Points Of Interest in Anguilla

Sandy Ground  is “the entertainment capital of Anguilla.”  A sleepy village by day, at night the imaginative beach bars, and fun and casual restaurants come alive with music, dancing and lively conversation. At night the popular “Pumphouse” jams with dancing, drinking and fun, but by day The Old Salt Factory & Pumphouse is a historic site that showcases the once thriving salt economy. During holidays, Sandy Ground hops all day.  Whether you come down to “lime” (hang out) or “mash sand” (dance), it is usually the place to be, and to be yourself. 

The Old Valley  - On the road to Crocus Hill, is the area of town that Anguillians refer to as The Old Valley.  Here there are a number of architectural examples from Anguilla’s yesteryear.  Ebenezer’s Methodist Church, Miss Marjorie’s House, The Warden’s Place, Rose Cottage, and other graceful buildings are a reminder of Anguilla’s beautiful past. 

Crocus Bay - Crocus Hill - the highest point on Anguilla at 213 feet above sea level, crowns the beautiful turquoise bay and offers spectacular sunset views as well as a bit of history. Crocus Bay is the site of the first military invasion in 1745. Six or seven hundred French soldiers landed on the beach and were fought off by the English settlers in less than fifteen minutes - the first of three invasions that all ended in the invaders’ defeat. Not too long ago Crocus Bay was a quiet place mostly forgotten by visitors, except to catch Calvin for a ride over to Little Bay.  Today, Crocus Bay is home to DaVida’s, an elegant fine-dining experience, and her sister property, DaVida’s Bayside Grill. Calvin is still there underneath the Mahogany trees, and he is still one of the easiest and least expensive ways to get to Little Bay for snorkeling.

Shoal Bay - Home to bright beach bars, blinding white sands, electric turquoise seas, umbrella and beach chair vendors, snorkeling at the coral reef, scuba diving and glass bottom boat tours. While many of Anguilla’s beaches have been mentioned among the world’s best time and time again, none so much as Shoal Bay — “The world’s best beach.”

Island Harbour Anguilla’s quaint fishing town, Island Harbour, is on the East End of Anguilla. Colorful boats moor in this protected cove, and the fishing pier juts out towards the conch-lined island of Scilly Cay. Children jump and fish from the pier, while their parents tend to their boats and the day’s catch.

The Wallblake House - The only standing “Plantation House” on Anguilla, The Wallblake House is situated on the Western edge of The Valley next to Anguilla’s Catholic Church.  Located across from The Old Cotton Gin, this part of our capital houses some of Anguilla’s more colorful and interesting architecture.

El Morro (Fuerte San Felipe del Morro)

El Morro juts out of San Juan harbor beckoning cruise ships just as it used to deter sea attacks. The structure is a hulking six-story fortress built between 1539 and 1589, withstanding two World Wars and several other scrimmages. Now, El Fuerto San Felipe del Morro is Puerto Rico's go-to tourist attraction, both for its extensive history and its outstanding vista of the Atlantic Ocean. You can also walk though the fortress' depths, which include a maze of tunnels, barracks and prison cells.

Admission to El Morro is reasonable, considering its size, and as one Virtualtourist notes, "what I enjoyed the most about visiting El Morro was that we were able to roam around the fort on our own." You'll enjoy exploring more if you wear comfortable walking shoes.

El Morro is one of two forts inside the San Juan National Historic Site. Its sister, the Fort San Cristóbal, is one of the largest Spanish fortresses in the Western Hemisphere. Both sites have seasonal hours; during the summer the Visitor Center is open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and you can hike the trails from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $3 for patrons age 16 and over, $5 if you want to visit both forts. 

The Best Time to Take a Cruise to the Caribbean

There are more than 7000 islands in the Caribbean Sea, and cruise ships visit many of them. Caribbean cruises run throughout the year. You must select your cruise date carefully because there are certain advantages to sailing during various time periods. Your ideal date depends on several things, such as how much you want to spend, the type of weather you prefer and whether you will be bringing children along.

The Caribbean is temperate all year round, but it can get chilly in the winter and make swimming uncomfortable. This is a problem if you want to take advantage of the region's excellent snorkeling and scuba diving opportunities. Sail during the spring or fall if you want to do water sports in warm temperatures but don't want to deal with excessive summer heat. Hurricane season extends through November, so it's best to choose spring to avoid potential tropical storms.You are at a higher risk for flight delays or cancellations if you sail during the winter, so consider buying trip insurance.

Many cruise lines decorate their ships for the Thanksgiving through New Years Day holiday season and have special on-board activities. If you have children, they usually have some time off school during this period. They can cruise around Thanksgiving, Christmas or the New Year without missing schoolwork. School breaks also coincide with Easter and other holidays such as Presidents' Day. You will pay a premium to sail to the Caribbean during this period, but the trade-off in special celebrations or minimal disruption to your children's school schedule may be worth it.

Most schools have a break between June and August. Some employers make employees take their vacation time at some point during the summer months. Most cruise lines charge their highest prices for Caribbean cruises during the summer because of this,  but it may be the best time for you if you're under work constraints or have school-age children.

Couples who prefer not to encounter a lot of children on their Caribbean cruise should sail during the school year. Cruises to the Caribbean usually last at least five to seven days. There are more adult passengers during this period because some parents don't want to take their youngsters out of school for that long. Most of the kids on board will be age five or below, and the overall passenger count will be lower. This means shorter waits for tendering into ports such as Grand Cayman and less crowded dining rooms and other on-board areas.

Aruba

Cuba. Trinidad

                                      

The blue iguana or Grand Cayman iguana.

The blue iguana or Grand Cayman iguana (Cyclura lewisi) is an endangered species of lizard of the genus Cyclura endemic to the island of Grand Cayman. 

The blue iguana is one of the longest-living species of lizard (possibly up to 69 years). The record is 67 years.

The blue iguana prefers dwelling in rocky, sunlit, open areas in dry forests or near the shore, as the females must dig holes in the sand to lay eggs in June and July. A possible second clutch is laid in September. The blue iguana's vegetarian diet includes plants, fruits, and flowers. Its coloration is tan to gray with a bluish cast that is more pronounced during the breeding season and more so in males. It is large and heavy-bodied with a dorsal crest of short spines running from the base of the neck to the end of the tail.