Anguilla is a tiny island with a big heart. Smiling comes naturally to Anguillians - there are only 12,000, but they have smiles big enough to welcome their many visitors to an island renowned for its relaxed pace of life.It's most famous for its beaches - and deservedly so. Anguilla's 35-mile (68 km ) coastline has 33, many of them among the best in the Caribbean. Their soft white sands slope into shallow blue waters as calm, soothing and warm as the islanders' gracious welcome and easy-going attitude. Anguilla is the most northerly of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean, with a latitude of approximately 18 degrees north and longitude of 63 degrees west. The island lies between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, some five miles north of St. Maarten/St. Martin and one hundred fifty miles east of Puerto Rico. The territory of Anguilla comprises several offshore islets, or cays, including Sandy Island, Dog Island, Prickley Pear Cays, Scrub Island, and Sombrero Island (the location of the island's lighthouse). Anguilla is world-renowned for its unmatched collection of upscale resorts and has a number of full-service moderate and competitively priced accommodations as well. Our accommodations are available in a number of configurations - full-fledged and mini-resorts, hotels and apartment hotels; private and club-style villas, apartments and condos; small inns and guesthouses. Apart from Anguilla's 33 spectacular beaches, families find several activities and places to enjoy together. Sixteen miles long and three miles wide, Anguilla is an easy island to explore on your own. One major road runs from the East End to the West End, with smaller roads branching off. Whether you're seeing the island by taxi, bike, scooter or car, 'right around the bend' there's always a beautiful beach; a restaurant, café or barbecue with sumptuous fare; an interesting museum, art gallery or boutique; a harbour dotted with brightly colored 'Anguilla' boats; a breathtaking vision of architectural resort styles that include stunningly white Moorish, Mediterranean, and modern designs just 'up the road' from charming, colorful and quaint West Indian hotels, resorts, and private homes. Anguilla is known for its intentionally sunk shipwrecks, artificial reefs that provide for the enjoyment of scuba divers. The island is home to a truly unique attraction, a 960-ton Spanish galleon [El Buen Consejo] that rests quietly on the ocean floor with her cannons and cargo serving as a silent testament to the Caribbean's turbulent past. The site is an award-winning underwater park, Stoney Bay Marine Park, open to certified scuba divers. Anguilla also boasts a healthy double reef system, where a wide variety of corals flourish. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Anguilla/ en-us Copyright 1998 e-TravelMedia.com/CaribbeanMag.com Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:53:41 EST Anguilla is located in the Caribbean Sea, the northern most island in the Leeward Island chain. Nearest neigbour to the south is St. Martin/Sint Maarten. Distance from St. Martin to Anguilla is 4 miles. A ferry runs from the harbour in Marigot, St. Martin and Blowing Point, Anguilla to the Princess Julianna Airport in Sint Maarten. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/Anguilla/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:53:41 EST Anguilla weather draws thousands of visitors here each year and it does deliver - do not expect temperatures to dip anywhere below the high 70s, even in the winter, and plan to enjoy high 80s nearly every summer day; Anguilla weather varies little between seasons because of its tropical location. Though rainy days may make up a small part of Anguilla weather, the climate here is more arid than you would expect for the Caribbean. Showers that do come down are usually short-lived, a result of the building humidity, and are punctured quickly by a fresh sunny blue sky. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/weather/Anguilla/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:53:41 EST Traffic drives on the left hand side of the road. There is little public transportation. Car rentals are readily available and reasonably priced. A temporary driver's permit is required and can be obtained for a fee of around $20US. Look out for speed bumps! There is usually one at the start of a village, and another at the other end. 30 MPH on most roads, 20 MPH in villages and school crossings. Anguilla has gasoline stations located all over the island. http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/car_rentals/Anguilla/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:53:41 EST Restaurants and Dining: http://www.caribbeanmag.com/search/restaurants/Anguilla/ Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:53:41 EST