Guide to Anegada Island

Anegada is the second largest of the British Virgin Islands, but it is home to a permanent population of fewer than 300 people, most of whom live in the small town known as The Settlement, and has seen far less development than its neighbours.

Unlike the other islands in the group, which are volcanic in origin, Anegada is formed from coral and limestone, and the extensive reefs which surround the island, combined with its low profile – Anegada’s highest point is just 8.5m above sea level - can make navigation difficult. There is, however, a well-marked channel in to the harbour at Setting Point.

The 29km-long Horseshoe Reef which skirts the coastline is one of the largest in the world, providing a habitat for a wide assortment of sea creatures, including stingrays, needle fish, parrot fish, lobsters and conches, and is one of the best snorkelling spots in the British Virgin Islands.

A curious local landmark which snorkelers will also enjoy exploring is Conch Island, a unique manmade structure made up of countless discarded conch shells, left here by generations of fishermen, and which provides a home for nurse sharks, turtles, stingrays and a variety of fish species.

The reefs around Anegada have proven treacherous for shipping for centuries, and there are a number of wrecks scattered around the coast accessible to experienced scuba divers. Turtles, groupers and other marine life can be seen around the remains of the Parramatta, which sank in 1859 and now lies at a depth of between 10 and 30m. At a similar depth you’ll also find the Rokus, a Greek cargo vessel that went down in 1929.

Anegada is a haven for wildlife, and the island’s most distinctive, and perhaps most unexpected, residents are the flamingos, which were reintroduced in the 1990s. The resident flock, which lives in the island’s large salt ponds, now numbers in the hundreds, and these colourful birds are a striking and memorable sight. The island is also home to the endangered Anegada rock iguana, as well as feral donkeys, goats and sheep.

Anegada’s 22km of largely deserted sugary white sands are picture-postcard images of the perfect Caribbean beach, and see far fewer visitors than most in the British Virgin Islands, ideal if you’re looking for complete relaxation and privacy on your yacht charter.

Cow Wreck Beach is one of the most popular, especially for water sports such as kiteboarding and windsurfing, the reef providing a natural barrier from the waves. Equally beautiful is Loblolly Bay Beach, where you’ll find two of the island’s best restaurants, the Big Bamboo and the Flash of Beauty, serving fresh, and very local, conch fritters and lobster.

There are several very good beach bars and restaurants on the island, while the Anegada Reef Hotel, near Setting Point, is a stylish option for a dinner of spiny lobster or fresh fish, taken from the sea that day.

You can begin planning your visit to beautiful island of Anegada now, by viewing and comparing all luxury yachts available for yacht charter in the Virgin Islands.