While the Caribbean is slowly being devoured one celebrity hotspot at a time, Anguilla remains refreshingly unscathed by consumerism. Norman Peires, entrepreneur and avid traveller, recently visited Anguilla and fell in love with everything the island had to offer.
Residing in the east of the Caribbean, Anguilla is just 16 miles long and at its widest point measures only three miles across. Boasting some of the most beautiful deep blue waters and breathtaking golden beaches, Anguilla still remains largely uninhabited and makes for the perfect retreat from civilisation. Removed from the dazzling lights and thumping bass of nightclubs, this tiny island lies slightly off the beaten track and, consequently, has held onto its authentic Caribbean culture and honest local vibe.
The relaxed pace of the island will leave you feeling de-stressed from the moment the fine white sand touches your toes. The casual and easy attitude of the locals permeates through the culture of the island.
Peires tells us that the locals have “the nicest, most welcoming attitude towards tourists”. There is a real sense of community in Anguilla; the friendly locals won’t let you pass them without introducing themselves and some are sure to know your name by the time you leave.
Anguilla is a British overseas territory which makes it easy for English-speaking tourists to really get involved in the culture of this unique pocket of paradise. For this reason, and many others, Peires cannot speak highly enough of the island and he tells us: “All Brits need to go to Anguilla!”
After you’ve recovered from the raw beauty of Anguilla, you’ll want to explore. One thing that Peires noticed when he visited the island is just how few tourists there were. He tells us that “while everyone is on top of each other in resorts in Europe, Anguilla is empty. It’s divine”.
To take advantage of the deserted beaches you could go horse riding along the sands or take a hike up to Crocus Hill, the highest point of the island, to watch the sunset. After a hard day of living the celebrity lifestyle, Sandy Bay is a small village that you will certainly want to visit. Quiet by day but anything but by night, Sandy Bay is the place to be in the evening for some lively conversation, a dance in the sand, and a taste of some authentic Anguillan food. Anguilla is great place to get stuck into some freshly caught fish and some delicious freshly picked fruit.
Shoal Bay has been frequently referred to as the world’s most beautiful beach and is an area of the island that the locals are unsurprisingly proud of. This is one of the best places to go snorkelling on the island and is also where food shack Elodia’s can be found for some delicious Caribbean food in its simplest form.
If you get the opportunity to visit Anguilla then Norman Peires strongly recommends that you do. Having fallen head over heels for the Caribbean island, Peires tells us: “Anguilla is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.”
