I remember the first time I saw Rendezvous Bay in Anguilla. Even as a veteran of more Caribbean beaches than just about anyone, I was stunned. The sand was perfect. So soft, so white. And then there was the view of nearby St Martin — the way the contours of its green hills made it feel like you were staring at a painting. 

Rendezvous Beach remains one of my all-time favorite beaches in the Caribbean, and any Caribbean connoisseur worth his or her salt should tell you the same. It’s that good. It’s that unforgettable. 

Of course, in Anguilla, beaches are an art form, and on an island blessed with such spectacular stretches of sand, you’ll find a compelling argument for just about every one on the island as being the best. 

In the summer, the beaches are a little less crowded, the water a bit warmer, a trend that continues all the way through the shoulder season and into the late autumn. 

It’s part of what make Anguilla such an outstanding summertime destination: you can enjoy its natural beauty, its sparkling seas, even more deeply. 

It wasn’t always that way though.

The pandemic led to several seismic shift in the Caribbean travel industry — with seasonality one of the biggest victims. No longer, you see, do many travelers view the Caribbean through the narrow prism of the winter escape. People have finally realized, as we did long ago, that the Caribbean is in many ways better in the summer. 

And Anguilla is making the summer (and shoulder season) a big part of its newest push — and rightly so. 

The idea, says the Anguilla Tourist Board’s CMO, Kimberly King, is to “position Anguilla as an all-year-round destination.”

 Of course, a big part of that strategy is about the Anguilla that exists beyond its beautiful beaches: one that is among the most impressive culinary destinations in the region — from its barbecue shacks to fine-dining hotspots like Jacala, Veya, Blanchard’s and Straw Hat, among others; one that has a vibrant beach bar culture that is the envy of much of the Caribbean (we’re rather partial to Garvey’s and Johno’s, but you really can’t go wrong at any of them; one that has some seriously good shopping; the sailing culture; the tiny little islands like Scilly and Sandy.  

And then there are the places to stay, from its diverse collection of villas to its newest resort: the luxe Aurora Anguilla, one that remains the only true year-round resort on the island, and one with its spectacular Greg Norman golf course and brand-new water park, which has been positioning the island to travelers in a new way. 

The last few years have seen a tourism renaissance in Anguilla, and that includes its rebirth as a year-round destination. 

I’d just recommend starting with a trip to Rendezvous. The rest is easy. 

To learn more, visit Anguilla.

— CJ