Posted on February 13 2018.
This season is a great time to sail to the island Anegada and spend a few days there, with dozens of secluded beaches, still as gorgeous as before. Most of the hotels and beach bars are also now open for business. Apart from the beautiful white beaches, you also would like to see the flamingos, rock iguanas and rare plant species like sea lavender. The fantastic outer reef, Horseshoe Reef is rich in marine life and perfect for snorkeling or diving and dotted with shipwrecks. Anegada is the most scenic watersports playground in the region especially for kiteboarders and paddle boarders alike.
Anegada is definitely ready for visitors now!
The north shore offers miles and miles of beautiful, uninterrupted beach and an incredible barrier reef with views of the wide open Atlantic Ocean. It’s worth getting an island tour on your way across the island to see the most famous beaches Loblolly Bay and Cow Wreck Beach, but also to stop at other more secluded beaches like Flash of Beauty, Bones Bight and Windlass Bight. You can also decide to rent a scooter or car to tour around the island and visit the beaches.
Nature:
Even with a 28-foot elevation, Anegada is home to some extraordinary natural features, including a number of salt ponds and even natural bubbling springs. The saltwater ponds, mangrove swaps and other natural sanctuaries are home to many exotic birds, including a growing flock of pink flamingoes. The flamingos can be found in the salt ponds located at the western end of Anegada.
The Anegada Rock Iguana used to occupy islands across the entire Puerto Rico Bank, but is now restricted to the island of Anegada. Iguanas have been in serious decline since the 1960s. Cats in particular kill nearly all hatchlings and juveniles. In addition to Anegada, two small introduced populations exist on Guana Island and Necker Island. The total population across all three islands is thought to be less than 200 individuals.
The reef adjacent to the Settlement was once one of the more fertile conch grounds in the Caribbean, but overfishing has wiped out the conch population there. Visitors to the Settlement are greeted by the sight of mountains of empty conch shells on the shore when they arrive.
Restaurants:
Anegada is famous for its Caribbean Lobster, which is sweet and tender, and people travel from miles to taste it. Eat your lobster on the beach for dinner with your toes in the sand and watch the sun go down for a perfect evening. The Anegada Reef Hotel and The Wonky Dog are recommended close to the anchorage, but also head further out on the island and visit Big Bamboo in Loblolly Bay or the Cow Wreck bar and restaurant.
ANEGADA KITE & PADDLE FESTIVAL 3 & 4 March 2018:
Tommy Gaunt Kitesurfing presents the ‘The Second Annual Anegada Kite & Paddle Festival’ a weekend long event with an action packed agenda featuring kitesurfing competitions, kitesurfing and stand up paddle boarding downwind races, intro lessons & good vibes.
If you’re new to watersports the Anegada Kite & Paddle Festival offers introductionary kiteboarding lessons & stand up paddleboarding clinics to give you the support you need to get on the water. If you’re already kiting have a pro clinic, enter one of our competition and explore the coast on a downwinder! There’s almost always a consistent breeze blowing through Anegada attracting kiteboarders locally and internationally, worldwide it truly is one of the most incredible kite locations in the world! MORE INFO
VIDEO
Fun Facts:
- Anegada is the second largest island of the British Virgin Islands, 10 miles long by 2 1/2 miles wide
- Anegada is an Archipel formed from coral and limestone, rather than being of volcanic origin
- Most of the population on Anegada live in the only village, The Settlement.
- Horseshoe Reef is the largest barrier coral reef in the Caribbean, and the 4th largest on earth.
- Anegada’s reefs are a shipwreck treasury, with over 300 wrecks off its shore
- Anegada is also called “The Drowned Island of the BVI”
- On the south shore, Nutmeg Point has great sites for shallow water fishing, especially bonefishing.
- You can take a ferry from Tortola and Virgin Gorda to Anegada 7 days a week
