As one of countries starting with A, Anguilla is a small island in the Caribean Sea. It is one of fourteen territories under the sovereignty of the United Kingdom. In the past, these areas were known as crown colonies. The island is part of the Lesser Antilles. The island has been inhabited since about the thirteenth century BC. The oldest remains of habitation on the island date from the sixth century AD. The first Europeans arrived here in the 16th century AD. According to some sources, it was the explorer Christopher Columbus who first discovered the country. However, the evidence for this is lacking. It is certain, however, that the Frenchman Pierre Laudonnaire visited the island in the sixteenth century. It was the Dutch who first built a colony on the island in the seventeenth century. A few years later, this colony was conquered by the Spaniards. Only later did the island come into ownership of the British, who have had power on the island since then, with an interval of one year when the French came to power. Under British rule, plantations were built on the island. Anguilla was given a form of self-government in 1967 and since 1980 it has been fully self-governing, but the head of state of the United Kingdom is still the formal head of state. Anguilla is the ideal sun, sea and beach holiday destination. The beaches are beautifully white and the sea here is brilliantly blue. From the Netherlands you can travel to the island quite easily by first flying to Princess Juliana International Airport on Sint Maarten and from there by flying or taking a boat to Anguilla.
Once you have arrived in Anguilla, you can enjoy wonderful beaches and very comfortable hotels. There is no mass tourism here at all. You almost feel like a VIP here who can spend a holiday in peace on a great island. The hotels on Anguilla are mainly located on the snow-white beaches. A dip in the azure blue sea is therefore within walking distance for almost all tourists.
Sights
Anguilla’s beaches and the beautiful sea surrounding the island are the country’s most popular tourist attractions. Most tourists who come to the island are here to enjoy the beautiful white beaches and beautiful underwater world. Especially the coral reef in front of the island is very popular with divers, as are some of the smaller islands that belong to Anquilla. The town of Sandy Grounds is known as the nightlife area of the island. This village is where most of the island’s bars and restaurants can be found. The capital, The Valley, is often referred to as the Old Valley by the inhabitants of the island. In this place you will find the main church of the island and the Rose Cottage. The museum has one museum, the Heritage Museum, where the history of Anguilla is told. in the eastern part of the island is the small fishing village of Island Harbour. The beautifully painted fishing fleet of the village is a favorite photograph. The most popular places to stay on Anguilla are Meads Bay, The Valley, Rendezvous Bay and West End Village.
Climate
Anguilla has a tropical monsoon climate that is strongly influenced by the Caribbean Sea and the trade winds. The average daytime temperature here is around thirty degrees Celsius throughout the year. In the evening and night it will cool about a like or five. Due to the trade wind that blows over the island all year round, it will never get uncomfortably hot on the island. On an annual basis, more than a thousand millimeters of precipitation falls per year. This in combination with the high temperatures ensures a high average humidity on Anguilla. On average, the most precipitation falls here in the second half of the year. Despite the fact that it rains half the days in Anguilla, the rain rarely causes problems here. The showers are heavy but short and will soon be blown away by the south-east trade winds. Tropical storms and hurricanes can occur in Anguilla from June through December. Usually these skip the island, but sometimes a hurricane or tropical storm can have devastating effects here.
Geography
Anguilla is located in the northeastern part of the Caribbean Sea. The country belongs to the Lesser Antilles. North of the island is the French part of the island of Sint Maarten. These two islands are separated from each other by the Anguilla Channel. Anguilla has several small islands, the most famous of which are Anguillita, Dog Island, Prickly Pear Cays, Sandy Island, Scrub Island, Seal Island and Sombrero. Apart from a few tourist settlements, these are completely inhabited. The island of Sombrero, which is furthest from the main island, was completely mined in the nineteenth century for the phosphorus that could be found on the island. The highest point of Anguilla is Crocus Hill which rises sixty-five meters above the Caribbean Sea. The interior of Anguilla consists mainly of rainforest and light forest. The capital, The Valley, is the island’s largest town, although it is home to just under two thousand people. In total, no less than fourteen thousand people live on the island.
Travel advice
There are no special travel advices for a trip to Anguilla. There is no Dutch Embassy on the island. There is a Dutch Embassy in the city of Port of Spain on Trinidad and Tobago. There is no serious crime on the island. Pickpockets and pickpockets can occur in the tourist areas and in the larger towns of the country. Tropical storms and hurricanes can occur in the Anguilla area from June through November. The hurricane threat is greatest in August, September and October. There are no compulsory vaccinations for a trip to Anguilla unless you come from a country where there is yellow fever. However, a DTP vaccination is recommended.
Travel documents
For a trip to Anguilla you must be in possession of a passport that is valid for at least six months on the day of departure from the country. This applies to all travelers, including children under the age of twelve. If you want to stay in the country for more than 90 days, you must apply for a visa at the embassy of the country. You can arrange this in the Netherlands at the embassy of the United Kingdom in The Hague.
Info table
| Capital city | The Valley |
| Phone (country code) | 1264 |
| Internet domain | .ai |
| Language(s) (official) | English |
| Language(s) (colloquial) | English and Anguillian Creole |
| Religion(s) | Christianity |
| Time zone(s) | UTC-4 |
| Time difference summer | On Anguilla it is 5 hours earlier than in the Netherlands |
| Time difference winter | On Anguilla it is 6 hours earlier than in the Netherlands |
| Daylight Saving Time Control | no |
| Currencies | East Caribbean Dollar |
