Anguilla
Anguilla
Capital city description
The Valley is the capital of Anguilla. Its small limestone bump in the sea is a mixture of old clapboard shacks, stunning new vacation properties, a diverse array of cultures, and mind-blowing beaches.
It houses stunning art galleries upscale restaurants and offers fun things to see and do—Anguilla bursts with surprises, from historic plantation houses to abundant limestone caves.
Climate
Anguilla has a tropical climate, hot all year round, with a slightly cooler period from December to March and a hotter, humid period from May to October. Luckily, sea breezes can relieve a bit of the heat of the day.
Languages spoken
English is the official spoken language in Anguilla. Other languages are also spoken on the island, including varieties of Spanish, Chinese, and the languages of other immigrant communities.
Fun/Fascinating Facts
- Anguilla houses many beautiful beaches; one of these is Shoal Bay. This pristine beach is undoubtedly one of the most famous beaches in Anguilla. The water is the perfect shade of turquoise-blue, the sand is as soft as a plush pillow, and the waves are calm. It’s an excellent place for snorkeling with the whole family. A few beach bars and other establishments dot the coast, so visitors can grab a quick bite to eat or rent snorkeling gear. To many, this beach is the best in Anguilla and even the entire Caribbean.
- Anguilla is only 16 miles long; it’s only about 3 miles wide! There isn’t any public transportation in Anguilla, so rent a car or a bicycle if you plan to hop from one end to the next.
- Anguilla has one main road connecting one end of the island to the other, with many more minor roads feeding it. Driving is on the left-hand side of the road, and the speed limit is 30 mph. It takes about 30 minutes to drive its length.
- Goats are everywhere on the island. They’re on the hillsides, on the roads, so be careful when driving, and even on the front lawns of most resorts.
- There are no direct international flights to the island, so you’ll need to fly into Puerto Rico or St. Maarten and take the 20-minute ferry ride from St. Maarten.
Popular universities
| Name | Description | |
|---|---|---|
| Saint James School of Medicine | Saint James School of Medicine is a for-profit private higher education institution located in the urban setting of the medium town of The Quarter, established in 1999. Saint James School of Medicine (SJSM) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as master's degrees in several areas of study. | |
Festivals & Events
Festival del Mar
Date: April
In April, held at Island Harbour annually, Festival del Mar celebrates this festival dedicated to the sea in honor of Anguilla's maritime heritage.
The festival hosts many fun and exciting activities. Competitions in triathlons, seafood cooking, fishing, swimming, and boat racing all play an essential part in this famous Island Harbour event, featuring dry land activities such as volleyball and concert performances.
Moonsplash Reggae Festival
Date: March
Moonsplash Reggae Festival is The Caribbean’s longest-running independent music festival and one of the world’s most fantastic beach parties! The famed Anguillan reggae artist Bankie Banx has hosted this annual reggae festival at Rendezvous Bay’s Dune Preserve at the end of each March.
The event consists of two days of lively performances by some of the world’s finest reggae musicians, followed by an even more vibrant beach bash at Dune Preserve.
Anguilla Regatta
Date: May
A regatta in Anguilla is a four-day event that includes a variety of beach parties and races between spinnaker, non-spinnaker, monohull, and multi-hull sailboats.
Spectators can view the races from Anguilla's most famous destinations, including Rendezvous Bay, Maunday's Bay, Mead's Bay, and Road Bay. Sandy Ground hosts the biggest and best-known of Anguilla's many boat races.
Anguilla Summer Festival
Date: July and August
Anguilla celebrates its own vigorous Carnaval between July and August. This Anguilla holiday's loudest and liveliest event is J'ouvert, a giant street party beginning at the crack of dawn and lasting until noon. J'ouvert participants follow live soca and calypso bands down the streets until the parade ends with a massive beach party.
The festival hosts the Miss Anguilla Queen Pageant and Swimsuit Competition, winners are crowned during the island's largest event. It also offers activities that include boat races and calypso contests.
Anguilla Day
Date: 30th May
Every 30th of May, Anguillan celebrates the significant event, Anguilla Day, to commemorate the independence of the island-nation from a former union with modern-day Saint Kitts and Nevis.
Anguilla Day features a boat race, in this case, the Round-the-Island race beginning and ending in Sandy Ground, with music and partying to end the day.
Attractions / Top Sights
Shoal Bay East
When to visit: January to July
Shoal Bay East in Anguilla is one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, boasting its broad and shining white sand, perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
The pristine waters offer some of Anguilla's most beautiful coral gardens, inhabited by hundreds of tiny iridescent fish, and the sand is soft and squeaky clean.
Meads Bay
When to visit: January to July
Meads Bay is one of the most famous Anguilla beaches on the island's west end. The shores are stunning, long, and expansive. Its waters are turquoise and clear, and it has soft silky sand. Visitors can rent beach chairs and umbrellas and spend the day swimming in the shining blue sea.
Rendezvous Bay
When to visit: March
Rendezvous Bay on the beautiful south coast of Antigua is a perfect serene paradise. Visible only to those who sail by, hundreds of acres of rolling hills and valley floor are encircled by 1000-foot elevations creating a natural nirvana.
This peaceful coast is excellent for families with small children and perfect for sunbathers, swimmers, and shell collectors.
Maundays Bay
When to visit: February to April
Located on the western tip of Anguilla, Maundays Bay is one of Anguilla's most famous and luxurious beaches, offering the perfect blend of laid-back solitude and Caribbean soul.
The light sands are perfect for soaking up the sun, while its turquoise waters are suitable for swimming and snorkeling. The tranquil yet vibrant atmosphere of Maunday's Bay attracts visitors seeking a variety of outlets for recreation and sightseeing.
Sandy Ground
When to visit: February to April
Sandy Ground is a village and one of the fourteen Districts of Anguilla and its main port. The ferry to Sandy Island, a famous day-trip destination, departs from the pier.
Most of the onshore activities of the famous three-day Anguilla Regatta in May occur at Sandy Ground, with entertainment at the small family-owned restaurants and other venues.