Fun things to do in Anguilla

We only had a day trip to Shoal Bay and all we did was enjoy this phenomenal beach. The water is crystal clear and warm as if you were in the tub. This beach is a must see if you are traveling in the Caribbean.

We took the ferry from St Martin (Marigot) to Anguilla. Cost was $30 per person. We then took a taxi directly to Shoal Bay ($16 return) as we wanted to enjoy the turquoise water and silky smooth sand. The sand was like icing sugar and the sea beautiful shades of blue and warm too. There were lots of colorful fish and the longer you hovered over the reefs the more fish would appear. The food was good about $18 for a lobster salad and $2 a beer. We will return and next time stay a few nights!.

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With relatively few landbirds to be found, Anguilla isn’t exactly a birder’s paradise. The island is home to just three of the species endemic to the Caribbean – Green-throated Carib, Antillean Crested Hummingbird, and Lesser Antillean Bullfinch – and it takes some effort to find anything other than Brown Pelican, Magnificent Frigatebird, and Royal Tern along the coast and the ubiquitous Cattle Egrets, Bananaquits, Gray Kingbirds, and Zenaida Doves inland. All of the island’s salt ponds are worth birding, especially Rendezvous Pond and Road Salt Pond, where White-cheeked Pintail and several species of shorebirds are possible.

Maundays Bay Beach is home to the famous five-star Cap Juluca Resort. It is another of Anguilla’s outstanding beaches. Considerably smaller than the beaches at Shoal Bay East, Rendezvous Bay, and Meads Bay, the calm waters make this a good spot for families.

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Like the beach at Sandy Ground, the beach at Crocus Bay is not on a par with Anguilla’s best and is more popular with locals than it is tourists. Just a five-minute walk from the edge of The Valley, this is a good spot to escape other tourists and catch a sunset.

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Sandy Ground is probably as close to a travelers’ hub as there is on Anguilla. Several bars and restaurants line the beach and there are several nearby guest houses. The beach here doesn’t compare to Shoal Bay East, Rendezvous Bay, Meads Bay or some of Anguilla’s other top beaches, but it is extremely popular with local children. This is a great spot to while away an afternoon and then party at night to some live music.

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Another of Anguilla's finest beaches can be found at Meads Bay. This is the high rent district, with lots of posh resorts and restaurants to be found. The beach itself is just a notch below Shoal Bay East and Rendezvous Bay.

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With St. Martin serving as a backdrop, it’s hard to find fault with the beach at Rendezvous Bay. Featuring the same flour-soft, blinding white sand and turquoise waters as the beach at Shoal Bay East, it’s not surprising some locals and tourists actually prefer Rendezvous Bay’s beach over its more famous neighbor.

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In addition to an exquisite beach, Shoal Bay East also has some excellent snorkeling just offshore. Visibility is excellent, the coral is in good shape, and there is both great diversity and good numbers of fish. Hawksbill Turtles also are a possibility. And, with the exception of these marine critters, there’s a decent chance you will have the entire reef to yourself.