As someone who hates the cold, I usually like to break up the winter by traveling to warm destinations. Anguilla was always a place I aspired to visit, so I was thrilled when I was invited to come check out all that the island had to offer.
I visited Anguilla (via St. Maarten) this past November and immediately fell in love with the island. It has the nicest Caribbean beaches I’ve experienced (Grand Cayman is a close second), and I can’t wait to return again with my family.
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No filter needed.
While I did experience many amazing sights, restaurants, activities, and below are my 5 highlights of the trip:
Scilly Cay
Scilly Cay is a family-owned private island & day-time restaurant located in the fishing village of Island Harbour on the East tip of Anguilla. The restaurant is open Wednesdays and Sundays for lunch (11hAM to 5PM), and there’s live entertainment on Sundays. They don’t have menus either; you simply choose fish, chicken, crayfish or lobster (or a combo). It’s a bit pricey (and the owner can be a wise guy), but the lobster and crayfish is mouthwatering; the idea is to hang out on the island all day (snorkeling, sunbathing, drinking, etc.).
Their world-famous Rhum punch is pretty amazing, but do not underestimate how strong they are. I am not much of a drinker, and I was in disbelief about “the warning” because it tasted sooo fruity and smooth. Let’s just say that, I was really happy and giggly after 1 and a half (I was also laughing at the stories of people leaving the island on stretchers. Tourist: 0, Rhum punch: 1).
Lunch at DaVida
Located right on the secluded Crocus Bay, DaVida is a great spot for lunch. My rule of thumb when traveling to a place surrounded by water is to always eat seafood, and my seafood salad here was phenomenal. Not only do you get an amazing view while you dine, you can also stick around to go snorkeling, kayaking, sunbathing etc.
Salad topped with fresh seafood.
Lunch with a view
Shoal Bay
My picture does not do this beach justice!
Shoal Bay Beach is simply amazing to say the least, and I’m not surprised that it was named best beach in the world by several sources (not to mention its 650+ 5-star TripAdvisor reviews). Shoal Bay  is the island’s main attraction, and no trip to Anguilla is complete without a visit to its pristine white sand and blue water. I spent 2 nights at Shoal Bay Villas, and it was awesome to have Shoal Bay in my “backyard”.
Horseback Riding at Cap Juluca
I’ve always dreamed of going horseback riding on the beach, and my dream came true in Anguilla. Horseback riding is available at the Cap Juluca hotel for $75, and the ride is about 90-minutes long through beautiful and scenic Cove Bay. There’s an option for a ride through the water at the end of the trial as well (I skipped).
CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa
I would definitely recommend spending a day at the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, situated on Rendezvous Bay, to have a healthy meal and check out the award-winning Venus Spa, where I genuinely had one of the greatest massages of my life.
The Venus Spa treatment waiting room… I’m glad I spared you a picture of me in my spa robe.
Pre-spa protein smoothie and relaxation.
Overall, Anguilla is a great place to explore whether you’re a couple (definitely great for couples), solo traveler, or family. There’s truly something for everyone. I can’t wait to return with my family, and I’ll be even more excited to return if a major hotel moves in so I can redeem points or free night certificates!
*This post is written in partnership with the Anguilla Tourism Board. All opinions and stories are my own, of course. I owe them a world of thanks for showing me all that the island has to offer.
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