With 33 pristine white-sand beaches, Anguilla is a beach lover’s delight. But unless you get way more vacation time than we do, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to hit them all in one trip. Which is why we’ve come up with this list of the top 10 strands on Anguilla. If you’re there for a week you’ll have to squeeze in two on some days but hey, there are worse problems to have! CJ Travel Editor Sarah Greaves-Gabbadon has the story on the Best Beaches in Anguilla.
Rendezvous Bay With calm water, soft sand, and panoramic views of St. Maarten in the distance, what’s not to love about this stunner on the southwest coast? Book a room at CuisinArt Resort & Spa and call it your own.
Meads Bay Perhaps its most famous tenant is Four Seasons Anguilla, but from Frangipani Beach Resort to Anacaona, there are restaurants (such as Blanchards) and hotels at all price points that open onto the rightfully famous sands of this northwestern beach.
Shoal Bay East Named one of the best beaches in the world by almost every travel brand, this marquee strand stretches for two blissful miles, bordered by beach bars, private villas and hotels such as Zemi Beach Resort.
Little Bay Accessible only by boat (or, for the intrepid, rappelling down a steep hillside), this compact cove is almost always deserted, so it’s the perfect retreat for canoodling couples. (And if you stay at nearby Ani Villas, you can wake up to it every day).
Barnes Bay Adjacent to Meads Bay, this much smaller beach is a more tranquil alternative, with equally warm seas and a picture-perfect shore that’s perfect for chilling out solo – and for guests of the villas at Four Seasons Anguilla, who enjoy this as their view.
Sandy Island Even though it’s not on the mainland, we’re adding the talcum sands and turquoise waters surrounding this islet (five minutes offshore from Sandy Ground on Anguilla’s north coast) to our beach-meet-bum list. Wherever you’re staying on island, you owe yourself a few hours here.
Sandy Ground We love the lively, almost “urban” vibe of this strand, which borders the village of Sandy Ground, which is Party Central on Thursday nights. And patrons from famous beach bars and restaurants (including Elvis and Johnno’s) who spill out on the sand after a few rum punches, will, no doubt, agree with us.
Island Harbour If you’re on island during Festival Del Mar over Easter, you’ll definitely want to come to this sandy sweep for live music, dancing, and fresh cooked fish and seafood. But any time of year, this fishing village’s shore is a winner, and it’s a great choice if you’re staying in a villa on the East End.
Maundays Bay We just can’t get enough of this beach (where Cap Juluca presides), mostly because of its iconic smile-like curve bordered by crystal-clear sea that constantly whispers our name.
Junk’s Hole If you really want to get away from the crowds (not that there are any on Anguilla!), head east and follow the signs down a rugged and rutted path to Nat’s Palm Grove, where you’ll find this windswept swath that you can likely have to yourself.