Anguilla

Anguilla Holiday

As the northern outpost of the Leeward Isles, Anguilla is secluded. And with just a sprinkling of luxurious hotels, the island is exlusive too. Mile upon mile of pristine sands and offshore coral cays make it the dream for escapists. A diversity of dive sites, from long forgotten shipwrecks to cliffs, canyons and caverns, beckon sub-mariners in scuba gear.

And the shoal of restaurants with speciality cuisines draw the gourmet to return time after time. This tiny island country, just 35 square miles of land, offers the good life in amazing abundance.

Brilliant blue waters... Dazzling white sands... Caribbean casual...

Imagine a long, slender coral island lying lazily in the eastern Caribbean, with more than thirty superlative beaches fringing its shores. Then visualize the vibrant marine life in its coral reefs waiting to be explored. That's Anguilla. Best of all, you can still have some of those beaches virtually to yourself, despite the increasing numbers of tourists discovering this sleepy isle.

The population of 9,000 is descended mostly from Africans, although more and more North Americans and Europeans are joining them for an interesting cultural mosaic. Traditionally the islanders have lived from salt production, lobster fishing, agriculture and livestock-raising. Tourism is now the major source of employment and foreign exchange.

Boat races are frequently held. The craft are a special wooden sloop made locally. The most noteworthy races, enlivened by non-stop parties, take place during Carnival Week in August.

The low-lying coral island is covered with scrub vegetation. Rainfall is scant, to the regret of farmers but the delight of tourists. It's a friendly, quiet place, and one of the safest in the Caribbean. While there is no lack of nightlife, you may well prefer to go to bed early and get up with the dawn to swim with the iridescent fish of the reef or sunbathe on the white sands. Yours may be the only footprints.