Anguilla and Saint-Martin/Sint Maarten sit eight miles apart and are visible from each other, but they are opposites in almost every respect. Most visitors to Anguilla pass through Saint-Martin anyway, since that is where the long-haul flights land — so the practical question is how long to spend on each.
The differences
- Scale — Sint Maarten takes cruise ships, has casinos, duty-free shopping and a busy airport. Anguilla has none of these, by deliberate policy.
- Terrain — Saint-Martin is hilly and green; Anguilla is flat limestone scrub with a high point of 65 metres.
- Beaches — Saint-Martin's are more varied and more crowded. Anguilla's are longer, paler and emptier.
- Price — Anguilla is more expensive for accommodation and eating out. Saint-Martin has genuine mid-range options.
- Nightlife — Saint-Martin has it. Anguilla has beach bars and live music, and most things close early.
- Language and currency — Anguilla is British: English, East Caribbean dollar, driving on the left. Saint-Martin is split French and Dutch, with euro and guilder in circulation and US dollars accepted everywhere.
Getting between them
The public ferry runs between Blowing Point in Anguilla and Marigot on the French side, taking about twenty-five minutes, with departures through the day. Private charters run direct from Blowing Point to Princess Juliana Airport on the Dutch side, which is faster and considerably more expensive. Both routes require passports and both charge a departure tax.
How to combine them
The usual pattern is to fly into Sint Maarten and go straight to Anguilla, keeping Saint-Martin for the last night before an early flight. If you want one day of shopping, restaurants at Grand Case, or a hillier landscape, a day trip from Anguilla is easy — leave in the morning and be back for the evening.
Which to choose
If you want quiet, sand and dinner, Anguilla. If you want variety, a budget, or something to do after eleven at night, Saint-Martin. If you can, take both — they are twenty-five minutes apart.