Things to Do in Anguilla

Anguilla is a place where doing less feels like the whole point, but that does not mean there is nothing to do - it means everything worth doing happens at a slower, more intentional pace. Start at Shoal Bay East, consistently ranked among the best beaches in the Caribbean, where the sand is so fine and white it squeaks underfoot and the water transitions from pale aquamarine to deep sapphire in clean, visible bands. Rent a chair from Uncle Ernie's Beach Bar, order a rum punch, and let the morning disappear.

When you are ready to move, walk the full mile of shoreline to the eastern rocks where the snorkeling is surprisingly good over patch reef just a few yards offshore. Meads Bay, on the northwest coast, is the luxury beach - lined by Belmond Cap Juluca and Four Seasons Resort, it has a more manicured feel but the swimming is excellent and the sunset views across to St. Martin are hard to beat.

For something more secluded, drive to Little Bay, accessible only by a short scramble down a cliff with a rope (or by boat from Crocus Bay). The effort is worth it: a tiny cove with calm, snorkel-worthy water and virtually no one else around. Sandy Ground Village is the closest Anguilla gets to a scene.

This narrow sand spit between the sea and Road Bay salt pond has a string of restaurants and bars - Elvis' Beach Bar is the local institution, serving cold Heinekens and grilled crayfish with your feet in the sand while live music drifts across the water on weekend nights. For history, visit the Heritage Collection Museum in East End, a small but genuinely informative collection documenting Anguillian life from the Arawak period through the 1967 Revolution, when Anguilla broke away from the St. Kitts-Nevis federation in what may be the most polite revolution in Caribbean history. A day trip to Prickly Pear Cays by boat from Sandy Ground is essential - the two small uninhabited islands sit inside a reef and the snorkeling over elkhorn coral and sea fans is the best in Anguillian waters. Boats typically include lunch and rum punch for around $80 per person. Dog Island, farther out, rewards adventurous snorkelers and divers with pristine reef and solitude that feels genuinely remote.