Sophisticated Anguilla's cosmopolitan restaurants and its lineup of exclusive and intimate inns have made the island a trendsetter for the rest of the Caribbean.
The northernmost of the Leeward Islands, Anguilla is 35-square-miles of contradiction, alternating between soft white sand and tough scrub. With more than 30 beaches bordered by sea grape trees, it's not hard to find a secluded strand with the only footprints being those that trail behind you. Anguilla's capital, The Valley, sits smack in the middle of the coral limestone island. Island Harbour, a fishing village, dominates the north end, while Sandy Ground, the main port, keeps watch on the Caribbean from the eastern shore. Most of Anguilla's "tourist traps" are of the natural variety: Bring along binoculars for birdwatching, a sketchbook to capture the sunsets, and snorkel gear to visit the reefs just offshore.
DIVING AND WATER SPORTS
A holiday on Anguilla wouldn't be complete without at least a brief foray into the turquoise sea, and the island's limited infrastructure and low-volume tourism have kept the excellent diving a well-kept secret.
ECO-ADVENTURE
Shore-side, you can't go wrong with day trips such as Sandy Island, reef-ringed Prickly Pear Cays (don't forget to bring sturdy walking shoes since the terrain is rather rough) and Scilly Cay, where the spiny lobster is luscious.
Archaeology-minded landlubbers could spend a whole afternoon at The Fountain, a cave filled with Arawak-carved petroglyphs. Recently, some 40,000 Amerindian artifacts have been uncovered on the island. A few of the local residents are in the process of inventorying the remaining undisturbed sites, so tread carefully when checking them out. For that matter, tread carefully wherever you go; despite some recent development, this island is still quite pristine.
HISTORY
The Arawaks were the first to call Anguilla home, and later the Caribs settled the island, calling it Malliouhana – the Carib word for "eel" and a loose description of the island's shape. Next came Columbus in 1493, who agreed that the island's shape was eel-like, and promptly dubbed it Anguilla, the Italian word for the snakelike fish. Although Columbus lay claim to the island, Spain never colonized it. British settlers from nearby St. Kitts arrived in 1650 and established the first European settlement.
Since then Anguilla, unlike many Caribbean nations, has fought to maintain its dependence on Britain. When Britain tried to loosen its ties with the island in 1967 by making it an Associated State (along with St. Kitts-Nevis), Anguilla rebelled. In 1969, Britain sent paratroopers to restore peace. The paratroopers were greeted by smiling Anguillians holding candy bars for their "saviors." It seemed that while the island wished to break away from St. Kitts-Nevis (which it did in 1971), it wanted to keep its relationship with the mother country. In 1980, Anguilla ultimately became a "dependent territory," which it remains today.
HIGHLIGHTS
– Diving or snorkeling Stoney Bay Marine Park
– Visiting the Old Salt Factory at Sandy Ground
– Sunning on Shoal Bay beach
– Day tripping to Scilly Cay
