Five Reasons to Start Planning Your Anguilla Getaway

Anguilla Getaway

The stunning, secluded island of Anguilla remains a destination of choice for Canadians seeking a winter getaway that is truly a getaway. Anguilla’s renowned accommodations ranging from five-star to charming Airbnb properties, world-class beaches, delicious cuisine, and trademark hospitality ensure the destination remains top-of-mind for travellers seeking the complete Caribbean experience. With a robust offering of both aquatic excursions and spa treatments, the list of reasons to visit Anguilla is long indeed…and is only set to grow longer.

2023 is shaping up to be a marvelous year for the destination, which has been buoyed by exciting property developments, revamped experiences, and greater accessibility. Here are five reasons why an Anguilla vacation will be especially attractive in 2023 – as if you needed more reasons to go!

1. It’s easier to get there than ever before

Shoal Bay Beach
Photo: Anguilla Tourist Board

Perhaps contributing to Anguilla’s reputation as a “hidden gem” with a mystique of exclusivity, the island is generally accessed via the Blowing Point Ferry Terminal, which bridges the short gap between the quiet destination and neighbouring St. Maarten/St. Martin. In the wake of renewed infrastructure investment and expanded collaboration with carriers like Air Canada, visitors to Anguilla can look forward to expanded access to the destination. Weekly direct flights from Toronto and Montreal to St. Maarten’s SXM airport debuted earlier in the winter, with service set to ramp up as the high-traffic season continues. The newly constructed Blowing Point Terminal has reopened, boasting significantly improved facilities, including 50” TV Screens throughout the building, free WIFI, Air Conditioning, VIP Lounge, Tourism Information Center, ATM, etc., for inbound and outbound traffic. Your Anguillian dream vacation may still feel like another world, but it’s closer than it’s ever been!

2. It’s got the best beach in the Caribbean – officially!

Even amidst a region known for its breathtaking beaches, Anguilla’s oceanside offering is the stuff that legends – and postcards – are made of. Of these 33 white sand wonderlands, one beach, in particular, is turning heads and earning significant international attention. The idyllic Shoal Bay was voted the #1 Beach in the Caribbean by the readers of USA TODAY for 2023. Of course, it isn’t hard to see why it was popularly selected for such an accolade: this 3km strip of pink and white sand offers one of Anguilla’s best views and plenty of adjoining restaurants, bars, and hotels to watch the sunset from. It’s also one of the island’s hotspots for activities such as kayaking, paddleboarding, kitesurfing, fishing, snorkeling, diving, and sailing. Don’t just follow the crowd, though: experience the Caribbean’s best beach for yourself on your 2023 getaway.

3. Zemi Beach is a peach of a property

Zemi Beach House, Anguilla
Photo: Zemi Beach House

Speaking of Anguilla making an international splash, the incredible Zemi Beach House was just rated #1 “Best Resort for a Destination Wedding (2023)” on USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice as well as recently coming in at #3 on USA TODAY’s list of the top 10 Caribbean resorts! This achievement is even more impressive when you appreciate the sheer calibre of properties on the island, with luxurious mainstays that include the Four Seasons, the Belmond Cap Juluca, and the Malliouhana – to name only a few. Situated on 6 acres of prime Shoal Bay beachfront, the Zemi Beach House certainly deserves all the praise it’s been getting: its rooms and penthouses are the perfect blend of Anguillian flair and modern luxury, its restaurants specialize in flavourful, locally sourced food, and its signature Thai House Spa sets a new standard for self-care with its 300-year-old wellness traditions. Zemi Beach is a property that must be experienced to be believed: you just gotta go!

4. There is a full slate of Festivals to look forward to

Photo: Anguilla Tourist Board

For an island known for its laidback vibe and relative seclusion, Anguilla certainly knows how to party! The Anguilla Tourist Board recently confirmed a packed schedule of events and festivals for 2023. Easter Weekend’s Festival Del Mar will celebrate the bounty of Anguilla’s teeming waters, while the Anguilla Culinary Experience (ACE) will unite both local and international chefs for an epicurean celebration May 3rd – 6th. Anguilla’s awesome Summer Festival will close out the season in July and August, with the famed August Monday Beach Party and Eyes Wide Shut, drawing revelers from far and wide with its promise of good food, good music, and eye-popping pageantry. There’s no doubt: Anguilla is the place to party in 2023!

5. Conservation is key in 2023!

Photo: Anguilla Tourist Board

Sustainable tourism continues to be a growing area of interest for both travellers and destinations. Anguilla is taking its commitment to protecting its environment and ecosystems seriously and doing it in a way that engages and educates its visitors! To this end, the National Trust – an organization dedicated to stewarding Anguilla’s cultural and environmental heritage – is offering a series of sustainable tours in the new year. Explore uninhabited Sombrero Island, patrol sea turtle habitats, and participate in an authentic Anguillian art workshop. As a nonprofit organization, the National Trust uses the funds from these excursions to further its conservation causes. 

While the Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Course may be foremostly known for its green links, it’s quickly developing a reputation for greenery of a more delicious variety! Though many properties in Anguilla are increasingly investing in locally produced herbs, fruits, and veggies, the Aurora Anguilla maintains a state-of-the-art hydroponic farm, complemented by two greenhouses and an orchard with 20 varieties of fruit-bearing trees. For sustainability you can experience and taste, Anguilla is the place to be in 2023.

About Anguilla
Tucked away in the northern Caribbean, Anguilla is a shy beauty with a warm smile. A slender length of coral and limestone fringed with green, the island is ringed with 33 beaches, considered by savvy travellers and top travel magazines, to be the most beautiful in the world. A fantastic culinary scene, a wide variety of quality accommodations at varying price points, a host of attractions and exciting calendar of festivals make Anguilla an alluring and entrancing destination.  ivisitanguilla.com

Want to learn more about Anguilla? Read Discover the Art and Artists of Anguilla