Beaches with turquoise seas, infinity pools, luxury spas, and excellent cuisine: this is the Caribbean island of choice for celebrities.

The pink sky, the transparent kayak, and the turquoise sea. This is what the photo we took on Anguilla Beach looks like before our sunset excursion, when we headed out to sea wearing life jackets.

In two-person kayaks with white LED lights on the bottom , as we move forward with synchronized oars, the water seems to turn electric blue.

We see coral, algae, fish of various sizes, and even a turtle! At the same time, we let go of the oars and began recording with our cell phones the turtle's gentle movements beneath our outstretched legs in the boat, before it popped its head above the surface to breathe and continue swimming in an unknown direction.

We only hear the stroke of the oars against the warm, crystal-clear water, or the gentle waves crashing against the dark rocks. We hardly speak, just coordinating our movements.

And sometimes, we stop rowing to contemplate the seabed, the orange horizon, the flickering lights of the beach.

The night kayak tour is an unforgettable experience. As are the flavors of the excellent cuisine, the exclusive spa offerings, the yoga classes surrounded by nature, and so many other experiences offered by this small, elongated island in the eastern Caribbean .

For the fifth time, Anguilla has been named “Best Island in the Caribbean, Bermuda and the Bahamas” in the 2025 edition of Travel + Leisure magazine’s World’s Best Awards, cementing its reputation as “a premier destination for discerning travelers seeking natural beauty, luxury and authentic experiences.”

According to the travel publication, "respondents praised its exclusive hotels, its abundant and excellent restaurants, and its 33 beautiful beaches (including Mead's Bay and Shoal Bay)."

And with these words, one reader summed up Anguilla: "The locals are friendly, the atmosphere is very relaxed, and it's easy to get around the island to visit the many beaches."

Being a British Overseas Territory , the official language is English and driving is on the left side of the road.

The island is located more than 320 kilometers east of Puerto Rico and 15 kilometers north of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin . Although it is off the beaten track, it is easily accessible with flights via Miami and/or air or ferry connections from St. Maarten, in 8-minute flights or 20-minute cruises, respectively.

Anguilla is one of the smallest territories on the continent, with only 96 square kilometers , 61 km of coastline, 25 km long and 4 km at its widest point.

The climate is pleasant throughout the year, with an average annual temperature of 27°C.

The driest months are February and March, while the Caribbean hurricane season runs from July to November, with the heaviest rainfall in September and October.

Anguilla is a good refuge for international celebrities who want to escape the paparazzi.

That's why, among other famous visitors, everyone from Paul McCartney and Michael Jordan to Beyoncé, Adele, Harry Styles, Paris Hilton, and Denzel Washington have chosen this destination.

Stars of the entertainment, music, and sports world often rent villas in exclusive locations like Shoal Bay or stay in low-key luxury resorts.

Proud of their island, Anguillans share a curious fact: long before the artificial intelligence phenomenon exploded, Anguilla obtained the “.ai” internet domain, which is why it now attracts revenue equivalent to 10% of its GDP from technology companies interested in using the extension for AI services.

Another interesting fact about the place is that Anguilla's national football team is considered one of the worst in the world: not only has the team never participated in a World Cup or the CONCACAF Cup, but it is ranked 209th in the FIFA rankings, second to last, only above San Marino.

There is no public transportation on the island, but you can rent cars or bicycles to go out for a ride.

When touring the place, among the must-sees is the Eel Arch , one of the postcards that appears in all the tourist brochures and is one of the most Instagrammable spots.

Located in the West End area, it is a natural limestone arch that juts out from the coast, while turquoise waters lap at its foundations.

The West End is the heart of Anguilla's tourism industry, home to many traditional five-star resorts, such as the ultra-exclusive Cap Juluca and Malliouhana hotels, the Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club, Four Seasons Resort and Residences Anguilla , and Altamer Luxury Villas.

It's also where Anguilla's culinary fame was born, led by highly acclaimed restaurants like Sharky's, and then culinary excellence spread to South Hill, with places like Tasty's Point of View, Ocean Echo Anguilla, and The Lobster House, which offers a wide variety of lobster dishes.

But also, in many restaurants on the island the most delicious specialties are served: lobsters, fish such as mahi-mahi and crayfish .

The capital of Anguilla is The Valley, which is home to the seat of government, Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport, and the Anguilla Tourist Office.

The town also features the historic Wallblake House, which was built in 1785 using slave labor, offering a glimpse into the island's colonial heritage.

"This estate grew sugar and later cotton. During its heyday, it extended to the current airstrip," explains a sign at the front of the property. And just a few meters away, the old and new buildings of St. Gerard's Church rise.

Of course, travelers seeking Caribbean destinations are lovers of good beaches. And in that sense, Anguilla has 33 semicircles of soft, white sand that frame the warm, calm, turquoise sea .

In fact, many of the most prestigious resorts are located on the spectacular beaches of the West End: Meads Bay, Rendezvous Bay, Maundays Bay, Barnes Bay, Long Bay and Cove Bay .

However, the eastern end of the island is developing rapidly, with the magnificent Shoal Bay East beach, an area where new hotels have opened in recent years and which has a large number of restaurants and beach bars.

Considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, Shoal Bay East stands out for its reefs beneath placid waves, with calm currents ideal for sailing and snorkeling.

As with other beaches and cays in Anguilla, water sports such as diving, sport fishing, surfing, paddleboarding, and kayaking are available.

You can also enjoy a variety of land sports, including birdwatching, golf, tennis, horseback riding, cave excursions, art gallery visits, and natural attractions.

One option for a day trip is Sandy Island , a tiny key just a few minutes by boat from Sandy Ground.

The place offers sun loungers with umbrellas, snorkeling, and a beach restaurant serving barbecues (various dishes include pork, fish, or seafood) and rum-based drinks.

As in other Caribbean destinations, rum is present in almost every Anguillan drink.

Even at the incredible Malliouhana Hotel , you can book the “Chocolate & Rum” experience , which consists of a delicious tasting of chocolates with passion fruit, mint, or salt, along with various local drinks.

Guests from other hotels can dine here. Built in 1984, Malliouhana put Anguilla on the map, defining island glamour with unparalleled sophistication.

Hotel elegance reaches a new level at Cap Juluca, a Belmond Mediterranean-style hotel that represents a dream escape.

With enormous oceanfront suites and villas with private pools, the hotel will transport guests by golf cart—if necessary—to the restaurants (serving Italian, Peruvian, and Caribbean cuisine), the sports courts, or the Arawak Spa.

There, classic highlights include Cap Juluca's Old World Salt Scrub and Tropical Spice Body Polish , plus infinity pools with varying temperatures, dry and wet saunas, and all kinds of massage and beauty treatments featuring Guerlain products and fragrances .

Also notable is the Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club 's spa, culinary specialties, pickleball courts and water park .

It's the island's only water park, with slides and a lazy river , allowing you to explore leisurely in lifebuoys. Another Anguilla experience to cherish.

• Copa Airlines' round-trip flight from Buenos Aires to St. Maarten (via Panama) costs from US$1,110.

• Anguilla Air Services’ round-trip flight from St. Maarten to Anguilla (8 minutes) starts at US$322.

• Another option to get from St. Maarten to Anguilla is by ferry, with the Funtime company.

• At the exclusive Cap Juluca - A Belmond Hotel, the Deluxe Beachfront Double Room costs US$1,317 per night with breakfast.

• From Crocus Bay, a one-hour night kayak trip with Liquid Glow costs US$85 per person.

• At the Malliouhana Hotel, the Chocolate and Rum experience is free for guests; for non-hotel guests, it costs US$75.

• At Aurora Anguilla Resort & Golf Club, admission to the Water Park is US$50 per person; children under 12 pay US$25. Guests are admitted free.

• Two-hour hikes to Windward Point, Goat Cave, Little Bay, The Arch at West End, or Katouche Cave, US$50 per person.