite was at Crocus Bay. We stayed at CeBlue Anguilla in Crocus Bay where we had the front row seat the nightly sunset show. Head to DaVida’s beach bar & restaurant, which is right on the beach in Crocus Bay.


Don’t Forget to pin me for later!

We scoured the island looking for the best day trips and activities and we put them all together here so you can make the most of your time in Anguilla!