Anguilla is known for two things: luxury resorts and beautiful sand beaches. In all, the island offers 33 gorgeous stretches of powdery white sands formed from crushed coral and washed by clear aquamarine waters. Whether it’s a walk on the shoreline, a dip in the water or some downtime in a chaise lounge, beach going simply doesn’t get any better than here.
Maundays Bay
On Anguilla’s southeast coast, the resort of Cap Juluca, one of the Caribbean’s most luxurious spots, wraps around Maundays Bay. The property appears to have the bay’s mile-long platinum white sands to itself, but you don’t have to be a guest to enjoy, as all beaches on the island are public. Simply follow the resort’s winding entrance, which is landscaped with tropical plants and flowering bougainvillea. Once at the water’s edge, you can enjoy long walks without dodging crowds and easy access to calm, luminescent seas. Evening strolls offer up the twinkling lights of Marigot and Grand Case with the mountains of St. Martin outlining the night sky.
Shoal Bay East
This beach is the pride of the island. The scene at Shoal Bay is jaw-dropping gorgeous with snow-white silica set against electric blue water. The mile-long strand is lined with beachside eateries and bars, many serving up live music on weekends. There are water sports for the energetic crowd and beach chairs and rental umbrellas for the more sedate. Nearby coral reefs await snorkelers and glass-bottom boat tours. For total stress relief, Malakh Day Spa offers beachside massages under a gazebo where flowing white drapes add just the right amount of privacy and allow the sound of the sea to lull you into a state of relaxation.
Upper Shoal Bay
If the action of Shoal Bay East isn’t for you, walk or drive around the point to this more tranquil stretch of sand, which faces north into the Atlantic Ocean. Walk around the point at Elodia’s where the beach can get narrow, but you’ll find quiet and solitude. It’s easy to see why this beach earned accolades as a postcard beauty. Listed as one of the 10 best beaches in the Caribbean, it is bordered by glistening white sand brought ashore by constant wave action on the reef offshore. This stretch of ivory white, set against the clear cerulean waters, all but demands one to linger and enjoy.
Meads Bay
This long stretch of soft, golden sand is a perfect getaway. It is sporadically dotted with a handful of small hotels like Carimar Beach Club and Frangipanni Beach Resort, and a couple of pricier high-end resorts like Malliouhana and the cool and stylish Viceroy, which sits perched on a rocky headland dividing two sections of the beach. Save for hotel guests, the mile-long crescent of soft, golden sand remains quiet and untouched. The strip is also home to some of the island’s finest eateries like Straw Hat and Blanchard’s, the gourmet restaurant whose owners helped make Anguilla a household name with their book A Trip to the Beach.
Little Bay
Situated between Crocus Bay and Shoal Bay, this secluded beach is one of Anguilla’s best-kept secret spots. Most people overlook the small cove that’s hidden from the road by rocky limestone bluffs covered with creeping vines. Access isn’t easy, but the journey adds to the reward when you reach a swath of sand surrounded by monolithic cliffs dotted with blooming red Turk’s head cactus. The surest method of arrival is by boat, while more adventurous travelers negotiate a cliff-side rope ladder or follow a goat path. Bring your provisions and your snorkeling gear as there is nothing there but sand, water and pelicans.
Sandy Ground
This narrow stretch of golden beach sits between a large salt pond and a crescent-shaped bay. Often passed over by beachgoers during the day, it’s known for weekend nightlife, with live music and dancing in the sand. The pond serves as a reserve for egrets, stilts and herons and is overlooked by popular bars like Johnno’s. Sailors from around the world anchor in the bay, excursion boats depart from small offshore islands, and cargo boats unload containers at the freight pier. On land, the backdrop is a colorful patchwork of shops and eateries. Sandy Ground is also home to a popular hotspot, Elvis’ Beach Bar.
Shoal Bay West
Tucked away behind a mangrove nature preserve, this little haven is off the radar for most. The beach itself is backed by sea grapes, with walk-through paths that unveil a curve of pink-hued sands. Most of the sun worshippers here are guests at private villas scattered along the beach. A favorite is Covecastles, an upscale resort where every villa has direct ocean views and walk-out access to the beach. Book a stay and you’ll feel like you own the beach, as it’s just a few steps from your villa terrace to the calm waters of the bay.
Windward Point Bay
Anguilla is mostly fringed by gleaming white sand beaches, but there are also rocky stretches of iron shore coastlines worth a visit purely for the awesome views, the sea breeze and the isolation. You won’t find many people at Windward Point, just seabirds and a few iguanas sunning on the rocks. Exchange flip-flops for hiking boots and rent a jeep to explore this untamed side of the island. There is a natural stretch of sand fronting Windward Point Bay, while at the easternmost point you can climb the rock formations for a panoramic view of land and sea.
Rendezvous Bay
One of the island’s longest beaches overlooks the calm Caribbean waters at Rendezvous Bay. Here, some two and a half miles of alabaster sands are home to a handful of resorts. The most distinguished is the Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club, formerly the CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa, known for its Mediterranean-style buildings—think Santorini—and its on-site hydroponic gardens. More modest and affordable digs that share the same beach include Rendezvous Bay Hotel & Villas and Anguilla Great House. While the beach itself is a winner, the big attraction is the Dune Preserve, always a happening spot on Sunday, when there is live music organized and presented by musician and celebrity owner Bankie Banx.
Crocus Bay
Colorful fishermen’s boats bob on moorings in the bay but are sometimes joined by the occasional cruising sailor or luxury yacht. Though close to town, the beach draws few visitors. But once there, you’ll realize that it’s a great find, with café au lait-colored sand and clear water that invite swimming and snorkeling. If you walk to the western end, you may find a bounty of marine fossils that have fallen from the rocky cliff. Settle in at nearby da’Vida restaurant and spa, where you can have everything at your fingertips— dining, drinking, pampering and lounging under umbrellas.
