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Anguilla!
As far as the Caribbean goes, Anguilla, the British West Indian island just north of St. Martin Anguilla is now home to what is arguably the Caribbean's highest concentration of luxury properties with cosmopolitan restaurants and exclusive and intimate inns that have become trendsetter's for the rest of the Caribbean |
Its most notable tourist moment was in 1980, when the government of the virtually hotel-free island
decided to limit development to discreet, small hotels and elegant, upscale resorts. A quarter of a century later,
the 16-mile-long territory known for its pristine beaches has stuck to this policy
(which means there are no casinos, large cruise ships, or shopping malls) Most of them are on the western half,
which encompasses Shoal Bay West, Rendezvous Bay, and Meads Bay; the eastern portion is more residential.
Although still a long way from being overdeveloped, Anguilla is becoming decidedly more sophisticated with
each season. The island is buzzing with recent and imminent openings of new hotels, restaurants and
"Super villas" (an Anguilla specialty); its airport runway has just been expanded to accommodate larger
commercial planes in addition to private jets. And here's more good news: the English-speaking Anguillans have
remained unpretentious, and their island is still the West Indian charmer it always has been.
| TRAVEL LINK COORDINATORS 0845 22 50 49 2 CARIBBEAN ISLANDS |
| Located in the Eastern Caribbean, most northerly of the Leeward Islands |
| Anguilla is a non-sovereign, overseas territory of the U.K. |
| CAPITOL: The Valley |
| POPULATION: 13,000 |
| 16 miles long and 3 miles wide at the widest point. Total area is 35 square miles |
| LANGUAGE: English |
| CURRENCY: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (US currency widely accepted) |
| 10% Government Room Tax. Airport Departure Tax is $20 US (children $10). |
| 10% service charge is added to all meals and hotel bills. |
| 110 volts |
| AREA CODE: 264 |
| TIME: Atlantic Standard Time |
| Passport or official photo ID accompanied by birth certificate with raised seal, plus onward/return ticket. |
TOURIST INFORMATION: www.anguilla-vacation.com
Anguilla is a sophisticated island with cosmopolitan restaurants, and exclusive and intimate inns that have
become trendsetter's for the rest of the Caribbean. Several international artists and others from the
moneyed class have built their personal castles here.
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.
The island is relatively dry and flat. Its highest point, Crocus Hill, rises just 213 feet above sea level.
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 bird watching,
a sketchbook to capture the sunsets and snorkel gear to visit the reefs just offshore.
A holiday on Anguilla would not be complete without at least a foray into the alluring turquoise sea.
Limited infrastructure and low-volume tourism have kept the island's excellent diving a little-shared secret.
A number of day trips are recommended, including Sandy Island, reef-ringed Prickly Pear Cay's
(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 an 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. As a matter of fact, tread carefully wherever you go;
despite some development, this island is still quite pristine.
GEOGRAPHY
Topography: Just 16 miles long and 3 miles wide, flat Anguilla points northeast-southwest and is dotted with
numerous salt ponts. The island's highest point is Crocus Hill, which reaches just 213 feet.
Anguilla's vegetation is semi-desert to subtropical. The vegetation is sparse and scrubby.
Anguilla Climate: The average annual temperature is 81º F and is hottest during the late summer,
which is also the rainy season.
Anguilla HISTORY
The Arawaks were the first to call Anguilla home. Then the Caribs settled the island, calling it Malliouhana,
the Carib word for "eel," 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 Anguillans 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 became a "dependent territory,"
which it remains today.
Call TLC 0845 22 50 49 2
