Famous for its airport, I spent the past day with my mom watching airplanes arrive and depart Sint Maarten [see post: Two Nations, One Island: St. Martin / Sint Maarten]. Although the tiny island has 37 beaches, none of them are a match for Anguilla.

Anguilla is an internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom, internationally known for its spectacular beaches. The island has 33 picturesque beaches, and Shoal Bay is considered the number one beach in the Caribbean and one of the top ten in the world. (I disagree – I believe Grace Bay in Turks and Caicos has the top beach in the Caribbean). Located just nine miles north, and only about 30 minutes away from St. Martin by boat, the island makes for a perfect day trip. Just do not forget to bring your passport!

Many tour operators offer day trips to Anguilla from the Anguilla Ferry Terminal located on Sint Maarten. Included in the price of the tours is round-trip boat transfers, island sightseeing, BBQ lunch, snorkeling gear, paddle boards, beach chairs, and guides. You can arrange the day trip on your own, but the cost of the round-trip public ferries and car hire upon arrival will not save you more than a couple of dollars.

Upon arriving on Sunday, June 11, 2017, we passed customs and immigration, and then boarded the tour operator’s bus that dropped us off at Gwen’s Reggae Bar and Grill in Shoal Bay.

Here, we had use of all mentioned equipment while surrounded by pearly white sand and crystal clear water.

Only interrupted for lunch, we had the entire day to enjoy the beach.

I would have loved to spend more time on the island. However, taking a day trip from Sint Maarten is much cheaper than flying directly into Anguilla’s Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport and staying overnight. This tiny island (only about 25 or so kilometers (or about 16 miles) long and less than 5 kilometers (or about 3) miles wide) is predominately frequented by celebrities and remains an exclusive destination. As such, hotel options are limited and no all-inclusive options exist. A quiet island – with more goats than people inhabiting the area.

Anguilla secured the number three spot on my list of most beautiful beach destinations. Even though I only had a day to bask in the beauty of Shoal Bay, one day was enough. Jumping around from work related travel, to Bolivia, and then straight to El Salvador last weekend, I needed a break. This day trip forced me to stay put and do nothing but play in the ocean.