How to get to Anguilla
Transportation
Anguilla is located in the Eastern Caribbean, (18º North Latitude and 63º West Longitude) just one-hour east of Puerto Rico and seven minutes north of Dutch St. Maarten by air; and 20 minutes north from French St. Martin by ferry.
There are a number of options available for getting to this idyllic island. Visitors can fly directly into Anguilla's Wallblake Airport from Puerto Rico via American Eagle/American Airlines or opt to fly directly to St. Maarten, Antigua, St. Thomas or St. Kitts for an easy transfer to Anguilla:
San Juan via American Eagle
St. Thomas via American Eagle, TransAnguilla, WINAIR and private charter
St. Maarten/Martin: St. Maarten via scheduled and chartered air with WINAIR, TransAnguilla and Island Charters. St. Martin (Marigot Bay) via regularly scheduled ferries.
Antigua via LIAT, Carib Aviation
St. Kitts via LIAT,Private charter directly to Anguilla
Ferries: Anguilla / St. Martin
Ferries are a popular way to travel between Anguilla and St. Martin. No reservations are necessary. Between 7:30AM and 7:00PM, ferries run at approximately 30 minute intervals between Blowing Point, Anguilla and Marigot Bay, St. Martin. Ferry crossings are $15 each way, plus $20.00 departure tax. Last ferries of the day are 6:15 p.m from Anguilla and 7:00 p.m from Marigot Bay fare US $20.00 each way. Ferries also depart from across the St. Maarten airport to Anguilla on a schedule and private charter basis.
CKIM Group is happy to assist you with your travel arrangements. Contact Us.
Geography
Anguilla is a flat, low-lying island of coral and limestone in the Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rico. The soil is generally thin and poor, supporting only scrub vegetation.
Anguilla is noted for its spectacular and ecologically important coral reefs. Apart from the main island of Anguilla itself, the territory includes a number of other smaller islands and cays, mostly tiny and uninhabited. Some of these are:
- Anguillita
- Dog Island
- Prickly Pear Cays
- Scrub Island
- Seal Island
- Sombrero, also known as Hat Island
- Sandy Island
Weather
Anguilla has a tropical though rather dry climate, moderated by northeast trade winds. Temperatures vary little throughout the year. Average daily maximum range from about 27 °C (80 °F) in December to 30 °C (86 °F) in July. Rainfall is erratic, averaging about 90 cm (35 in) per year, the wettest months being September and October, and the driest February and March. Anguilla is vulnerable to hurricanes from June to November, peak season August to mid-October.
Economy
Anguilla's thin arid soil is largely unsuitable for agriculture, and the island has few land-based natural resources. Its main industries are tourism, offshore incorporation and management, offshore banking, and fishing. Many insurance and financial business are headquartered in Anguilla.
The economy of Anguilla is expanding rapidly, especially the tourism sector which is driving major new developments in partnerships with multi-national companies. This boom, beginning gently during 2005-2006, is accelerating through 2007 and is expected to continue for years. In an effort to prevent overheating, there is currently a moratorium on "non-belongers" (foreigners) buying land in Anguilla. Anguilla's currency is the East Caribbean dollar, though the US dollar is also widely accepted. The exchange rate is fixed to the US dollar at US$1 = EC$2.65.
Culture
The Anguilla National Trust (ANT) was established in 1993 to preserve the heritage of the island, including its cultural heritage. The Trust has pro grammes encouraging Anguillan writers and the preservation of the island's history.
The island's cultural history begins with the Arawak Indians. Artifacts have been found around the island, telling of life before European settlers arrived.
As throughout the Caribbean, holidays are a cultural fixture. Anguilla's most important holidays are of historic as much as cultural importance – particularly the anniversary of the emancipation (previously August Monday in the Park), celebrated as the Summer Festival. British holidays, such as the Queen's birthday, are also celebrated.
Religion
Christianity is Anguilla's predominant religion, with 40 percent of the population practising Anglicanism. Another 33 percent are Methodist. Other churches on the island include Roman Catholic, Jehovah's Witnesses, Seventh-day Adventist and Baptist. There are at least fifteen churches on the island, several of architectural interest.[3] Although a minority on the island, it is an important location to followers of Rastafarian religion – Anguilla is the birthplace of Robert Athlyi Rogers, author of The Holy Piby which has had a strong influence on Rastafarian beliefs. Various other religions are practiced as well.[4]
Language
Today most people in Anguilla speak a British-influenced variety of "Standard" English. Other languages are also spoken on the island, including varieties of Spanish, Chinese and the languages of other immigrants. However, the most common language other than Standard English is the island's own English-lexifier Creole language (not to be confused with French Creole spoken in islands such as Haiti, Martinique, and Guadeloupe). It is referred to locally by terms such as "dialect" (pronounced "dialec"), or "Anguillian". It has its main roots in early varieties of English and West African languages, and is similar to the dialects spoken in English-speaking islands throughout the Eastern Caribbean.
