Paradise found…Sandy Island Anguilla is the perfect little island. White sandy beach, a lively beach bar, and fresh seafood. It’s the perfect day trip in Anguilla.
A quick boat ride away and you’ll be transported to paradise. We’ve put together a guide to everything you’d need to know when visiting Sandy Island off the shore of Anguilla.
Sandy Island Anguilla
The small but beautiful Sandy Island
History of how Sandy Island Anguilla Started
Sandy Island opened in 1984 when there was just a small little shack, a basic grill, and of course a cooler to keep the drinks cold. People would come for the day but it was also rented out for weddings, concerts, photoshoots, and even a few movies.
Then came Hurricane Luis in 1995 and Sandy Island was washed away. Fast forward to 1999 when Hurricane Lenny leaving behind sand and bringing life back to Sandy Island. After every major hurricane, the island changes and updates are needed.
Sandy Island was completely destroyed by Hurricane Irma in September 2017, but the owners have rebuilt it and it is now open again. Please help the locals by supporting tourism and visiting Anguilla.
Where is Sandy Island?
Sandy Island is a small cay located 2 miles off of Sandy Ground beach in Anguilla. Only a quick 10-minute boat ride from “mainland” Anguilla and you’ll be at one of the most beautiful islands in the world.
There’s only one way to get to this island
How To Get To Sandy Island Anguilla
Head to Sandy Ground and follow the signs to Sandy Island. Park in the parking lot right on the beach and sign up for the next shuttle to Sandy Island. The shuttle cost $10 USD per person round trip.
The boat runs back and forth throughout the day starting at 11 a.m. until We had to wait 20 minutes for the next boat. The boat is actually called “Happiness.” There is a small pier right on Sandy Ground Beach
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The rich and famous are known to arrive by helicopter or their own luxury yacht. The locals say “Celebrities go to St Bart’s to be seen and go to Anguilla to hide.” what was this saying?!?!
No better place to lounge in Anguilla than Sandy Island
Things To Do On Sandy Island
We suggest planning on spending the entire day on Sandy Island. There are beach chairs & beds available. Make sure to check Sandy Islands Facebook page to see if there are any special events going on that week.
When we visited they had a DJ spinning tracks all day. Depending on the weather, there is snorkeling available or the day we visited surfing (not common). They have a volleyball net set up for some beach volleyball.
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Sandy Island is known for their lobster and crayfish which is all locally caught
Sandy Island Menu
Trust me when I say the best lobster in the world is at Sandy Island. The seafood here is fresh caught only, so the menu changes with the catch. We wanted to try the crayfish but due to some rough seas, from a storm, they hadn’t caught any that day.
We ordered the Caribbean grilled lobster that was seasoned perfectly and served with some crazy good coconut curry dipping sauce. We also had the BBQ chicken which was super moist & tasty served with salad and rice & beans. Everything was great but the lobster was the highlight. Here are a few things on the menu with prices.
- Grilled lobster $55
- Anguilla Crayfish $50
- BBQ Chicken $18
- Triple Lobster Plater with a spiny lobster tail & crayfish & Slipper lobster $150
- Kid’s menu $8-$12
- Beer $5
- Cocktails $8+
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All the best restaurants in Anguilla charge $45+ for lobster and crayfish. We found the prices at Sandy Island right on par with the rest of the restaurants in Anguilla. We had lobster at one other restaurant in Anguilla, it was good, but it didn’t compare to the lobster we had here on Sandy Island.
*Credit cards are accepted but there is an additional fee 5% surcharge. The menu is listed in USD but the local Eastern Caribbean dollar is accepted. An additional 15% service charge is added to all checks*
When is Sandy Island Open
Sandy Island is open daily November through August with the first boat heading to the island from Sandy Ground at 11 a.m They close during hurricane season. You can rent out Sandy Island for private events year-round, it would be the epic place for a Caribbean destination wedding.
Celebrities At Sandy Island
It is not unheard of to bump into a celebrity at Sandy Island. They most likely won’t be on the $10 boat, but instead on their million-dollar yachts. Here are a few celebrities that have visited in the past: Beyonce & Jay-Z, John Legend, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neil, Sandra Bullock, Liam Neeson, Richard Gere, Janet Jackson, and many more.
The main building and restaurant & bar of Sandy Island
Sandy Island Contact Information
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 1-264-497-6534
- PO Box 1427, The Valley Anguilla AI2640
The owner and operators of the island and restaurant are available to arrange a trip or for private events on the island. We contacted them prior to our visit and they were helpful to arrange everything for our visit. The number can be dialed from a USA phone from home or while in Anguilla.
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