Anguilla Adventure Travel Guide: Ideas and Inspiration
PureTravel Says: “Anguilla is a paradise of warm water, warm temperatures and warm sun all year round. Escape to Anguilla at any time of the year and explore the island and the activities and adventures on offer. From the powdery coastlines to the numerous bays, coves and other islands, you’ll discover some beautiful hidden beaches.”
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Holiday Highlights
Overview - Anguilla is a British overseas territory where English is the main language and is situated in the north of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. The main island of Anguilla is 26km long and 5km wide and also has several other small islands and cays. The Capital is The Valley and has a population of just 13,500.
Scuba Diving - There’s an abundance of scuba diving opportunities whilst on Anguilla with some of the best places including the shark rich waters of Prickly Pear. Night dives offer an array of fish at Little Bay while the famous Stoney Bay offers up a 1,000-ton sunken Spanish Galleon. Dog, Seal and Sandy Island all have first-rate reef systems to explore.
Walking & Trekking
Walking and trekking in Anguilla is a great way to see some of the beaches, especially if you carry your snorkelling gear with you. Why not combine your walk or trek with a chance to soak up the local culture and history. You won’t find any Caribbean mountains here as Anguilla is uniformly flat and made of limestone and coral. If you want to see more greenery and take walks on other outlying islands, then try Seal Island, Dog Island, Sandy Island and Scrub Island. Some good hikes on Anguilla include the five-mile loop off Windward Point on the east side. The Brimegan Trail will give you some coastal views and is four miles one way. The Katouche Trail, on the other hand, is a loop and takes less time at two miles. Or, the Limestone Bay Trail loops from inland to the sea, affording views of both.
Mountain Biking - Anguilla’s clay and lime roads make for some fast riding, and you’ll get to see things that those coming off the cruise ships probably don’t see. You can bring your own bike, or you can find one at a local bike rental and repair shop. Your tour operator can advise you. Some of the best out of the way beaches can be reached on two wheels and it’s likely you’ll be the only one there.
Fishing - You can fish right off the coastline anywhere in Anguilla. If you bring your gear for a tour you’ll have plenty of options and with some local knowledge could discover the secret big-fish hideaways. Deep-sea fishing yields marlin, tuna, wahoo and swordfish among others.
Swim with Dolphins - You can swim with the fish whilst in Anguilla and also take a swim with dolphins which is an unforgettable experience. Your tour operator will be able secure you permits from the Anguilla Tourist Board.
Horseback Riding - Experience the nature and scenic water views of Anguilla from the back of a horse. Whether you ride English or Western style, popular routes include rides to the Katouche Bay and around the valleys of North Hill with trips taking in Road Bay and a final swim with the horses. The pace is often gentle so as to enjoy scenery and wildlife.
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When To Go
Summer in Anguilla is the hottest time and hurricanes can occur from July until November, when rain also falls. December to May is popular with visitors where temperatures reach around 28C.
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Top Tips
- A specialist local tour operator is the best way to set up local trips and activities including horse riding.
- The reefs are protected and it’s important not to touch them or take anything from them.
- You need to pay a departure tax at the airport so check the latest advice.
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Classic Itineraries
- Explore Anguilla’s capital The Valley
- Windward Point Trail
- The Brimegan Trail
- The Katouche Trail
- Limestone Bay Trail
- Deep Sea Fishing
- Katouche Bay (Horseback Riding)
- Swim with dolphins
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Caribbean Islands Geography
The Caribbean region is actually made up of some 7,000 islands which are commonly known as the West Indies. The 'Caribbean' usually refers to the Caribbean Sea, the actual Caribbean islands and the coasts which sit on the Caribbean Sea. The area was named the West Indies in 1492 after explorer Christopher Columbus thought he had landed in Asia, in the Indies.
The largest island group is the Antilles which is divided into the Greater Antilles and Lesser Antilles. The Greater Antilles is made up of Cuba, Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Hispaniola, which is Haiti and Dominican Republic and in fact the Greater Antilles accounts for around ninety percent of the total land in the whole of the West Indies.
The Lesser Antilles comprise the Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos. The Windward Islands are made up of these islands; Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire make up the Leeward Antilles.
The Leeward Islands are made up of the following islands; US Virgin Islands (Saint Croix, Saint Thomas, Saint John and Water Island), British Virgin Islands (Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada), Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda (Antigua, Barbuda, Redonda), Saint Martin/Sint Maarten, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat and Guadeloupe.
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Public Holidays in 2014
New Year's Day - 1 January
James Ronald Webster Day - 3 March
Good Friday - 18 April
Easter Monday - 21 April
Labour Day - 1 May
Anguilla Day - 30 May
Whit Monday - 9 June
Celebration of the Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen - 16 June
August Monday - 4 August
August Thursday - 7 August
Constitution Day - 8 August
National Heroes and Heroines Day - 19 December
Christmas Day - 25 December
Boxing Day - 26 December
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Travel Resources
By Julie Bowman
