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Tucked away in the northern Caribbean lies a small wonder.. Anguilla!
Peace, pampering, fine dining and beaches are among the star attractions on Anguilla. If you are a beach lover, you may be thrilled when you first spot this island from the air; its blinding white sand and glistening blue-and-aquamarine waters are exhilarating sights.
| Here, you will find a small, secluded, serene and exclusive island with hardly any high rise building. Instead, you will only get low rise but posh inns. If you fancy shopping and late-night action, you won’t find much to do here. There are no dazzling casinos, glitzy nightclubs or duty free shops filled with tempting buys. However, if you like sophisticated cuisine served in beautiful open-air settings, Anguilla will be your culinary heaven. In spite of its small size, Anguilla has almost 70 restaurants. These restaurants serve cuisines from the latest culinary trends in atmospheres that vary from casual to chic to simple and barefoot friendly beachfront shacks. |
The northernmost of the British Leeward Islands, lying between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, and 8 km (5 miles) north of St. Maarten, Anguilla stretches about 26 km (16 miles) from northeast to southwest, is 5 km (3 miles) across at its widest point and with 91 square km (35 square miles) in land area. The highest point is 213 feet above sea level and its interior offers no waterfalls, rivers, or lush tropical foliage. Its scant rainfall makes for unproductive soil that supports mainly low foliage and sparse scrub vegetation. However, its white-sand beaches are among the finest in Caribbean with more than 30 of them along the coastline and shaded by sea-grape trees. The island’s name, a reflection of its shape, is most likely derived from anguille, which means “eel‿ in French.
In 1631, the Dutch built a fort here, but its site has never been located till today. English settlers from St Kitts colonized the island in 1650, and except for a short period of independence, when it broke from its association with St Kitts & Nevis in the 1960s, Anguilla has remained a British colony ever since.
From the early 18th century, various island federations were formed and disbanded, with Anguilla all the while unhappy over its subordinate status and forced union with St. Kitts. Twice, Anguillians petitioned for direct governance from Britain and twice, it was ignored. In 1967, when St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla became an associated state, the mouse roared. Anguilla’s citizens kicked out the St. Kitts policemen, held a self-rule referendum and for two years conducted their own affairs. A British “peacekeeping force‿ parachuted onto the Anguilla, squashing the island’s designs for autonomy. In 1996, London issued a policy statement that locals viewed as a move to push them toward independence. Many Auguillians believe that Britain has now reduced its global ambitions and wants to relinquish colonies that have become too costly to maintain. Many islanders fear going it alone as a nation. They know, however, that to retain British’s protection, they would have to abide by British laws - including its liberal position on gay rights.
| The territory of Anguilla includes a few islets, such as Scrub Island, Dog Island, Prickly Pear Cays, and Sombero Island. It has a population of approximately 10,000 residents, most of African descent. However, there are also many with Irish background, whose ancestors came over from St. Kitts in the 1600s. Historically, because limestone Anguilla was not suitable for agriculture, attempts at enslavement never lasted long and as a result, Anguillians never bear the scar of slavery, unlike its other Caribbean counterparts. Most became adept at making a living from the sea and are famous for their boatbuilding and fishing skills. |
With the opening of some luxury and super-expensive hotels in the 1990s, Anguilla has become one of Caribbean’s most chic vacation destinations, rivaling even the famous St. Barts. In recent years, more moderately priced hotels have also sprung up. With the exception of a few large-scale hotels, operations in Anguilla are mostly small, intimate, informal and casino-free. Due to the careful expansion plan of the government to protect the island’s natural resources and beauty, Anguilla has been able to retain its serene, natural and beautiful environment.