Anguilla: A Tranquil Caribbean Treasure

Hey Loves!

Legal and Abroad™️ is excited to announce our first Travelvella! (It’s like a novella for travel). This new series focuses on brevity and mini trips. These quick getaways are day trips or adventures lasting 24 hours or less. Unlike the longer travel blog posts, these mini-trip blog posts provide higher-level highlights of these short journey experiences. I am excited to add this feature to the blog as every destination does not demand extensive exploration. Sometimes a short and sweet adventure can be just as memorable and exciting.

Anguilla Background

This first Travelvella features the stunning island of Anguilla (pronounced ang·gwi·luh)! This is a perfect day trip destination. Anguilla is an English speaking treasure nestled in the heart of the Lesser Antilles, located north of Saint Martin. At only 16 miles long and a population of around 15,000 people, this island showcases picturesque views of some of the most gorgeous beaches I have experienced in my life. With 33 beaches, there are no shortage of water sports and fun activities to explore. Since I did not fully explore the island, Anguilla has earned a spot on Legal and Abroad™️’s “Travel Spinnablock” list for future adventures. Let’s hop into some Anguilla keys and gems!

Journey to Anguilla

This is probably one of the most random things I have done. When I woke up during my vacation in Sint Maarten, I knew I wanted to do something spontaneous. I decided I was going to take an impromptu adventure and island hop to a neighboring island. Island hopping is a fun experience and gives the opportunity to experience another island while on vacation. After looking through options and determining which would be best based on my schedule, I chose the beautiful island of Anguilla. I had no idea what I wanted to do or if I wanted to do anything at all. After my photoshoot, I reached out to my personal driver and was shortly on my way to start my Anguilla adventure. For a seamless experience, he also set up a trusted driver for me in Anguilla to assist me in making the most of my time on the island. 

Before boarding the ferry to Anguilla, I made a quick pit stop at the Marigot Markets to purchase a hat at the strong recommendation of my personal driver. He emphasized that there is limited shade on the beaches and Anguilla’s sun is scorching. I was hesitant at first then quickly agreed after memories of sunburn from earlier in the week flooded my mind. Well, he was indeed right as the Anguilla sun was super intense and the hat proved to be a  lifesaver! I am so grateful for the advice. 

🔑: Bring a sunhat to Anguilla. Trust me, you will be so grateful to have it. 

Ferry Experience

The journey from Marigot to Anguilla is a quick 20-minute ferry ride. Travelers have two options to reach Anguilla. By air, travelers can take a 7-minute private charter for $65 one-way. Alternatively, by sea, the public ferry operates 8 times a day from Saint Martin, departing every 45 minutes starting as early as 8:30 AM and ends at 6:00 PM. When returning from Anguilla, the last ferry to Saint Martin departs at 5:15 PM. 

For travelers opting by sea, guests can take the ferry from Marigot Marina for $20 one-way for adults and $10 for children ages 2-11. The departure tax is US $28 for adults and children 12 years and older, US $15 for children 5-11 years, and US $3 for children 2-4 years. After my Saba experience, I think I had enough thrilling tiny aircraft adventures for one vacation. Additionally, I wanted to experience the ferry journey. 

Arriving in Anguilla

Once I cleared Customs & Immigration at Blowing Point Ferry Terminal, I was warmly welcomed by my driver, Monty, and started my mini venture.

He greeted me with a friendly smile and laugh, saying, “I received a call from a friend saying a girl woke up and wanted to come to Anguilla. Welcome!” He then said, “I will show you island sights and take you to the most beautiful beach!”

Monty has a thick Caribbean accent adding a delightful and familiar charm to his storytelling. He shared tales about his upbringing, the love of his life and his family, his travels, and his deep love for Anguilla. I quickly noticed that they were driving on the left side of the road in Anguilla. During my sightseeing tour of the island, he took me to quite a few stores to meet some friendly locals and shop. 

Shoal Bay East

After purchasing some souvenirs for my family, he took me to the world famous and gorgeous beach, Shoal Bay East. This beach is absolutely breathtaking. From the white, soft and powdery sands to the crystal-clear turquoise waters, I was in awe. I appreciated coming here because Shoal Bay East perfectly aligned with the overall goal of my vacation- relaxation. Monty dropped me off at Shoal Bay and we agreed on a pick up time. I decided to eat, read, and relax. Positioned on the quieter and secluded end of the beach, I could watch the beautiful waters and enjoy the mesmerizing view.

💎: Tropical Sunset

Of course I had to experience the local cuisine on the island! I discovered Tropical Sunset. This is a beautiful and tucked away gem! Surrounded among shady grape trees, Tropical Sunset provides the perfect atmosphere for a leisurely and laid-back beach day. The food and drinks are phenomenal and I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. Guests have the choice of dining inside the restaurant or opt to enjoy their meal lounging in hammocks or in beach chairs, with the beautiful Caribbean waters serving as a backdrop. 

Tropical Sunset’s menu showcases a variety of island favorites including delectable seafood dishes. Additionally, diners can savor burgers, ribs, and chicken dishes. After a few recommendations, I settled on the cracked conch, a dish I never tried before. This addictive delicacy had my taste buds screaming with joy. Super duper good!

Shack, the talented bartender, concocted my drinks and they were amazing, bursting with Caribbean flavor!

He gave me permission to post him on my blog. I told him I would tell people to come to Tropical Sunset. Please go y’all! You will not regret it! Tropical Sunset’s prices are reasonable and fair, and the staff’s service is excellent and attentive. 

I spent the rest of the afternoon basking in the sun and reading a good book. I even took a nap! The next thing I knew, my phone rang, waking me out of my sleep. My driver was back and it was time to make the journey back to Saint Martin. If you are ever in Anguilla, please consider using Monsel’s Taxi and Tours.

The Journey Back

Time flew by! I will admit that I almost got stranded y’all because I was cutting it close on this ferry! I arrived at the docks in just enough time to not miss the ferry (and that included running like Forrest Gump). 

Getting through customs is a breeze in Anguilla and I am grateful that was not a hold up, or I may be telling a different story right now. The ferry left at 5:15 and I was the LAST person running down that boardwalk at 5:14. This is all behind me having the audacity to take a bathroom break knowing I was running late! The lady behind me in the departure line told me she wondered where I had gone, fearing I would miss the ferry. After I confessed it was due to a bathroom break, we both shared a good laugh and thanking God I made it on time.  

Note to self: Schedule bathroom breaks sooner.

🔑: Do not be like me and take unnecessary risks. I knew the risk and betted on myself still making the boat. It is safe to say divine intervention played a role in this with me miraculously making that ferry on time. God was definitely Goddin’ and made sure I did not miss that ferry! 

I made it back to Saint Martin safely.

My experience in Anguilla was tranquil and soothing. For the little time that I was there, I fully relished every moment on the island. Anguilla is a destination I will return to explore more extensively and enjoy a relaxing and low-key vacation experience. 

Sint Maarten/Saint Martin Wrap-Up

I thoroughly enjoyed my time on the island. Sint Maarten and Saint Martin offered me two totally different and unforgettable experiences that I appreciate. I was able to explore additional neighboring countries (Saba and Anguilla) on this vacation. Next time, St. Barts is a destination I am eager to add to my travel list since I did not have the time to fit it in on this trip. I am so grateful for the laughs, the good food, the precious travel adventure memories, and the beautiful people I met on the islands. I am truly blessed, and am so grateful to God throughout all of this.

Next Up!

To fully close out our Caribbean series, Legal and Abroad™️ is going into the travel vault. Our next blog will throw it back to my very first solo trip from last year! Now as a heads up, I was a novice solo traveler back then. Asking strangers for a picture made me nervous and I was a little reserved about taking pictures with my phone stand in public.

Keep that in mind when looking at the photos. Rest assured, things have drastically changed since then. Now, I do not care and have no reservations whatsoever asking a stranger to take a picture of me. I will happily ask strangers to take a picture and guess what, they always say yes! Sometimes, I get really lucky, and a stranger will give photography pointers and take my pictures from different angles! You will never know unless you ask! Stay tuned for the next blog dropping later this week!

Until our next adventure abroad,

Stay Grateful, Love Deep, Dream BIG, and Happy Travels!