Anguilla beaches are some of the best beaches in the world. Three of them made the 2026 World’s 50 Best Beaches list for North America: Shoal Bay East at number one (and sixth in the world), Meads Bay at 20 and Rendezvous Bay at 45. Anguilla has 33 beaches, every one of them public, and most have calm, crystal clear water that suits swimming and snorkeling. Behind the ranked three sit quiet resort bays on the West End, empty coves on the East End and small cays you can only reach by boat.
We live above the top-ranked one. Villa Okeanos sits on the ridge over that beach, a 2 to 3 minute drive down to the sand, so it is our favorite beach and the one we know best. Below: which Anguilla beach suits children, which need a boat, and which are better looked at than swum in.
Which Anguilla beaches made the 2026 rankings?
The World’s 50 Best Beaches list, voted by more than 1,000 travel professionals, ranked three Anguilla beaches in June 2026:
| Beach | 2026 ranking | Where it is |
|---|---|---|
| Shoal Bay East | No. 1 in North America, No. 6 in the world | East End, below Villa Okeanos |
| Meads Bay | No. 20 in North America | West End |
| Rendezvous Bay | No. 45 in North America | West End |
The East End beach has a long record on lists like this. USA Today readers also voted it the number one beach in the Caribbean in 2023. Three ranked beaches is a lot for an island that is 16 miles long, and it is the main reason people put Anguilla beaches ahead of other Caribbean beaches.
Why is Shoal Bay ranked the best beach in Anguilla?
It is a 2-mile long stretch of powdery white sand with a pink tint and calm turquoise water. It sits on the lee side of the island, so the sea is usually flat, and the water shelves gently. You can wade a long way out before it reaches your chest, which is why it works for children.
- Snorkeling: there is reef at the eastern end with plenty of small fish. We keep snorkel gear at the villa, so guests do not have to pack or rent it.
- Food and drink: beach bars and open-air restaurants sit along the middle of the sand, including Uncle Ernie’s, open since 1984 and known for burgers and rum punches. That is also where every beach chair and umbrella clusters.
- Crowds: the busy part is around the bars. Head along the shoreline in either direction and you have the same sand almost to yourself.
- Shade: there is none for long stretches, so bring water and a hat if you plan to cover it end to end.
We cover sargassum seaweed and the rest of the details in our full guide to the beach.
What are the best beaches on the western side of Anguilla?
The West End has the island’s resort beaches and most of its beachfront dining options. The sand is just as good and the water just as calm, with more restaurants and more boats in high season.
Is Meads Bay beach worth a day?
Yes. Meads Bay, Anguilla made number 20 on the 2026 North America list. It is a wide and expansive arc of white sand lined with resorts, villas and restaurants, with Malliouhana at the eastern corner above a small inlet called Nims Nook. Clear waters run over a sandy bottom, entry from the sand is easy for beginner snorkelers, and it is one of the best spots on the island for sunset.
Rendezvous Bay Anguilla: the long, quiet one
A long, relaxing beach made for slow strolls, with shallow, gentle water and views across to St. Martin. Sunshine Shack, a beach bar known for barbecue and drinks, is the main stop on the sand, and the Dune Preserve hosts the Moonsplash music festival here every March. If you only have time for two beaches, make it Shoal Bay and Rendezvous.
Maundays Bay
A near-perfect semicircle of soft sand shared with one property, the Cap Juluca resort, and a picturesque view across to St. Martin. The water is consistently calm, and it is an amazing beach in early morning light.
Barnes Bay
Tranquil and upscale, home to the Four Seasons Anguilla and a few restaurants, with good snorkeling off the sand.
Cove Bay and Shoal Bay West
Cove Bay has calm water, soft sand and dunes, with one restaurant, Smokey’s, and a wharf. Its smaller, quieter neighbor should not be confused with the East End beach of almost the same name.
Which Anguilla beaches can you only reach by boat?
Some of the island’s best swimming and snorkeling is offshore, on the cays or in inlets with no road access. These make easy day trips.
- Little Bay: a small inlet under high cliffs, reached by boat from neighboring Crocus Bay in about five minutes. The rope that people once used to climb down from the cliff has been removed, so go by boat. Confident swimmers can also swim over, and the reef on the way is some of the best on the island.
- Sandy Island: a tiny sand island about 10 minutes by boat from Sandy Ground, with a beach restaurant serving lunch.
- Prickly Pear Cays: about 20 minutes north by boat, with clear water, two restaurants, chairs, umbrellas and snorkel gear available.
- Scilly Cay: a small cay off Island Harbour, reached by boat from the Island Harbour pier, with a lunch spot run by the Wallace family.
Boat schedules change by season, so confirm them locally the day before.
Where is the best snorkeling in Anguilla?
You can snorkel straight from the sand at the reef on the eastern end of our home beach, where the water is usually calm. Sandy Hill Bay, on the East End, is a good spot for beginners, with reef right on shore and easy sandy access. Meads and Barnes are easy options on the West End. For the biggest reef and the widest variety of fish, the boat trip to Little Bay, Anguilla’s well-known sunset cove, and the swim off its neighbor are worth the effort.
Which beach in Anguilla is best for families?
Most Anguilla beaches are calm with gentle shoals, but a few stand out for children:
- Our home beach for shallow, clear water and an easy reef close to shore. It is the perfect beach for small children who like to wade.
- Road Bay for calm, shallow water and a small playground on the sand.
- Island Harbour, a fishing village where local children jump and fish from the pier, with a few good places to eat around the harbor.
Families staying with us usually start on the beach below the villa because it is closest. If you are planning a trip to Anguilla with children, our guide to renting an Anguilla villa for families and groups covers the rest.
Which beaches are quiet, and which are not for swimming?
- Savannah Bay: big, remote and natural, the least developed sandy beach on the island, with one establishment, Nat’s. Junks Hole sits on the same bay.
- Road Bay: not quiet at all, which is the point. Boats, local bars, seafood and the island’s nightlife, with Road Salt Pond, the largest enclosed body of water on the island, just behind the strip of sand.
- Captain’s Bay: a beautiful beach that is hard to reach, with big waves and a powerful undertow. Treat it as a place to look, not to swim.
- Limestone Bay: often has strong waves breaking on shore, so it is not always swimmable.
Quick comparison: which Anguilla beach for each kind of day?
| If you want | Go to |
|---|---|
| The best all-round beach | Shoal Bay East |
| Sunset and dinner on the sand | Meads Bay |
| A long, quiet stroll | Rendezvous Bay |
| Small children | Our home beach or Road Bay |
| The best snorkeling | Little Bay and the East End reef |
| A boat day with lunch | Sandy Island, Prickly Pear or Scilly Cay |
| Nobody else around | Savannah Bay |
| Nightlife | Road Bay |
Can you do an Anguilla beach day trip from St. Maarten?
Yes. Ferries from Marigot and a sea shuttle from the airport dock both land at Blowing Point. With one day, pick one beach rather than trying to see 33 different beaches: Rendezvous is the closest of the big beaches to Blowing Point, and the East End beach is the one most people come for. Times and fares are in our Anguilla arrival guide.
Tips for visiting Anguilla’s beaches
- Parking is rarely a problem, but a rental car makes beach-hopping far easier. Anguillians drive on the left.
- Go early. Calm water, empty sand and softer light are all better before 10:00 am.
- Take water and reef-safe sunscreen. Many beaches have little or no shade.
- If you plan to laze all day, rent a chair and umbrella from one of the beach bars.
- Pack water shoes for any stretch with rocks or coarse shells at the waterline.
- Sargassum seaweed comes and goes with currents, so ask locally what it has looked like recently.
Frequently asked questions
Shoal Bay East. It was ranked the best beach in North America and sixth in the world in the 2026 World's 50 Best Beaches list.
The Anguilla Tourist Board counts 33, and all of them are open to the public.
Mostly, yes. Most of the island's beaches are placid with gentle shoals. The exceptions are exposed bays like Captain's Bay and Limestone Bay, which can have strong waves.
The one below the villa, which will surprise no one. If you have visited Anguilla before, try the best Anguilla beaches you missed last time, such as Maundays Bay, Anguilla's Cap Juluca beach, or one of the cays.
Stay above the top-ranked beach on Anguilla
Villa Okeanos is a private four-bedroom villa on the ridge above Shoal Bay East, with an infinity pool, views to St. Martin and room for up to 11 guests. The beach is a 2 to 3 minute drive away. Check availability or message Leigh and Dave with any question.
