Getting to Anguilla
Anguilla is hard to get to compared to a few other Caribbean islands. This is a good thing because it helps to protect its exclusivity. But it also means that visitors have to make a little extra effort to get there. There are no flights landing in Anguilla. Visitors land at the nearly St. Maarten Island and reach Anguilla by Ferry or by small planes.
Anguilla is further up north than the other Leeward Islands of the Eastern Caribbean. At 150 miles from Puerto Rico and 9 miles from St. Maarten, Anguilla is reachable via other nearby islands.Small carriers like Seaborne Airlines, Air Sunshine, Tradewind Aviation, Anguilla Air Services, and Trans Anguilla carry visitors to Anguilla once they have arrived at Antigua, St. Maarten, or San Juan.
There are three gateways to Anguilla
1. St. Maarten
Most of the main international carriers serve the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) in St Maarten. The visitors will fly from St Maarten to Anguilla using a small carrier. This is a brief flight taking only 7 minutes. Some visitors will use a private charter plane.
St Maarten is the closest to Anguilla compared to the others. Accessing Anguilla through a flight to St. Maarten is easy and more convenient than any other route.
Visitors arrive at the SXM Princess Juliana International Airport at St. Maarten. From St. Maarten, they can take a sea-shuttle to Anguilla, a ferry to Anguilla, or air transfer to Anguilla.
2. San Juan, Puerto Rico
It takes a one-hour flight from the Luis Munoz International Airport in San Juan to Anguilla. Travelers may use the small carriers like Seaborne Airlines or they may choose the option of a private air charter.
3. Antigua
Visitors to Anguilla from the United Kingdom will fly to Antigua and then take a small charter plane to Anguilla. Some companies fly local charter planes to the island every day.
Local flights also come in from San Juan, Puerto Rico every day.
Private Air Charter
Some travellers will use private charter planes from Antigua, St. Kitts, and many other islands in the Caribbean. All travellers coming into or out of Anguilla have to clear with the Customs & Immigration as well as pay $20 in airport departure tax.
Ferry
Every 45 minutes, a ferry crosses from Anguilla’s Blowing Point and St. Maartin’s Marigot. The ferry departs from Anguilla to St. Martin between 730am to 615pm and depart from St. Maarten to Anguilla every 45 minutes starting at 815am-7pm. The trip is affordable. Travelers have to pay $20 per adult and per child of 12 years and above. Children under 12 have to pay $10.
Cruise Ships
Cruise ships do not dock on Anguilla Island. The Star Clipper visits, standing off shore, and larger ships dock on St. Maartin. Visitors can then cross over to Anguilla from St Maartin.
A lot of visitors from the US connect through Atlanta and fly from Atlanta to ST Maarten. Once you are in St. Maarten, you can easily take a ferry to Anguilla. The ferry from St. Martin to Anguilla takes 20 minutes.
People who try to get to Anguilla via private boats or chartered yachts have to clear with Customs and Immigration upon arrival at Anguilla. Visitors are advised to carry small bills to pay tips to the porters and drivers who help them to carry luggage to the ferry.