What to do and see in Sandy Ground, Anguilla: The Best Places and Tips

April 8, 2018 Esmeralda Fenner

Discover the best top things to do in Sandy Ground, Anguilla including Rendezvous Bay Beach, Meads Bay, Shoal Bay, Anchor Miniature Golf, Sandy Island, Dolphin Discovery Anguilla, SCUBA SHACK - Shoal Bay Scuba, Sandy Ground, Seaside Stables Anguilla, Surf Axa.
Restaurants in Sandy Ground

1. Rendezvous Bay Beach

Sandy Ground, Anguilla
Excellent
77%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 396 reviews

Rendezvous Bay Beach

This bay is the site of a popular beach and was once the location of a key battle between the English and French for colonial control over the island.

Reviewed By Manuela L - Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Rendezvous Bay Beach is an unique opportunity for recharging your batteries; fine white sandy bay, cristal clear turquoise water, sometimes alone on the beach in a calm and zen atmosphere, listening the sound of the wawes; Not to mention what give it this name;
No dupte, here we will be fulfilled, and will return.

2. Meads Bay

Long Bay Village, Anguilla
Excellent
82%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 330 reviews

Meads Bay

This scenic beach is located close to several luxury resorts.

Reviewed By Stephanie B

We stayed at the Malliouhana which was on this beach. The sand was soft, the water was beautiful and lunch at Blanchard's Beach Shack tops it off! It's a blue-green sea of tranquility. Great for kayaking and water activities. There's some decent snorkeling by the rocks at Malli. Highly recommend!

3. Shoal Bay

Shoal Bay Village, Anguilla
Excellent
84%
Good
11%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 970 reviews

Shoal Bay

A popular beach with white sand and turquoise water that has its secluded areas as well.

Reviewed By TiraG

Post hurricane Irma Shoal Bay East is just as stunningly beautiful if not more so. Sugar white sands, crystal clear waters and several beach restaurants and bars make this my preferred weekend getaway.

4. Anchor Miniature Golf

Walter Hodge Road, Island Harbour, Anguilla +1 264-498-7258
Excellent
93%
Good
7%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 28 reviews

Anchor Miniature Golf

Reviewed By mngolfergal - Minneapolis, Minnesota

Not your everyday run-of-the-mill miniature putt course. This course is in a lovely garden setting with Waterfalls. Very well maintained. Owner was extremely friendly. $7.00 per adult. Reasonable priced sea salt from their souvenir shop. We made a day of it. Shoal Bay for the beach, putt-putt for happy hour (they have beer) and then dinner in Island Harbor. Great day and planning on doing so again next year for a playoff round :)
Well worth our time and money.

5. Sandy Island

Sandy Ground AI2640, Anguilla
Excellent
65%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
3%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 279 reviews

Sandy Island

Sandy Island is a small cay off Sandy Ground beach in Anguilla. It is quite possibly the most beautiful place one will ever visit. A popular off island getaway, Sandy Island offers visitors a sensational tropical experience. It’s far away enough for that quintessential Robinson Crusoe feeling, yet close enough to stay connected to the Mainland. The Restaurant opens daily serving fresh seafood and grilled meats, and the bar is fully stocked with ice cold beers and spirits from around the world.

Reviewed By LuxeFamilyFun - United States

A total beach oasis - a tiny island that serves (way overpriced, but imagine the cost of moving all that product onto what is essentially just a sand bar) drinks and some food.
You can walk the entire island in less than five minutes, of course that depends on how much sand is around since the island grows and shrinks during the year depending on the currents and weather.
This is a "do not miss" if you're in Anguilla. Fun people are visiting here...great time.

6. Dolphin Discovery Anguilla

Blowing Point, Blowing Point, Anguilla
Excellent
65%
Good
20%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
5%
Terrible
4%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 426 reviews

Dolphin Discovery Anguilla

The Dolphinarium is located in Blowing Point beach, 50 meters from migration. There are two ways to reach the destination: From St. Maarten taking the boat in Marigot from the French side will take 20 minutes by Ferry or from the airport in the Dutch side will take 45 minutes by Ferry. Once the boat has stopped at Blowing Point, you will have to get to our offices by your own. From there we will take you by taxi (included) to the Dolphinarium that is 500 meters from the Office.

Reviewed By happytravelertx77 - Keller, Texas

We paid $600 to book this activity for our family of four as a shore excursion through Royal Caribbean. It was advertised as kid/family friendly and I had read a number of glowing reviews. We expected this to be the highlight of our cruise. The actual experience causes me to question the legitimacy of those glowing reviews, and I'm writing this in the hope that someone else can avoid what we went through.
We assembled at the dock in St. Maarten at the designated time, where we stood in a crowd in the heat for 20 minutes or so waiting for direction. We were each given two wristbands - one for the excursion and one for the water taxi, and marched through the crowded streets to the water taxi dock, where we stood in another crowd for a while. We then checked in with an overwhelmed looking woman holding a clipboard, who directed us to our water taxi - an old, rusty, dirty vessel that was entirely enclosed and smelled of exhaust fumes. We took our seats and waited. As people boarded the boat, the operators asked that if anyone started to feel sick, please ask for a bag because they didn't like cleaning vomit off the floors. Very shortly into the 75 minute boat ride, the excursion turned into a nightmare. The boat was bouncing uncontrollably in every direction. The crew was visibly worried. My kids began to cry. And then the vomiting began. Nearly every child on that boat threw up - a few made it into the trash bags hastily distributed by the crew, but many did not. I spent the last 45 minutes of the ride covered in vomit, trying to comfort my terrified kids and keep myself from getting sick, while praying silently that we got off the boat safely. Needless to say, there was no commentary about the Islands or the dolphins. The windows of the water taxi were so old and filthy that we couldn't have seen much of the Islands even if we were interested.
When we arrived at Anguilla, each pale passenger emerging from the boat was at first just grateful to be off the boat, and then furious at the situation. As we were herded through a building and then onto a bus, everyone was expressing outrage. But no one associated with the tour seemed a bit concerned about it. No one apologized, asked if we needed anything, or even asked if we were okay.
We then arrived at a beach area, half of which was devoted to the dolphin encounter. We weren't given any instructions (I headed toward the water hose to rinse the vomit off of myself and my daughter). Then we waited at the beach for an hour or two, while everyone asked each other what we were supposed to do. There were sandwiches available, but no one felt like eating. There were also $3 soft drinks/water, and a cash bar. The ads for the excursion mentioned kayaking, snorkeling, and other water sports, but none of that appeared to be available. The kids played in the water for a while, but eventually everyone became impatient and worried that there had been no communication about what was going on. At this point we were also becoming concerned about the time, as we knew we had another long horrible boat ride back before boarding our cruise ship. Finally word got around that we were to assemble on the other side of the beach and put on life jackets - which was another messy and confusing scene. Then we sat and waited for the same (increasingly overwhelmed) lady to call our group up to the pier. Eventually our group was shown to a section of the pier and told to walk onto a submerged platform to see a dolphin. The waves were so bad that my youngest was too scared to get in. They were almost too much for my my oldest, but she and I enjoyed the dolphin bit while my husband and youngest sat on the pier. The dolphin encounter consists of standing on the platform holding onto a chain link fence while a trained dolphin interacts with each participant one at a time. A photographer takes pictures of each participant interacting with the dolphin - in fact as another reviewer noted, the entire thing is set up to get photos. After about 15 minutes in the water, we were shown out of the water and back onto the bus. Our group was very worried about the time at this point because our cruise ship was leaving in an hour and a half, and we knew we still had a long return boat ride. And the kids had begun to cry again in anticipation of the return boat ride. But the bus took us to a tiny gift shop area, where we waited along with dozens of other people for another 30 minutes. The staff told us that they were having technical difficulties getting our photos to appear on screens. We asked if we could just go ahead and leave in the interests of time, but the staff barked at us that we had to stay and our cruise ship was not going to leave us. There was a large sign in the crowded gift shop (which was of course full of little kids) warning that if you break something you must pay full price for it, amid dozens of small glass objects and toys on very low shelves. When the pictures finally appeared, the staff explained that it was $40 for a single photo (prior reviews noted $30-$35 per photo, so apparently these prices increase frequently) and $189 for a CD of all of our photos. On top of the $600 we paid for the activity. Plus, the images on the screens were too small and grainy to tell if they were any good.
Then we were sent back onto a boat - mercifully, a different boat this time. We were among the lucky few who got a seat outside for the return trip. The ride back was also very rough, but being outside and having empty stomachs at least kept the nausea at bay. I can't speak for the poor souls who did not make it onto the boat in time to claim an outdoor seat.
By the time we got to the Guest Services desk on our cruise ship to complain, the cruise ship staff explained that they had already been made aware of the situation (no doubt by many other angry passengers) and refunds were in process.
So I credit Royal Caribbean for the speedy (partial) refund. And we did get to interact with a cute and amazingly well trained dolphin for a minute. And I genuinely felt bad for the lady with the clipboard. But my kids called it "the worst trip ever" and made us promise never to take them on a boat ride like that ever again. So I sincerely hope that others will read this before subjecting their kids to this excursion.

7. SCUBA SHACK - Shoal Bay Scuba

West End Village 2640, Anguilla
Excellent
81%
Good
15%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 73 reviews

SCUBA SHACK - Shoal Bay Scuba

Welcome to Anguilla's only PADI Dive Center, Our Scuba Shack is conveniently located close to all major dive sites at Roy's Bayside Grill in Sandy Ground. We will bring our love of diving together with our 25 years experience in Anguilla's dive industry and waters, thus ensuring that you have the best diving experience while in Anguilla, in a safe, relaxed and fun environment.

Reviewed By gsmason - oklahoma city

Walked up at 8:50 to make reservation. Boat 1 minute from dive shack. Left on boat at 9:10 . Calm laid back owner and dive master. Also very very focused and good. Dove a great wreck with lobster , eel , conch , fish. Easy...MoreWe are glad you have fun and enjoyed your experience with us We hope to see you again Matthew, Pinky & Najee

8. Sandy Ground

Sandy Ground, Anguilla
Excellent
48%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
15%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 128 reviews

Sandy Ground

This crowded coastal area is filled with popular restaurants, bars and dance clubs.

Reviewed By Paul F

The village of Sandy Ground is an interesting place to visit or stay. The bay is home to many smaller boats as well as the major port on the island, so the beach isn't as pristine as most on the island, but still better than the Jersey Shore! There are lots of good eateries along the beach, ranging from affordable to expensive. there are also a number of shops and galleries to check out.

9. Seaside Stables Anguilla

Paradise Drive | Cove Bay, West End Village AI-2640, Anguilla
Excellent
87%
Good
9%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
0%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

5 based on 42 reviews

Seaside Stables Anguilla

Seaside Stables Anguilla - Horseback Riding on the beach at Cove Bay

Reviewed By mcw_614 - Columbus, Ohio

We had a fabulous time. It was my daughters first time writing a horse, and the owner was very kind and patient with her. She made sure that she was safe while still enjoying herself. The horses were well cared for and very mild tempered. The view was absolutely stunning. Highly recommended.

10. Surf Axa

Back Street | next to Irie Life, South Hill, Anguilla
Excellent
50%
Good
50%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2 reviews

Surf Axa

SURF AXA is an adventurous water sport company. We offer surfboard rentals and lessons along with SUP, skimboards and eco-tours. Alon with weekend water excursions for the youth, SURF AXA is a surf and water sport facility for the community.

Reviewed By lynne264 - Marigot, St Martin / St Maarten

You can buy their cool t-shirts right next door at Irie Life. They are not always open so just check in at Irie Life which is right next door.

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