How to get to Anguilla comes down to two routes: fly direct to Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA), with nonstops from Miami and BermudAir’s new 3.5 to 4 hour routes from Boston, Newark, and Baltimore (launched 2026), or fly to St. Maarten (SXM) and take the 20-minute ferry or a shared charter boat across. The direct flight is faster; the ferry route is often cheaper for groups. Either way, Villa Okeanos is about 20 minutes from your arrival point: 4.5 miles from the airport, 8 miles from the Blowing Point ferry terminal.
The short answer
There are two sensible ways onto the island, and the right one depends almost entirely on where you’re flying from and how much you enjoy boats.
- Fly straight in. Anguilla has its own airport — Clayton J. Lloyd International (airport code AXA) — and American Airlines flies non-stop from Miami. No boat, no second airport, no faff.
- Or fly to St. Martin and cross by sea. Land at Princess Juliana International (SXM), which has far more international connections, then take a boat across the channel. It’s about a twenty-minute crossing, and it’s one of the nicest parts of the journey.
Before you book: airline routes, ferry timetables and transfer operators change from season to season. Send us your dates and we’ll tell you exactly what’s running that week — we do this for every guest, and it’s the single easiest way to avoid a long wait at SXM.
Route one: direct from Miami
This is the path of least resistance, and it’s the one we recommend to anyone who can make the connection work. You clear US departures at Miami, you land at AXA, and the whole business of getting to Anguilla is simply over. No second check-in, no luggage on a boat, no watching the clock.
The trade-off is flexibility: it’s a single route, so if it doesn’t line up with your schedule, you’ll want the second option.
Route two: via St. Martin, then the sea
St. Martin’s Princess Juliana airport is one of the best-connected in the Caribbean, which makes it the practical choice for most guests flying from Europe or from cities without a Miami connection. You land at SXM, and then you cross the channel to Anguilla.
The crossing
The boat ride takes roughly twenty minutes and lands you at Blowing Point, Anguilla’s sea terminal. There are two ways to do it:
- The public ferry. The cheapest option, running on a published schedule. Perfectly fine, and part of the experience.
- A private boat transfer. A charter that meets your flight and takes you straight across. It costs more, but it removes every bit of timing anxiety — particularly if you’re arriving late, travelling with children, or carrying a lot of luggage.
Most of our guests take a private transfer on the way in and relax about it on the way out. If you’d like, we’ll arrange it for you.
The twenty minutes between St. Martin and Anguilla is the moment the holiday actually starts. Put your phone away and look at the water.
— Leigh & Dave, hosts of Villa Okeanos
Which route suits you
| Direct to Anguilla (AXA) | Via St. Martin (SXM) | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Anyone who can route through Miami | Europe, and most other US cities |
| Connections | Fewer — one route in | Many — SXM is a regional hub |
| Effort on arrival | None. You’ve landed. | A transfer and a ~20-minute crossing |
| The nice part | Simplicity | Arriving by sea, which is hard to beat |
| Watch out for | Schedule may not suit you | Leave a comfortable buffer after landing |
Landing on the island
Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory, and arrival is refreshingly unhurried. Immigration and customs are small, calm and quick — this is not an airport where you lose an hour of your life. Have your accommodation details to hand (ours, obviously) and your return travel plans, and you’ll be through in minutes.
From the airport to Villa Okeanos
The villa sits in Upper Shoal Bay East, on the northern coast. The island is only sixteen miles end to end, so nothing is far from anything — the drive from the airport is short, and the last stretch opens onto the water.
We can have a taxi waiting for you, or point you at a rental car if you’d rather have your own wheels for the week. Tell us which you’d prefer when you book and we’ll set it up.
Driving on Anguilla
They drive on the left. Anguilla is British West Indies, and this catches out more visitors than anything else on this page. The roads are quiet and the speeds are low, so it’s an easy adjustment — but give yourself the first few junctions to think about it, especially if you’ve just got off a long flight.
- Roads are narrow and largely unlit at night — take it slowly after dark.
- Goats have the right of way. This is not a joke.
- A temporary local driving permit is typically required; car hire companies handle it for you.
What we wish we’d known
- Leave a real buffer at SXM. If you’re crossing by sea, don’t book the last boat of the day against a tight connection. An hour of slack costs nothing and saves everything.
- Bring less than you think. The villa has a full kitchen, laundry, beach towels and beach gear. You do not need to pack for self-sufficiency.
- Groceries first, then the beach. Stop for supplies on the way in and you’ll have nothing to do for the rest of the week. We’ll send you a list of the good shops.
- Ask us. Genuinely. We’ve made this trip more times than we can count, and we’d much rather answer a question now than have you wrestle with a timetable at midnight.
Questions we get asked
Anguilla’s own airport is Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport (AXA). Many visitors instead fly into Princess Juliana International (SXM) on St. Martin and cross to Anguilla by sea, arriving at the Blowing Point terminal.
Yes. American Airlines flies non-stop from Miami (MIA) into Anguilla (AXA), which is the simplest way in — no boat and no second airport. Confirm the current schedule when you book, as routes change seasonally.
By sea. You cross the channel from St. Martin to Blowing Point in Anguilla, either on the public ferry or by private boat transfer. A private transfer can meet your flight and removes any timing pressure — we’re happy to arrange one.
The crossing takes roughly twenty minutes. It’s short, scenic, and for most guests it’s the moment the holiday properly begins.
On the left. Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory. Roads are quiet and slow, so it’s an easy adjustment — but take the first few junctions carefully.
Not strictly — the beach, beach bars and several restaurants are close by, and taxis are easy. But the island is small and lovely to explore, so most guests hire a car for at least part of the week. There’s free gated parking for up to three cars at the villa.
Leigh & Dave
The proprietors of Villa Okeanos. They fell for Anguilla in 2013 and have been making this journey — and helping guests make it — ever since. Ask them anything.