Anguilla Tourist Board Local Information

Anguilla tHE FActS
Location & Description
Anguilla is situated in the British West Indies,
around 100 miles north west of Antigua, 150
miles east of Puerto Rico and nine miles north
of St. Maarten. It is the most northerly of the
Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean
with a latitude of approximately 18 degrees
north and longitude of 63 degrees west. The
name Anguilla means eel, which is a perfect
description of a long, thin island measuring 16
miles by three miles. It has a flat landscape,
low rainfall levels and the vegetation is
made up of small trees and bush. The island
uncrowded and relaxed, and Anguilla’s
beaches are considered to be among the best
in the Caribbean. Its exclusive resorts, villas,
intimate hotels, friendly people and tranquillity
attract the most discerning holidaymakers.
Six nearby islands belong to Anguilla: Scrub
Island, Sombrero, Dog Island, Sandy Island,
Prickly Pear and Anguillita.
The Valley is the capital of Anguilla and centre
of commerce and government.
History in a nutsHeLL
© Susan Croft Photography
© Susan Croft Photography
Inhabited from around 2,000BC by an
Arawak-speaking Amerindian people who
originated from South America, Anguilla was
first known as Malliouhana, the sea serpent.
The British colonised Anguilla in 1650, but the
stay was short lived as, in 1656, Amerindians
from a neighbouring island wiped out their
settlement. For around 150 years, the British
and French fought each other for control
of the island, causing huge disruption to its
people and its economy.
In 1825, the British manoeuvred Anguilla
into a union with St. Kitts and Nevis. This
resulted in great resentment among the
Anguillians, who felt they were not dealt
a fair hand under the new administration.
Tensions built up over the following 145 years,
during which time the Anguillians battled for
direct administration from Britain. In 1967, the
situation came to a head when the islanders
© Susan Croft Photography
forcefully expelled the police authorities from
the island effectively bringing to an end the
formal relationship between the three islands.
It took until 19 December 1980 before Anguilla
became a British Dependent Territory.
Further information is available by
visiting the official website of the
anguilla tourist Board:
www.ivisitanguilla.com
e: [email protected]
t: 020 7736 6030
feeling is believing
getting tHere
Currently, there are no direct international
flights to Anguilla. However, from the United
Kingdom - British Airways and Virgin Atlantic
all have excellent services into Antigua and
St. Kitts with onward connections to Anguilla.
Inter island airlines are: LIAT and charter airline
operators offer services to all Caribbean
islands and the USA. Connecting services
fly from St Maarten (just seven minutes by
air), which is served by Air France via Paris,
KLM via Amsterdam, plus Jet Blue, American
Airlines and Continental via New York and
other US gateways. Flights are also available
from Puerto Rico (one hour by air), which is
served by several US and inter-island carriers.
A ferry service also operates from Marigot
Bay on French St. Martin to Blowing Point on
Anguilla, a trip that takes approximately 20
minutes and is US$15.00 per adult one way
(US$8.00 per child 1-8 years). There is also
a charter boat operation from St. Maarten
airport at US$65.00 per person to Blowing
Point that must be booked in advance.
entry requirements
A valid passport and onward or return ticket
are required for entry into Anguilla. Entry visas
for some countries do apply and will need to
be obtained before arrival. Details are on the
Anguilla Government website
http://www.gov.ai/visas_travel.php
accommoDation
Anguilla offers accommodation choices to suit
a variety of tastes and budgets including,
guest houses, self-catering apart ments, small
boutique hotels, luxury resorts and stunning villas.
For luxury on a budget contact Affordable
Anguilla Dot Com
T: 001 264 498 2583
E: [email protected]
W: www.affordableanguilla.com
anguiLLa uK tour operators
Azure Collection
Bailey Robinson
Black Tomato
BA Holidays
Caribtours
Carrier
Chic Locations
Complete Caribbean
Couture Travel Company
CV Villas
Destinology
Eden Collection
Elegant Resorts
Expressions Holidays
Exsus Travel
Golden Holidays
Individual Holidays
ITC Classics
Kenwood Travel
Kuoni
Lusso
Original Travel
Prestbury Worldwide Resorts
Prestige Caribbean
Quintessentially Travel
Scott Dunn
Seasons In Style
Select Collection
The Lotus Group/Dial A Flight
The Ultimate Travel Company
Tropic Breeze
Veloso Tours
W & O Travel
Worldwide Dream Villas
Virgin Holidays
360 Private Travel
www.azurecollection.com
www.baileyrobinson.com
www.blacktomato.com
www.britishairways.com
www.caribtours.co.uk
www.carrier.co.uk
www.chiclocations.com
www.itcluxurytravel.co.uk
www.couturetravelcompany.com
www.cvvillas.com
www.destinology.co.uk
www.edencollection.co.uk
www.elegantresorts.co.uk
www.expressionsholidays.co.uk
www.exsus.com
www.golden-holidays.co.uk
www.individual-holidays.com
www.itcclassics.co.uk
www.kenwoodtravel.com
www.kuoni.co.uk
www.lussotravel.com
www.originaltravel.co.uk
www.prestburyworldwideresorts.co.uk
www.prestigecaribbean.com
www.quintessentiallytravel.com
www.scottdunn.com
www.seasons.co.uk
www.selectcollection.co.uk
www.dialaflight.com
www.theultimatetravelcompany.co.uk
www.tropicbreeze.co.uk
www.veloso.com
www.wandotravel.com
www.worldwidedreamvillas.com
www.virginholidays.co.uk
www.360privatetravel.com
cLimate
The island experiences average temperatures
of around 80°F, with the Trade Winds providing
a constant warm breeze. With no high mountains
to block the sun’s rays and, in the absence
of the type of vegetation that attracts rain
clouds, Anguilla is a sunworshipper’s paradise.
The average rainfall measures 35 inches per
year, much of it arriving in short cloud bursts.
cuisine
Anguilla is renowned for its fabulous cuisine
and restaurants are plentiful on the island,
with over 100 ranging from roadside BBQs and
beach cafés to international fine dining.
getting arounD
There are more than 60 miles of road on
Anguilla, the majority of them with a sealed
surface. Car, bike, jeep and taxi hire are
available. There are public buses which offer
a limited service. Driving is on the left and
the speed limit is 30mph. If driving, a licence
from your country of residence is needed,
an Anguillan licence must be purchased at
US$20.00 valid for 3 months. Taxi rates are all
fixed by the government.
tHe environment
The Anguilla National Trust was established in
1993 to protect the island’s natural environment
and to preserve its archaeological, historical
and cultural resources. Among its current
on-going projects is the rehabilitation of the
island’s sand dunes, together with a number
of conservation programmes designed to
ensure the protection of sea turtles, iguanas
and birdlife. There are six marine parks within
Anguillan waters.
BeacHes
Anguilla is renowned for its unspoilt, tranquil,
white-sand beaches. There are 33 beaches
on this small island, which measures just 35
square miles. They range from Shoal Bay East
with its 2.5 mile stretch of sand, watersports
facilities and restaurants, to the secluded
Captain’s Bay, which is accessed along a dirt
track, and Little Bay accessed by boat from
Crocus Bay. All of Anguilla’s beaches are public.
activities
golf: CuisinArt Golf Course is Anguilla’s
first 18-hole state-of-the-art championship,
environmentally friendly golf course at
Rendezvous Bay. Anguilla’s Golf Association
(AGA) Pitch and Putt is a 9-hole public course
at Sandy Ground and daily green fees are
US$10.00.
tennis: The Anguilla Tennis Academy floodlit
tennis courts, and a stadium court with a
seating capacity of 1,000. There are also
numerous courts on island to hire.
the great outdoors - pelican trail and
Water sports : With Fantastic Adventures
- The trails 400 plus wooden steps string
together 7 eco-friendly gazabos and decks
where you can relax and explore the
seascape. Snorkel around our coral formations
in the clear waters, kayak in a glass canoe or
just swim across to Little Bay.
sailing: Anguilla Youth Sailing Club at Sandy
Ground offers courses of youth sailing
instruction. Aimed at young visitors and local
families, the programme operates over key
holiday periods and selected dates during
the year. The courses offer basic instruction
in boat handling, maintenance, seamanship,
life saving and first aid to approximately 16
children per session, ages 7 - 15 years.
The courses follow the International Optimist
Dinghy Association (IODA) curriculum. The
Anguilla Sailing Association is a member of
both IODA and USODA.
Diving and snorkeling: Anguilla is known as
the ‘Wreck Diving Capital of the Caribbean’.
In addition to the Spanish galleon, El Buen
Consejo, there are nine shipwrecks in its
surrounding waters. The wrecks are home to a
wide variety of corals and marine life including
angelfish, barracudas, margates, sharks,
snappers and turtles. The island also features
a double reef system, rich in both soft and
hard corals such as the giant brain, bouquets
of gorgonians, which reach 15 to 20 feet and
sea fans in a spectacular array of colours.
sport fishing: Half and full day trips are
operated by charter companies to catch
fish such as wahoo, dorado, kingfish, sailfish,
marlin, barracuda and grouper.
Water sports: Sailing is one of the most
popular pastimes on Anguilla. In addition to
yachts, windsurfers and kayaks are available
for hire and water skiing can also be arranged.
There are no motorised watersports on Anguilla.
Walking: There are numerous tracks
around the island from the rocky coast
line of Windward Point in the north to the
‘rain forest’ trail at Katouche. There are also
excellent escorted walks and heritage tours
with Anguilla’s National Trust: Sandy Ground
Village, Heritage Museum at East End Pond
and Wallblake House in The Valley.
Walking tour: “H” is for Heritage. An exciting
new addition to Anguilla’s attractions,
Anguilla’s Heritage Trail opened in June 2010 to
give locals and visitors alike an insight into the
island’s colourful history. The designated trail
will lead you around 10 historic sites of special
interest, as selected by public vote, marked
by a series of informative plaques. A great
opportunity to learn a bit more about what
makes Anguilla so unique.
ornithology: Anguilla boasts more than 100
species of bird life. Its salt ponds attract many
varieties from herons to sandpipers. Other
activities that can be enjoyed include horse
riding, cave treks and art gallery hopping.
sigHtseeing
places of interest include:
• The Old Fort at Sandy Hill
• The Heritage Collection
• Wallblake House
• The Old Valley
• The Pump House & Salt Factory
at Sandy Ground
• Ebenezer Methodist Church – built in 1830
natural attractions include:
• Copper Hole (large blow hole)
• Pitch Apple Hole (prehistoric cave)
• Katouche Valley (natural mini rainforest)
WeDDings
A special licence is required in order to get
married on Anguilla. This takes at least 48
hours to process and costs US$242 (unless
couples have been on the island for fifteen
days before their wedding, when the cost
would be US$40). The couple must provide
proof of identity and, if divorced, must have
the original decree. If either partner is widowed,
a death certificate must be provided.
© Carolyn Brown
anguiLLa LiBrary
The Valley
T: 001 264 497 2441 / 5402
appropriate attire
Dress is casual. It is generally advisable to
bring a light sweater or shawl for the evenings.
Please note that neither topless nor nude
sunbathing are allowed on the island.
BanKs
Open Mon-Thurs 8am-3pm, Fri 8am-5pm
national Bank of anguilla
The Valley
T: 001 264 497 2101
caribbean commercial Bank
The Valley
T: 001 264 497 2571
scotia Bank anguilla Ltd
The Valley
T: 001 264 497 3333
First caribbean international Bank
The Valley
T: 001 264 497 2301
casH points / atms
Currently ATMs are conveniently located
throughout the island:
national Bank of anguilla (nBa)
scotia Bank
caribbean commercial Bank (ccB)
romcan grocery
tomac plaza
South Hill
ashley’s supermarket
The Valley
island gases co Ltd
Long Path
clayton J Lloyd airport
Albert Hughes Drive
sydans
Sandy Ground
All accept international bank cards and
issue cash in both EC & US dollars.
currency
Eastern Caribbean Dollar ec
United States Dollar us
Exchange Rate US$1.00 = EC$2.70
There are no foreign exchange restrictions.
Credit cards & travellers cheques are accepted.
DentaL
Dental and Facial aesthetics
T: 001 264 497 1212
the government Dental Health unit
T: 001 264 497 2343
Festivals and events 2014
February
22 - 23 annual Flower and garden show
28 - march 2 anguilla Fashion expo
march
1 st. gerard’s garden party
3 James ronald Webster Day
13 - 16 25th annual moonsplash Festival
april
19 - 20 Festival Del mar, easter saturday
& sunday
21 easter monday Boatrace
may
1 Labour Day
9 - 11 12th annual anguilla yacht regatta
22 - 25 3rd annual anguilla Lit Fest: a
Literary Jollification
24 valley street Festival
25 the underground spoken Word Finale
30 anguilla Day celebrations
DiaLLing coDe
001 264
Driving
Drive on the left. Anguillan licence required.
eLectricity
110 volts AC
emergency services
police 911
ambulance 911
Fire Brigade 911
princess alexandra Hospital
T: 001 264 497 2551 / 2552
Hughes medical centre
T: 001 264 497 3053
Hotel De Health
T: 001 264 497 4166
Language
English is the mother tongue.
popuLation
June
9 Whit monday Welches Fest
16 celebration of the Birthday of Her
majesty, the queen
20 - 22 cuisinart golf resort & spa
anguilla open golf tournament
Approximately 15,000
July
6 John t. memorial cycling race
20 annual miss “tiny tott” pageant
tax
august
4 - 10 anguilla summer Festival
2 south valley community street Fair
4 august monday J’ouvert morning,
emancipation Day caribbean Beach party
(sandy ground)
7 august thursday
8 grand parade of troupes (constitution Day)
november
29 valley street Festival
(as part of tourism Week)
29 anguilla’s optimists race against aids
29 - Dec 5 tourism Week
December
17 - 21 Festival De noel
15 3rd annual Fundraising golf tournament
at the cuisinart golf club resort & spa
19 national Hero’s and Heroines’ Day
25 christmas Day
26 Boxing Day
post oFFice
The Valley
Open Mon-Fri 8am-3.30pm
T: 001 264 497 2528
10% Government
10% Service charge
Departure tax charges apply:
Airport - EC$53.00 or US$20.00 per adult and
EC$26.50 or US$10.00 per child.
Ferry Port - US$ 5.00 for day visitors.
Security Tax US$ 3.00.
Passenger Fee US$ 5.00 - for customers
travelling from Anguilla to St Maarten using the
Anguilla-St Maarten Ferry Terminal.
Please check entry requirements as they can
change without notice.
Further information is available by
visiting the official website of the
anguilla tourist Board:
www.ivisitanguilla.com
e: [email protected]
t: 020 7736 6030
feeling is believing
All details correct at the time of going to print, Jan 2014.