Solo Travel in Anguilla

If you’re looking for a picture-perfect Caribbean island with a relaxed, calming vibe then consider Anguilla. With warm temperatures year-round and the most stunning beaches, Anguilla is an island that is appealing to solo travellers, that's why we've given it 5 out of 5 stars.

It is a British overseas territory so everyone speaks English, and there are enough activities if you want to be active or just admire stunning sea views whilst dining near azure waters after a hard day of sunbathing. And because it’s only reachable by boat, makes it feel even more special. It is safe, and crime on the island is low but it’s still advisable to take precautions such as not carrying much cash with you, and avoiding the Anguilla beaches at night.

To meet others, I recommend Johnno’s Beach Stop Bar & Grill in Sandy Ground Village. If Johnno is there, he will give you a warm welcome to the island.

Things To Do in Anguilla

Anguilla may not be a destination that springs to mind when you think of the Caribbean but this understated island is actually a little gem in the Caribbean Sea. Reachable by ferry from St Martin, Anguilla is located in the Leeward Islands and is only 35 square miles in size.

Anguilla is a proud country and welcoming to visitors. They celebrate their history with year-round festivals such as the Moonsplash Reggae Festival (referred to as the Western Hemisphere’s full moon party), a Jazz Festival, and an annual Yacht Regatta. Sporting is big here and unsurprisingly, sailing is one of the islands’ national sports, along with boat racing.

The main city on the island is called The Valley, Anguilla. There aren't really that many Anguilla things to do and see here but if you can tear yourself away from the beaches of Anguilla, you can learn more about the island’s heritage at Wallblake House, Anguilla’s only surviving plantation house.

Delve into the history of the Arawak occupation at the Heritage Collection Museum, the only one on the island. The museum has artefacts and photos from the slave trade leading up to the revolution that took place in 1969.

One of Anguilla's tourist attractions is the Amerindian Fountain Cavern at Shoal Bay East. This underground cave is the oldest ceremonial cave in the Caribbean. Once a pilgrimage site, it sits 50ft below the surface of the island and is home to early indigenous Amerindian art that is illuminated in the cave with the natural light. You can learn more about this historic site at the visitor centre here.

It may only be 16 miles long and 3 miles across but for a small island there is so much cuisine to sample. There are more than 100 restaurants, many world-class, with all kinds of international food and of course, local seafood such as lobster and crayfish. And where better to tuck into the island’s delicacies than at one of Anguilla’s pristine white-sand beaches, and turquoise waters.

The beaches in Anguilla are amazing and there are 33 beautiful beaches to choose from, from bays to coves and coral and rocky formations. There’s a beach for any type of solo, depending on how much activity or privacy you’re after.

Shoal Bay is one of the island’s best beaches. This Anguilla beach feels as though you have stepped into a picture-perfect postcard, with palm trees and an abundance of marine life under its turquoise waters, making it one of the places to go in Anguilla for snorkeling.

Prickly Pear Anguilla and Sandy Island also have great visibility for spotting coral and native fish such as the butterfly fish. These Prickly Pear cayes have some of the island's best diving too with nearby shipwrecks and an underwater cavern to float to. Keep an eye out for the nurse sharks.

Or just relax and sunbathe on Little Bay, a more secluded beach. Rendezvous Bay has colourful bars dotted along the beach, and you may catch an up and coming singer at one of the intimate beach bars.

Other popular beaches are Meads Bay with posh hotels and restaurants, Barnes, and Little Bay. If you visit Anguilla between April and November you may be lucky enough to see the turtles nesting on the island, especially at Limestone Bay.

If you enjoy water sports, there are several water activities in Anguilla. You can kitesurf, paddleboard or scuba dive your way along Anguilla’s reefs. Anguilla is beginning to rival Bonaire,in its kite surfing. You can join one of the surfing schools and learn how to kitesurf the azure waters or stand up paddleboard instead.

For those who prefer to stay on land, you can team with others for a game of golf or tennis or just cycle your way around the island. For a good sunset view, Crocus Hill is the highest point on the island and you can hike to the Old Court House to see the remains and the picturesque view of the bay.

Anguilla is an island that offers heritage, culture, and music but the main reason to come here and the best things to do in Anguilla is simply lie on a white powdery sand beach in true Caribbean style. Is Anguilla worth visiting? Definitely!

Places To Stay in Anguilla

Anguilla has accommodation for every type of solo. The island has world-class accommodation and a mix of international Anguilla hotels and spa resorts (the best area to stay in Anguilla for spas is Meads Bay). You can also find places that are more personal such as welcoming guesthouses and smaller boutique hotels, especially if you stay at Rendezvous Bay. Shoal Bay West is another popular area to stay, whereby Shoal Bay East is more laid-back and less developed. If you prefer to self-cater there are villas and apartments too.

If you’re travelling during peak season and can’t find any cheap Anguilla hotels, there’s Airbnb Anguilla which offers apartments for rent in Anguilla on a short-term basis as well as hotels on Anguilla. You can stay in a private room in a local's house or rent their whole property.

All of the accommodations Anguilla have been recommended by solo female travellers from our Girls about the Globe community and come with a Solo Female Friendly endorsement. For all other Anguilla accommodation and Anguilla hotels, click on the link below. * Check rates and availability for all Anguilla resorts and accommodation

La Vue Boutique Inn

Located in South Hill Village, this 4-star boutique inn has a terrace and a bar, and is close to a shopping centre if you prefer to self cater in your own room that comes equipped with a full kitchen. The rooms are colourful and bright and come with a balcony and either a garden view or ocean view. You can take a walk to the beach or just enjoy the onsite pool. Plus they have a restaurant that serves breakfast through to dinner. Choose from a one bedroom suite or a king room or suite with an ocean view. * Check rates and availability: La Vue Boutique Inn

Shoal Bay Villas

If a villa is more your style, the Shoal Bay Villas are right on the beautiful beach at Shoal Bay. These Anguilla villas are spacious and there’s a pool so it’s ideal for those wanting to just relax. They don’t have a restaurant onsite as the rooms have a fully equipped kitchen for self catering. There is no supermarket here so you may need a car to get around. There are small restaurants just a short walk away. Choose from a one bedroom or one bedroom deluxe poolside, an oceanfront studio or a one bedroom oceanfront studio. * Check rates and availability: Shoal Bay Villas

Zemi Beach House

Ttreat yourself at the stunning Zemi Beach House, one of the best hotels in Anguilla. Part of the LXR Hotels & Resort, this 5-star beach resort in Shoal Bay Village has 3 different style restaurants and even a specialist rum room to taste some of the island’s favourite tipples. There’s a 24 hour front desk, coffee in your room, complimentary bottled water and a gourmet buffet breakfast. You can take out one of the free kayaks or just relax in the heated pool. It is an expensive Anguilla hotel but definitely worth being pampered. * Check rates and availability for Zemi Beach House

Anguilla Tours

There aren’t that many excursions in Anguilla as it is the place to snorkel and make the most of the beaches. You can easily hire a driver to take you from place to place. You can ask your accommodation to arrange a driver for you or just find one on the island when you arrive. I have personally used Mitchell Lloyd Taxi who offers island tours, beach trips, shopping trips, and pickups and drop-offs. His mobile number is: 235-7240 / 497-2250. Your accommodation can arrange any other tours that you may want to do

Anguilla Watersports – For the ocean solo, Anguilla organise all types of activities from leisurely paddle boarding to the more challenging kite surfing. You don’t have to do the activities alone either as they offer tours as well as rentals so you can join others on a glass bottom kayak or paddling through the turquoise waters. They are situated in Cove Bay.

Day Trip From St Martin to Anguilla – If you’re looking to visit for just a day, Get Your Guide offers a full day trip to Shoal Bay from St. Maarten. Take the Anguilla catamaran trip and explore the island on a taxi sightseeing tour, and snorkel or just sunbathe on Shoal Bay beach before enjoying a Caribbean lunch. * Check rates and availability for Anguilla tour

How To Get Around Anguilla

Anguilla doesn’t really have any public transport so there isn’t a bus network. To get from one side of the island to the other doesn’t take longer than an hour so to get around you either need to hire a car or take taxis.

Because the drivers are good here (not erratic as you find in other destinations), it’s also safe to hire a bicycle. Exotic Plus, and Premier Mountain Bike Rentals both hire out bikes for the day.

What I love about driving around Anguilla is that you can’t really get lost. The island has mainly flat terrain, driving is on the left and there are only 6 sets of traffic lights on the island. Plus signs are in English, making it easy to navigate. Car hire costs from approximately $40 a day plus insurance and you need to purchase an Anguilla driver’s licence which you can do at the car rental company. It costs $15 for 72 hours or $25 for a 3-month licence.

If you’re only here for one day and don’t want to hire a car, get a taxi driver to give you a tour of the island when you arrive then take you to your accommodation afterwards.

How To Get To Anguilla

There is no Anguilla airport or flights to Anguilla, so the best way to get to Anguilla is to travel by plane to St Martin from where you can take a boat. You can fly into Puerto Rico and take another plane from there to St Martin.

How to get from St Martin to Anguilla

The Saint Martin to Anguilla ferry operates from Marigot Bay (on the French side) where it runs approximately every 45 minutes beginning at 8:15am to 7:00pm. The ferry takes 30 minutes and costs $20 one-way. You can’t book ahead for the ferry. You’ll need to show your entry certificate for Anguilla to be able to board, and pay a departure tax of $23. Once you arrive at Blowing Point village in Anguilla, there are taxis as you arrive.

N.b. The ferry schedule may be less due to the current situation and Anguilla currently require a travel authorisation to enter.

How much does the ferry from St Maarten to Anguilla cost? From Princess Juliana Int’l Airport, on the Dutch side of the island, there are private ferries that cost more than the public ferry at Marigot Bay. These start from $65 one-way and depart from 9.00am to 5.00pm. The departure tax here is $31. You can pre-book these private ferries.

Best Time To Visit Anguilla

The weather in Anguilla is hot all year so you can enjoy warm temperatures year-round. However, the hurricane season Anguilla is from September to November, when you can expect heavier rainfall. The busiest months are from December to April when prices may be more expensive. The best time to go to Anguilla is between February to April when you can expect less rainfall.

Visit in the month of August to enjoy some music and boat racing at the Anguilla Summer Festival but be prepared that not all restaurants and businesses will be open for August or September. Below is the average annual weather chart for Anguilla.

FAQs

Can I drink the water? Yes, but you may prefer to take a water filter with you.
Is tipping expected? Many places include gratuity in your bill. If you enjoyed the service you can tip an extra 5% or 10%.
Fixed price or barter? Fixed price.
Any ATMs? Yes, in the capital where you can withdraw EC dollars or US dollars.
Which side of the road do they drive? The left-hand side
Good for vegetarians? Anguilla is good for pescatarians (those who eat fish). For vegetarians, some of the restaurants such as Ember, SandBar, Veya, and Blanchard serve vegetarian options.
Any Seven Wonders of the World? No.

Map of Anguilla

Plan a Holiday To Anguilla

For all trips to Anguilla, below are useful links for visas and vaccinations required for the island, local costs and events and festivals to help you plan your Anguilla vacations.

Budget – £150 / $200 USD a day

Anguilla Capital – The Valley

Population – 15,094

What language do they speak in Anguilla? – English

Anguilla Currency – Eastern Caribbean Dollar

Do I need an Anguilla visa?

Vaccinations Required

Lingo – They speak English