Honeymoon Guide
Anguilla
The Caribbean's most exclusive 33 beaches — no cruise ships, no high-rises, just honeymoon luxury at its quietest.
Why Here for Your Honeymoon
Anguilla (pronounced "an-GWIL-a") is the Caribbean's most exclusive ultra-luxury honeymoon destination — a 16-mile flat coral island with 33 white-sand beaches, calm reef-protected turquoise water, no cruise-ship port, no high-rise development, and one of the densest concentrations of ultra-luxury inventory anywhere in the region: Belmond Cap Juluca, Four Seasons, Aurora, Quintessence, Zemi Beach House, and Malliouhana. The island has a per-capita restaurant scene that rivals St Barts but at a quieter, more low-key Anguillan tempo. There is no nightlife to speak of beyond Bankie Banx's Dune Preserve. The flight access is via Sint Maarten (SXM) plus a 25-minute ferry or short charter — the friction is what keeps the island so quiet, and so worth the trip.
At a Glance
Is This Right for You?
Anguilla for Honeymooners
Perfect for you if…
- 1Returning honeymooners who have done the Maldives and want the Caribbean's quietest ultra-luxury
- 2Beach perfection seekers — Anguilla genuinely has the best beaches in the Caribbean
- 3Foodies — Anguilla's per-capita restaurant scene rivals St Barts (Veya, Hibernia, Blanchards)
- 4No-cruise-ship purists who want a Caribbean island the day-trip economy has not touched
- 5Ultra-luxury hideaway lovers and sailors comfortable with a quieter pace and fewer activities
Skip it if…
- 1You want lively nightlife, beach clubs, or a social scene — Anguilla is genuinely quiet
- 2Adventure tourism (volcano hikes, jungle, surfing) is part of your honeymoon vision
- 3Budget under $600/night — there is no genuine mid-range here
- 4Cultural sightseeing, museums, or rich historic context is a priority
- 5Family-friendly broad appeal — Anguilla skews adult and quiet across the board
What to Do
Top 5 Romantic Experiences in Anguilla
Shoal Bay East Beach Day
Two miles of powder white sand on the northeast coast with the island's best snorkeling reef directly offshore. Sea turtles, tropical fish, and a healthy patch reef in 3-5m of water — the most underrated free snorkel beach in the Caribbean.
Go before 11am for clearest water, beat the day-trippers from cruise stops at SXM. Uncle Ernie's BBQ ribs are a 30-year island institution.
Sandy Island Day Trip
Tiny offshore sandbar 15 minutes by boat from Sandy Ground with a single beach-shack restaurant. You eat grilled lobster on a wooden table on a strip of sand surrounded by 360-degree turquoise — the photograph that defines Anguilla.
Boats run continuously 10am-4pm from Sandy Ground; book the lobster lunch ahead by phone. Sandy Island closes for hurricane season Sep-Oct.
Prickly Pear Catamaran Day
Full-day catamaran charter to Prickly Pear Cays — two uninhabited offshore islands an hour northeast with the clearest snorkeling reef on Anguilla. Grilled lobster lunch on the beach, rum punches en route, calm water.
Johnno's and Calypso operate the main charters from Sandy Ground; book the smaller boats not the party catamarans for honeymoon privacy.
Veya or Hibernia Tasting Menu
Veya in Sandy Ground (chef Carrie Bogar, Caribbean tasting menu, candlelit upstairs gallery) and Hibernia in Island Harbour (chef Raoul Rodriguez, Asian-Caribbean fusion in his garden) are consistently the top-rated Anguilla restaurants — and rival anywhere in the Caribbean.
Both close Monday/Tuesday in low season — book reservations 2 weeks ahead. Hibernia is BYO or buy from their selection; Veya has a deep wine list.
Sunset at Sunshine Shack on Rendezvous Bay
Garvey's Sunshine Shack on Rendezvous Bay is the legendary reggae-rum-and-ribs sunset shack — a beach shack with plastic chairs, BBQ ribs, rum punches, and a sound system that cranks up around 5pm. Everyone on Anguilla goes here for sunset eventually.
Sunday afternoon has live reggae from Bankie Banx at the adjacent Dune Preserve — the only night Anguilla has anything resembling nightlife.
When to Go
Anguilla Month by Month
What You'll Pay
Budget Guide for Anguilla
Beachfront suite or junior pool suite at a 5-star property — direct beach access, no private villa pool but full ultra-luxury service.
Standard category at the Anguilla flagships with private plunge pool and direct beach access, full butler-style service.
Beachfront villa suites or signature accommodations at the apex Anguilla properties — private pool, butler, the largest villa categories.
Where to Stay
Areas of Anguilla for Honeymooners
Maundays Bay (West)
Iconic crescent beach, Cap Juluca's homeThe 1.6-mile southwest crescent that defines Anguilla photography — powder sand, calm reef-protected turquoise, no other resort sharing the bay. Belmond Cap Juluca occupies the entire beach with moorish-arched white villas spaced wide along the curve.
Meads Bay (Central)
Luxury resort cluster, walkable beach sceneThe mile-long central beach with the densest luxury hotel cluster — Malliouhana on the bluff at one end, Carimar mid-beach, Four Seasons at the western edge. Blanchards Beach Shack is the legendary casual restaurant on the sand.
Shoal Bay East (Northeast)
Best snorkel beach, public-friendlyTwo miles of powder sand on the northeast coast with the island's best snorkeling reef directly offshore. Public beach with classic Anguilla beach shacks (Uncle Ernie's, Gwen's) and Zemi Beach House at the western end.
Rendezvous Bay (South)
Long quiet beach, sunset shack sceneTwo-mile sweep on the south coast — Aurora Anguilla occupies the eastern end, Bankie Banx's Dune Preserve and Sunshine Shack anchor the western end with the island's only consistent live music. Quieter than Meads Bay.
All Hotels
Honeymoon Hotels in Anguilla
6 properties · sorted by Honeymoon Score
Belmond Cap Juluca
anguilla, anguilla
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla
anguilla, anguilla
Quintessence Hotel
anguilla, anguilla
Malliouhana, Auberge Resorts Collection
anguilla, anguilla
Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club
anguilla, anguilla
Zemi Beach House
anguilla, anguilla
Map
Hotels in Anguilla
Compare
Top 3 Hotels Side by Side
| Hotel | Score | Price/night | Adults-Only | Spa | Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Belmond Cap JulucaTop Pick | 94 | $1,200+ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla | 92 | $1,200+ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
| Quintessence Hotel | 91 | $900+ | — | ✓ | ✓ |
Expert Advice
Insider Tips for Your Anguilla Honeymoon
Book SXM-Anguilla via Calypso Charters not the public ferry
The 25-minute public ferry from Marigot is fine but adds 90+ minutes door-to-door (taxi to Marigot, ferry, taxi from Blowing Point). Calypso Charters and Tradewind run 7-minute private charter flights direct from SXM airport for $300-700/couple — saves 90 minutes each way and the flight is the iconic Anguilla arrival.
Make restaurant reservations 2 weeks before arrival
Anguilla's top tables (Veya, Hibernia, Blanchards, Leon's, Cip's) book up entirely in peak season. Email or call directly 2 weeks ahead — no online booking systems exist for most. The hotel concierge can help but earlier is better than checking in.
Many restaurants close Monday and/or Tuesday in low season
May-June and November-December low-season weeks see most non-resort restaurants close 1-2 days a week. Veya, Hibernia, Tasty's, Picante all rotate — confirm by phone 1-2 days before. Resort restaurants stay open year-round.
Rent a 4WD half-day for the beach circuit
Anguilla is small enough that a half-day rental ($60-80) lets you drive the full beach circuit — Maundays, Cove, Rendezvous, Shoal Bay East, Meads — and pick your favourite. Roads are good but unmarked; offline Google Maps is essential.
Tip in USD cash — XCD is the official currency but USD is universal
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD) is the official Anguilla currency at a fixed 2.7 to 1 USD, but every restaurant, taxi, and resort accepts USD at par. Bring USD cash for tipping — staff prefer it. ATMs dispense XCD which is awkward to spend off-island.
What to Pack
Packing List for Anguilla
Food & Drink
What You'll Eat in Anguilla
Rock crab back (the spicy stuffed crab back is the classic Anguillan starter), grilled mahi or wahoo (the line-caught daily catch), johnnycakes (small fried-bread rounds with butter), BBQ ribs (Sunshine Shack on Rendezvous Bay is the temple), Anguillan crayfish (the local lobster equivalent), and Pyrat rum (Patrick Mendes' premium rum brand was conceived on Anguilla — a generation of Anguillans drink it neat). The high end is at Veya, Hibernia, Blanchards, Cip's; the casual side at Sunshine Shack, Uncle Ernie's BBQ, Gwen's Reggae Grill, Tasty's.
Practical Guide
Getting to Anguilla
Getting There
All international flights connect via Sint Maarten (SXM) — direct from US East Coast (5 hours from JFK/MIA), London Heathrow (8 hours), Paris CDG (9 hours). From SXM choose between a 25-minute public ferry from Marigot ($25/person, plus $20 taxi each side, runs 7am-7pm) or a 7-minute private charter flight to Anguilla's Clayton Lloyd International (AXA) via Tradewind, Anguilla Air Services, or Calypso Charters ($300-700 per couple). Most ultra-luxury resorts arrange the charter directly. The flight is the iconic Anguilla arrival — low over the lagoon, lands on the small AXA strip.
Where to Stay
For first-time honeymooners the canonical Anguilla itinerary is 7 nights at one property — the friction of getting between Maundays/Meads/Shoal Bay East cluster and the small island scale means switching hotels mid-trip is unnecessary. Choose by beach: Maundays (Cap Juluca), Meads (Four Seasons, Malliouhana), Long Bay (Quintessence), Shoal Bay East (Zemi), Rendezvous (Aurora). All within 25-minute drives. Day-trip elsewhere; sleep in one place.
When to Go
December through April is peak dry season — sunny, breezy, calm seas, ideal weather. March and April have the most stable conditions. May and June are excellent shoulder months with warm water, lower rates, and quieter beaches. November is the re-opening month after hurricane season with good value. Avoid July-October completely (peak hurricane risk, many restaurants and Cap Juluca close in September).
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