When is the best weather in Anguilla?
The average temperature is around 80 F, and average humidity is just over 70%. The trade winds provide constant breezes. Average rainfall is about 35 inches. Frequently the tropical rains will just last a few minutes as a single cloud goes by. Anguilla’s eastern breeze keeps the island cool and dry. The average monthly temperature is 80 degrees F. and the annual rainfall is 35 inches. Anguilla is unique among the Caribbean islands in that it is blessed with more sunshine than any of its neighboring islands. This fact is most likely attributable to not only its geographic location but also to its physical layout and configuration. Thus, it is improtant that visitors to Anguilla be prepared with plenty of sunscreen and sunglasses that protect from harmful U.V. rays.

Do I need a passport to visit Anguilla?
A passport is preferred, however, U.S. and Canadian citizens may travel with an original birth certificate with a raised seal and official photo identification. Visitors are required to have a return or onward ticket. Green card holders must have a valid green card and valid passport from their country of origin.

Is the water safe to drink?
Bottled water is popular for drinking. Nearly all buildings on the island are built to collect rainwater from the roof. This water is stored in large cisterns and used for household purposes. Until recently, all water in Anguilla was collected in these rooftop cisterns, but today a desalinization plant is being constructed that will supply the entire island with fresh water.

Do I need electrical adapters for my hairdryer/radio etc?
The electricity is 110-volt AC (60 cycles), so no transformers or adapters are necessary to use U.S. appliances.

Should I exchange my money for local currency?
EC$ is the official currency on Anguilla, US$ is accepted everywhere. The exchange rate is fixed at $2.70 EC to $1.00 US. There is no restriction on foreign exchange. Money in any currency is freely transferable in and out of Anguilla. The government levies a 2% tax on the exchange of EC$ to US$. There are many ATMs and banks within the island to get and exchange cash.

Are there any airport fees?
Visitors can fly directly into Anguilla’s Wallblake Airport from Puerto Rico via American. Ferry crossings are $12 each way, plus $3 departure tax.

What is the legal drinking/gambling age?
The legal drinking age is 16. There are no casinos in Anguilla.

Can I get married in Anguilla?
Getting married on Anguilla requires a special license that takes approximately two working days to process. Couples must present proof of citizenship such as passport or original birth certificate accompanied by a photo ID. Additionally, please note that two witnesses are required for weddings on Anguilla. Catholics must, also, submit Confirmation papers, Baptismal certificate, Freedom to Marry papers, Pre-Cana course and provide at least 3-6 months advance notice. It is recommended that couples arrive on Anguilla several days before the intended ceremony date to arrange the paperwork.

Documents required to apply for a marriage license are the same as the documents needed for entry to Anguilla. These documents include: proof of citizenship such as a valid passport or birth certificate and driver’s license with photo. In the event that one or both of the “intended” are re-marrying, proof of divorce or death certificate is required for Anguilla.

If one partner resides in Anguilla for at least fifteen days before the date of marriage, the cost of the license is US$40. If the stay is shorter, then the cost of the license is $284 stamp duty. Two witnesses are required.

For couples interested in marrying on Anguilla, they should contact the Minister and the Magistrate at 264.497.2377 and 264.497.3477.

Can I bring my pet to Anguilla?
Only certain pets are allowed entry into Anguilla. At least six months prior to your visit contact the Agricultural Department at (264) 497-2615 or e-mail

What about fishing?
Anguilla’s most famous beach bar, Johnno’s Beach Stop, consistently wins awards as the best in the Caribbean. Albacore, wahoo, marlin, barracuda, and kingfish are among the fish angled after off Anguilla’s shores. You can strike up a conversation with almost any fisherman you see on the beach, and chances are, you’ll be a welcome addition on his next excursion. The boat goes out for 6 hours from 6AM to 12 and costs $350US. You don’t need to bring anything (except your camera) as all fishing gear and food is provided. For more information, call 264-497-2728.

Malliouhana, Meads Bay (tel. 264/497-6111), has a 10m (33-ft.) fishing cruiser, Kyra, which holds up to eight passengers, and another 12-passenger cruiser, Dakota. You can charter it for fishing parties for US$400 for up to 4 hours, with a US$100 surcharge for each additional hour. All fishing gear is included, and they can pack a boxed lunch for an additional charge.

Can I use a metal detector on the beaches?
Visitors are not allowed to use a metal detector on the beach of Anguilla without a permit.

Where are the “clothing optional” beaches?
There are no clothing-optional beaches on Anguilla. In fact, topless bathing is also illegal. All beaches in Anguilla are public

What is there to see or do in Anguilla?
A restaurant-cum-beach bar, Palm Grove Bar & Grill, Junk’s Hole Bay (tel. 264/497-4224), offers a long stretch of uncrowded white sand and offshore reefs full of eels, squid, and manta rays. Nat Richardson, the owner, is waiting to boil or grill fresh-caught lobster, crayfish, or shrimp for you. Bon Appetit liked his johnnycakes so much it stole the recipe and published it. Hours are usually 11am to around 6:30pm daily, but can vary greatly depending on when the owner feels like getting there, and whenever clients decide to show up.

Pumphouse Bar & Grill, Sandy Ground (tel. 264/497-5154), is the island’s latest hot spot, boasting 30 different rums. The food is good, too, served in a funky dining room with an uneven concrete slab floor that was originally designed as a repair station for heavy trucks. Standard but satisfying menu items include platters of fish or chicken, steaks, and a Caesar salad with slices of jerk chicken. Go any time from 5pm to 2am, except Sunday, when it’s closed. Reggae lovers should show up on Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday nights; Thursday nights are often devoted to merengue.

On Anguilla itself, the most fun shopping is at World Art & Antiques Gallery, Old Factory Plaza, The Valley (tel. 264/497-5950), where Nik and Christie Douglas have assembled a fascinating array of collectibles from around the world. Treasures include Chinese bronzes and jades, exotic jewelry, tribal and pre-Columbian sculptures and masks, and antiques and paintings.

Anguilla is a great place, can I move there?
Americans living or traveling in Anguilla are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Anguilla.

The Consular Section is located in the American Life Insurance Company (ALICO) Building, Cheapside, telephone 1-246-431-0225 or fax 1-246-431-0179, web site http://www.usembassy.state.gov/posts/bb1/wwwhcons.html . Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 1-2 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Barbados and U.S. holidays.

Assistance may also be provided by the U.S. Consular Agency in Antigua, located at Bluff House, Pigeon Point, English Harbor, telephone 1-268-463-6531. The Consular Agency in Antigua is currently closed but is expected to reopen by the end of 2004

What about island hopping?
The night ferry departs Anguilla 9.20pm and returns from St Martin at 10pm. The earliest ferry from Anguilla leaves at 7.30am. Day fares are currently US$10 one-way and night fares $25. Blowing Point Ferryport, t 497 6070.

A day trips are also available to St Barths once a week. A ferry service operates on Tuesdays, leaving Anguilla at 9.15am and returning at 5pm. Fares are approximately US$65. Deluxe Ferry, t 497 6289/4754.

Can I access the Internet from Anguilla?
Some villas offer an internet connection. Check the list of amenities for each villa. If your villa does not offer a connection there are still a few options to get you connected. Internet For Visitors is a service from Cable & Wireless which runs over any phone that permits toll calls (check the telephone book for details).

Charges are on a per minute basis and are added to the villa’s normal monthly bill. These will be charged back to you if arrangements for payment have been made. Please consult with the villa’s agent for deposit and/or credit card requirements for this service. The library in The Valley offers the use of computers connected to the internet for a nominal fee.

Internet Cafes:

Internet Cafe Voyage: The Valley
Hours Mon.-Sat.: 9 AM-6 PM
Phone: 264.498.5551

The Pumphouse
#70 Sandy Ground
Tel: (264) 497-5154

Can I use my cellular telephone in Anguilla?
GSM 850 and 1900 networks. Network operators include Cable & Wireless and Wireless Ventures. Unregistered roaming is available – visitors with TDMA handsets can make calls without registering, provided they can give a credit card number. ISPs include Cable & Wireless (website: www.cwwionline.com). Cable & Wireless (Wallblake Rd., Anguilla. PHONE: 264/497-3100).

What is the Dress code in Anguilla?
The dress code is informal by day and casually elegant by night. Swimsuits are not allowed in public areas and nude or topless swimming or sunbathing is strictly prohibited.

Do you need a driving License?
Anguilla driving is on the left. To rent a car on the island, a valid driver’s license from the resident country is needed to obtain a local driver’s license. Local driver’s licenses are available at car rental agencies and cost $20. Rental cars are readily available; however reservations for ‘in season’ car rentals and children’s car seats should be made in advance.

Emergencies Contact Information?
Police– You can reach the police at their headquarters in The Valley (tel. 264/497-2333) or the substation at Sandy Ground (tel. 264/497-2354). In an emergency, dial tel. 911.

Hospitals– For medical services, consult the Princess Alexandra Hospital, Stoney Ground (tel. 264/497-2551), or one of several district clinics. Emergency room and ambulance operate 24 hours a day.

Pharmacies:

Government Pharmacy
(Princess Alexandria Hospital, The Valley,
Anguilla. PHONE: 264/497-2551).

Paramount Pharmacy
(Water Swamp, Anguilla. PHONE: 264/497-2366).

What are the entry requirements in Anguilla?
A passport is preferred, however, Americans and Canadians can also use an original birth certificate with raised seal and official photo identification. British nationals require a full British passport with at least six months validity remaining on it.

All visitors must also have an onward or return ticket. Nationals of other countries may require visas or Direct Airside Transit Visas (DATVs). Consult your nearest Anguilla consulate or embassy.

What is the lanquage in Anguilla?
English is the official and commercial language.

What are the store hours in Anguilla?
Most shops are open from 10 to 5 on weekdays only. Most commercial establishments are closed Saturday and Sunday, although some small groceries open for a few hours on Sunday afternoon, but call first, or adopt the island way of doing things: if it’s not open when you stop by, try again.

Beach Stuff has reopened in South Hill in a cute West Indian building. They sell the cool comfortable clothes that you need on vacation in Anguilla, plus snorkels, bathing suits and tourist stuff. Look for their sign on the main road in South Hill. You turn north on a side road toward “Back Road”. Roads in Anguilla don’t usually have official names or signs, but everyone calls the cliff road overlooking Sandy Ground. Telephone: 264-497-6526.

Merchants Market. They are a food wholesaler that caters to restaurants, but also sells to the public. You can buy meat and vegetables and fruits and large jars of mayonaise at reasonable prices. Stop in and talk to Roland Webster the manager. Telephone: 264-497-5533. Fax 5530.

What about tipping?
A 10%-15% service charge is usually included in your bill. You may still tip if you wish.

Can you use credit cards?
American Express and Visa are widely used. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. There are modern banking facilities, including five ATM machines. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travelers are advised to take travelers cheques in US Dollars.

Is there a best time to visit the island?
The seasons usually are around these time periods: ? December 15-April 15 High Season (book well in advance) ? April 16-December 14 Low Season (Rates are less and weather is still great) ? (Note: Hurricane season runs from July through November. Some resorts and villas close during September and October)

Is there an airport?
Wallblake Airport, centrally located within convenient distances of the island’s resort areas, is the only Anguilla airport and is a hub through which travelers can connect with much of the Caribbean. With the exception of American Airlines’ affiliate American Eagle, no major North American carriers fly into the Anguilla airport. The Anguilla airport is easily reached, however, on inter-Caribbean airlines that do connect with both North American and European cities.

From the US Virgin Islands, the Anguilla airport can be reached daily on Windward Islands Airways, LIAT, Air Anguilla, and Tyden Air. St. Maarten/St. Martin, St. Kitts and Nevis, and the British Virgin Islands (through Tortola) also link with the Anguilla Airport several times daily. Wallblake Airport Tel: 264-497-2719

What about Taxes?
Boat departure tax is $3. Hotels charge a 10% accommodations tax. Expect it to be added to your bill. Hotels also add 10-15% service charge to your bill. Restaurants usually add a service charge to the bill. If not, standard tipping rates of 15-20% apply.

What about Banks?
Banks are open Monday to Thursday from 8am to 3pm, Friday from 8am to 5pm. Warning: Do not count on ATMs to work. The most reliable is Scotiabank, The Valley, Fairplay Commercial Complex (tel. 264/497-3333).

What about Crime?
While Anguilla ’s crime rate is relatively low, both petty and violent crimes have been known to occur. Travelers should take common-sense precautions to ensure their personal security, such as avoiding carrying large amounts of cash or displaying expensive jewelry. Travelers should not leave valuables unattended in hotel rooms or on the beach. They should use hotel safety deposit facilities to safeguard valuables and travel documents.

Calling to and from Anguilla?
To call Anguilla from the United States, dial 1 plus the area code 264, then the local seven-digit number. From the United Kingdom dial 001 and then the area code and the number. From Australia and New Zealand dial 0011, then 1, then the area code and the number.